Atalanta have officially confirmed the appointment of Raffaele Palladino as their new head coach, with the Italian tactician signing a contract that runs until June 2027.
The 40-year-old coach takes over from Ivan Juric, who was dismissed earlier this week following a disappointing run of results that left La Dea in 13th place in Serie A.
Palladino, who previously managed Monza and Fiorentina, brings a reputation for tactical flexibility and developing young players—traits that align with Atalanta’s long-term football philosophy.
Club president Antonio Percassi expressed confidence in the appointment, describing Palladino as “a forward-thinking coach with strong leadership qualities and a clear vision for modern football.”
Palladino will be tasked with revitalising Atalanta’s form and guiding the club back toward European contention. His first assignment will be to stabilise the squad after consecutive league defeats, with a debut fixture looming this weekend.
Raffaele Palladino’s arrival at Atalanta could mark a tactical shift that directly benefits Ademola Lookman, one of the club’s most dynamic attacking players.
Palladino is known for his possession-oriented, vertical football—emphasising quick transitions, intelligent movement between the lines, and wide forwards who can drift centrally to exploit spaces. During his spell at Monza, he often deployed a 3-4-2-1 or 3-4-1-2 formation, allowing creative attackers to play with freedom behind the main striker.
For Lookman, this setup could provide a renewed platform to thrive. The Nigerian international is most effective when operating in half-spaces—cutting inside from the left to combine or shoot—and Palladino’s system naturally encourages such movements.
With greater emphasis on fluid attacking rotations, Lookman could regain the creative license that made him one of Atalanta’s standout performers in previous seasons.
