Francesco Baldini (born 14 March 1974) is an Italian football coach and a former player who played as a defender.

Francesco Baldini
Personal information
Date of birth (1974-03-14) 14 March 1974 (age 50)
Place of birth Massa, Italy
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Centre-back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1991–1993 Massese 19 (0)
1993–1994 Juventus 3 (0)
1994–1995 Massese 32 (0)
1995–2003 Napoli 168 (1)
2001–2002Roma (loan) 9 (0)
2003–2006 Genoa 73 (4)
2006–2007 Perugia 23 (2)
2007–2008 Lugano 16 (0)
2008–2010 San Marino 42 (3)
International career
1993 Italy Olympic 0 (0)
Managerial career
2014–2015 Sestri Levante
2015 Lucchese
2016 Lucchese
2019 Trapani
2021–2022 Catania
2022 Vicenza
2023 Perugia
2024 Trento
2024 Lecco
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

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Throughout his club career, Baldini played for Italian clubs Massese, Juventus, Napoli, Roma, Genoa, Perugia, as well as San Marino.[1]

International career

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At the international level, Baldini was called up to the Italian Under-21 Olympic squad for the 1993 Mediterranean Games but did not make any appearances for the side.[2]

Coaching career

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In 2011, Baldini obtained a UEFA A License, making him eligible to coach Lega Pro teams.

He successfully started a youth coach career with Bologna, where he worked from 2011 to 2014. He then took his first head coaching role at the helm of Serie D amateurs Sestri Levante for the 2014–15 season, obtaining second place in the league and later winning the national playoff tournament.

In June 2015, he was named the new head coach of Lucchese. However, he was fired in October 2015 due to poor results; he was rehired in February 2016 and then dismissed once again on 6 March.

After his Lucchese experience, Baldini returned to youth coaching, first in charge of the Under-17 team of Roma and then as Primavera Under-19 coach of Juventus.

On 11 July 2019, he was announced as the new head coach of Serie B club Trapani. Trapani dismissed him on 17 December 2019.[3]

On 19 March 2021, he was announced as the new head coach of Serie C club Catania for the remainder of the season.[4] He guided the Rossazzurri during a financially troubled season, which was cut short in April 2022 as Catania were excluded from the league after having been declared insolvent. Just a few days later, he was hired by relegation-battling Serie B club Vicenza as their new head coach with immediate effect.[5]

Baldini failed to save Vicenza from relegation after losing to Cosenza in the playoffs but was confirmed in charge of the Biancorossi for the 2022–23 Serie C campaign. However, following a negative start to the club's season, he was eventually dismissed on 7 November 2022.[6]

On 17 July 2023, Perugia announced the appointment of Baldini as their new head coach.[7] He was dismissed on 19 December 2023 due to negative results.[8]

On 12 February 2024, Baldini was hired as the new head coach of relegation-battling Serie C club Trento until the end of the season.[9] After guiding Trento to a promotion playoff spot, Baldini parted ways with the club by the end of the season.[10]

On 27 June 2024, Baldini was announced as the new head coach of Lecco following the club's relegation to Serie C and successive takeover by a new ownership.[11] He was dismissed with his entire coaching staff on 28 October 2024, following a beginning of the season below the club's expectations.[12]

References

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  1. ^ "Francesco Baldini: Player Profile" (in Italian). tuttocalciatori. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
  2. ^ "Baldini, Francesco" (in Italian). FIGC. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
  3. ^ "Ufficiale – Trapani, esonerato Baldini" (in Italian). ItaSportPress. 17 December 2019.
  4. ^ "Calcio Catania, ufficiale: Francesco Baldini è il nuovo allenatore" (in Italian). CataniaToday. 19 March 2021. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  5. ^ "Francesco Baldini nuovo Allenatore Responsabile della Prima Squadra" (in Italian). L.R. Vicenza. 12 April 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  6. ^ "FRANCESCO BALDINI SOLLEVATO DALL'INCARICO" (in Italian). L.R. Vicenza. 7 November 2022. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  7. ^ "Francesco Baldini è il nuovo allenatore del Perugia" (in Italian). ANSA. 17 July 2023. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  8. ^ "Perugia, il ko di Arezzo costa caro a Baldini: arriva l'esonero. Formisano nuovo tecnico" (in Italian). TuttoMecatoWeb. 19 December 2023. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  9. ^ "Trento, in panchina arriva Baldini. Moll Moll torna alla guida della Primavera" (in Italian). TuttoMercatoWeb. 12 February 2024. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  10. ^ "Trento, finisce l'era Baldini. Dopo il 30 giugno le parti non proseguiranno insieme" (in Italian). TuttoMercatoWeb. 4 June 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  11. ^ "Calcio Lecco: Baldini è il nuovo mister. Un codice etico per tutti i blucelesti" (in Italian). PrimaLecco.it. 28 June 2024. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
  12. ^ "Lecco, nota del club: esonerato il tecnico Francesco Baldini e il suo staff" (in Italian). TuttoMercatoWeb. 28 October 2024. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
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