Expert insight from Italy 

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Based on the picturesque Arno River, the renaissance-rich city of Florence is one of the most famous spots in Italy and maybe even Europe. Culture, history and architecture usually take centre stage, but there is also a very special football team in town. In the 2023/24 season, Fiorentina found themselves in the Europa Conference League final, where they eventually lost to West Ham. Last season, they finished sixth in Serie A, just five points adrift of the Champions League places. But this term, that form has deserted them.

Fiorentina may not have the money or ultra-rich football history of Juventus, Inter Milan, or AC Milan, but they are one of the seven sisters of Serie A, and have pretty much been an ever-present in the Italian top-flight throughout their history. However, as illustrated in the graphic above, they find themselves in a disastrous position this term. Two thirds into the campaign, Fiorentina are in the relegation zone, sitting in 18th, with just 18 points from 24 games. They are 24 points worse off than they were at this stage last season.

Paolo Vanoli’s side are currently three points adrift of safety. To put a potential Fiorentina relegation into perspective, they have been outside of the Italian top-flight for just six seasons in their entire history. As illustrated in the graphic below, only Inter (94) Juventus (93), Roma (93), and AC Milan (92) have spent more seasons in the first-tier of Italian football than Fiorentina (88). So what has gone wrong at the Stadio Artemio Franchi? With expert insight from Italy, we bring you the details.

What has gone wrong for Fiorentina this season?

Fiorentina were last relegated in 2002, and even that was due to bankruptcy, with the club being dumped into Serie C, before back-to-back promotions saw them rise again to Serie A. This season’s poor form came as a surprise, but was perhaps somewhat foreseeable. Last season’s boss Raffaele Palladino (now at Atalanta) resigned in the summer after a dispute with the club and Stefano Pioli was appointed. But he would last just 115 days in the job. “There are many aspects that have combined in Fiorentina’s downfall this season,” says Stefano Buonfino, one of Transfermarkt’s Content Managers in Italy.

“A change of coach from last season and then from Pioli to Vanoli, confusion within the club’s hierarchy, and a disastrous transfer window with many talented players brought together in a chaotic manner – many of them are good individually but not useful in Fiorentina’s tactical set up – all contributed.” On the pitch itself, there are still some star names. None more so than former Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea, who Fiorentina signed as a free agent in 2024, with the Spaniard having a superb first Campaign in Serie A. But even he has dropped off this term.

“This has not been De Gea’s best season,” admits Buonfino. “He has made a few mistakes, but this is understandable given Fiorentina’s problems. In general, I do not consider him to be one of those mainly responsible for the poor season.” At the other end of the pitch, flamboyant striker Moise Kean was also a revelation in Florence last term, scoring 19 goals in Serie A, but the Italian has hit the back of the net just six time this time around. “Kean has never been known for his consistency,” says Buonfino.

“It is normal that in such a disastrous context he also struggles to perform. However, he does remain perhaps the most talented player on the team, but he needs to be put in the right conditions, which is not happening very often.” So how much of a shock would it be if Fiorentina did go down? And where do they rank among Italy’s biggest clubs? “They are a very important club as one of the Seven Sisters of Serie A and based in one of Italy’s most important cities,” stated Buonfino. “Even in the last 20 years, after bankruptcy, it has managed to return to the top level and become an almost permanent fixture in European competitions.

“I don’t think they ultimately will be relegated because they have too many strong players, but if it did happen, it would perhaps be the most sensational relegation in the last two decades of Serie A. Much will depend on the Commisso family, which has already suffered the losses of Joe Barone and then President Rocco Commisso himself. They could keep some important players, but some valuable assets would certainly have to be sold in the event of relegation.” The turnaround needs to start to soon if Serie A is to avoid losing one of it’s biggest clubs.