In the decade since Fiorentina were banished to the fourth tier of the Italian football pyramid following bankruptcy, the club and its support has enjoyed the highs of a swift return to Serie A and a number of never to be forgotten evenings competing against the best that European football has to offer.
However, having been on a downward spiral since Cesare Prandelli left to take charge of the Azzurri in 2010, last season’s narrow escape from relegation against a backdrop of player indiscipline and supporter unrest represented perhaps the lowest point in the club’s recent history.
The image of coach Delio Rossi raining punches down on substituted striker Adem Ljajic as his side trailed Novara by two goals in a crucial relegation six-pointer hammered home the harsh reality that the club was rotting from the inside out, and that a major overhaul was long overdue.
How refreshing then, that on the eve of a new campaign, the club is barely recognisable from that which staggered over last season’s finishing line with a solitary game to spare, thanks largely to the two most significant arrivals of the summer; coach Vincenzo Montella and sporting director Daniele Prade.
Having earned plenty of plaudits for converting Catania from perennial relegation candidates into an outside bet for a Europa League place last season, Montella’s appointment in June was largely welcomed, and though the coach himself had earlier courted the vacant Roma post, he nevertheless revealed his delight at joining the Viola in his opening press conference.
He said: “I’m here with great enthusiasm. I want to start a new era in a club who have great faith in me and who did a lot to get me here. I thank everyone. Fiorentina have confidence in me and they have shown a desire to get back their status and proper league position. There is a real desire to do well.”
With the right coach seemingly in place, the onus was on Prade to put together a squad capable of returning the club to its rightful place in the upper echelons of the Serie A table, and on the whole, the former Roma sporting director looks to have done just that.
Goals proved to be exceedingly difficult to come by throughout last season, with a dismal return of just 37 league strikes giving them the joint fourth worst record in the division, so securing a striker of a proven pedigree was a must.
Moroccan international Mounir El Hamdaoui arrives for €800k having bagged 56 goals in three seasons for AZ Alkmaar and Ajax, but having also found first team football impossible to come by during last season having fallen out with Ajax coach Frank De Boer. If he can transfer that impressive goal to games ratio over to Serie A, he could prove to be an inspired purchase.
It is the midfield that has arguably seen the most significant overhaul however, with Prade managing to complete a number of ambitious signings, including the high-profile capture of Azzurri international Alberto Aquilani from Liverpool for a fraction of the €20m he cost the Merseyside club in 2009.
The 28 year old was much maligned during his spell in England, but continued to impress during loan spells with both Juventus and AC Milan, and having now made a permanent return to the peninsula, a more settled Aquilani could prove to be a real coup for the Viola.
Joining him in midfield will be the hugely experienced David Pizarro, signed on a free transfer from Prade’s former club Roma. The Chilean spent the second half of last season on loan with English Premier League winners Manchester City, and can only improve the side in spite of his advancing years.
Elsewhere, midfielder Borja Valero and defender Gonzalo Rodriguez have been plucked from relegated Spanish outfit Villarreal for an outlay of €7m, while Matias Fernandez arrives from Portuguese club Sporting for €3m, and will add further Champions League experience to the ranks.
Udinese’s Juan Cuadrado and Palermo’s Francesco Della Rocca have both been drafted in on loan, giving Montella further options in the centre of the park, while another free transfer, Boca Juniors’ Facundo Roncaglia, will join Mattia Cassani in defence after the former Palermo man made his loan move permanent for a little over €3m
However, arguably the most important piece of business that the club could perform this summer would be in managing to hold onto mercurial Montenegrin forward Stevan Jovetic.
Rumours linking last season’s star player with a big money move to any number of top European sides refuse to go away, and whether or not Montella can call upon the 22 year old following the closure of the transfer window could prove to be the difference between success and failure.
With so many new arrivals vying for a place in Montella’s starting line-up time has inevitably been called on the Viola careers of a number of notable individuals.
First through the exit door this summer was the once talismanic midfielder Riccardo Montolivo. A key member of the squad throughout the successful Prandelli era, the 27 year old revealed last year that he would not be renewing his contract at the end of the season, citing the club’s lack of ambition as the reason for his decision.
It was an unnecessary saga that overshadowed any attempt the club was making to progress during the previous campaign, and his performances throughout were those of a player whose mind was clearly elsewhere. His departure to AC Milan on a free transfer is arguably the best solution for all parties.
Following soon after was Moroccan midfielder Houssine Kharja after a single, largely forgettable season with the club, while Valon Behrami, a livewire but limited presence in the centre of midfield for the last two seasons, joined Napoli for an eyebrow raising €8m. Joining him in Naples will be €2m defender Alessandro Gamberini, bringing an end to his seven year association with the club.
Ineffectual forward Amauri was also shown the door, joining former club Parma on a free transfer, aging defender Cesare Natali was also allowed to leave on a free, heading to Bologna, and a host of promising youngsters such as Khouma Babacar and Lorenzo De Silvestri have been sent out on loan to gain valuable first team experience.
A root and branch squad overhaul can often prove detrimental in football, with new signings taking time to gel as a unit, but few could argue that drastic changes were needed at the Artemio Franchi in an attempt to rid the club of the malaise that had increasingly set in.
The signs are looking positive that the dawning of a new era is already underway though, with goals from Manuel Pasqual and one of last season’s villains Ljajic sealing the club’s safe passage into the fourth round of the Coppa Italia with a 2-0 win over Novara.
Any improvement on the horrors of last season should be deemed a relative success for Montella from his first season in charge, but after a summer of such positivity, a return to the European stage this time next year looks to be an increasingly realistic prospect.
Follow Kevin on Twitter: @KevertonFC_84
