Gian Piero Gasperini has officially announced his departure from Serie A side Atalanta, ending a transformative nine-year tenure with the club. The 67-year-old manager delivered an emotional message to fans on Saturday, confirming that he will not renew his contract, which expires at the end of June.
Speaking to l’Eco di Bergamo, Gasperini reflected on his time in Bergamo with gratitude and affection. “It wasn’t possible to express this before, only in the last few hours have I really decided to put an end to this wonderful nine-year-long story. But let’s not say goodbye, I don’t like that,” he said.
Gasperini took over Atalanta in 2016 and led the club through its most successful period in modern history. Under his leadership, Atalanta regularly competed at the top of Serie A and made a strong impression in European competitions. The crowning achievement came in 2024, when the club lifted the UEFA Europa League trophy — their first major European title.
“We’ve managed to achieve some unquestionably extraordinary results,” Gasperini added. “I would have liked to do more, I didn’t succeed, but we still celebrated a lot together and I’m sure you will do it again.”
While his departure had been anticipated since his February announcement, it still marks the end of an era for Atalanta. Italian media reports suggest that Gasperini is now poised to become the next head coach of AS Roma, following the retirement of veteran manager Claudio Ranieri.
As he prepares for the next chapter in his career, Gasperini leaves behind a legacy of bold, attacking football and a redefined Atalanta — one that now expects to compete among Italy’s elite.
