Juve Stabia, Bari, Modena, and Catanzaro have all appointed new coaches in a busy week for Serie B ahead of the 2025/26 season.
Juve Stabia Appoint Ignazio Abate as New Head Coach
Juve Stabia have confirmed the appointment of Ignazio Abate as their new head coach, replacing Guido Pagliuca after a strong 2024–25 campaign that saw the club fall just short of back-to-back promotions.
Abate, a former Italy international, returns to Campania after a bit of a rollercoaster stint with Ternana. Despite finishing second in Serie C Group B and boasting both the league’s best attack and defense, Abate was surprisingly dismissed before the playoffs.
He now takes over a Juve Stabia side previously known for their disciplined 3-4-2-1 setup. Abate is expected to shift things tactically at the Gialloblu, shaping the team around his preferred 4-2-3-1 system.
“I’m back home and ready to give everything,” said Abate during his unveiling. “This club means a lot to me, and I want to honor it with hard work and results.”
Alberto Aquilani Joins Catanzaro After Pisa Exit
Alberto Aquilani has been named as the new Catanzaro boss, returning to Serie B after a brief and disappointing spell at Pisa.
The former Liverpool midfielder replaces Fabio Caserta, who guided Catanzaro to the playoff semi-finals last season.
Despite his struggles with Pisa, Aquilani boasts a strong reputation from his time with Fiorentina’s Primavera side, where he won two Coppa Italia titles.
At Pisa, he experimented with both back-three and back-four systems. His challenge now is to build on Catanzaro’s solid foundation while finding a system that continues to get the best out of Pietro Iemmello, who netted 16 league goals in 2024–25.
Fabio Caserta Looks to Revive Bari’s Serie A Dream
As for Fabio Caserta’s next challenge, he takes over at Bari, stepping into the role left by Moreno Longo. The club narrowly missed out on the playoffs last season, plagued by a lack of cutting edge in front of goal.
Under Longo, Bari scored just 41 goals — the fewest among top-half teams — and drew 18 matches, a tally only Catanzaro exceeded. Caserta’s arrival signals a desire for more attacking intent.
He now inherits a squad expected to be trimmed, with loanees Kevin Lasagna, Cesar Falletti, and Andrija Novakovich likely returning to their parent clubs.
Meanwhile, one of Bari’s best players, Mehdi Dorva, has drawn interest from clubs in Turkey, Saudi Arabia, the Netherlands, and Serie A side Sassuolo.
Caserta’s task is steep: Bari have not tasted top-flight football since 2011. However, having led two different clubs to the playoff semi-finals in the past three seasons, he brings a proven track record at this level.
For betting enthusiasts tracking team momentum and transfer impact, now’s a smart time to explore the safest online betting sites offering Serie B outright and top goalscorer markets.
Andrea Sottil Named New Modena Coach
Andrea Sottil has officially signed a two-year contract with Modena, becoming their fourth permanent coach in just two years.
Sottil takes over from Paolo Mandelli after Modena failed to land top target Luca D’Angelo, who chose to stay at Spezia.
Sottil’s recent track record is mixed. He replaced Andrea Pirlo at Sampdoria last August, oversaw a Derby della Lanterna win over Genoa in the Coppa Italia, but was let go after just 14 games. Before that, he was sacked by Udinese while in the Serie A relegation zone.
Still, he previously guided Ascoli to the play-offs, and Modena is betting he can rekindle that form. The Canarini are aiming to return to the top half of Serie B after a forgettable mid-table campaign.
With five new managers now confirmed in the span of a week — including Filippo Inzaghi’s arrival at Palermo — the landscape of Serie B 2025–26 is already taking shape.
