Vanoli Returns: A Familiar Face in the Purple Storm

When Paolo Vanoli steps out of the tunnel at the Artemio Franchi stadium for his first match since returning, he will no longer be a stranger to the stands. Three years ago, he was the man who pulled Fiorentina out of the mire after a 10-game winless streak, then led the purple-shirted club to the Conference League quarter-finals. But football never forgives those who live on memories. And now, with the team sitting bottom of Serie A with one goal scored and nine conceded after three matches, the question is not what Vanoli can do, but whether he still has the strength to do what he once did. Fabio Grosso was sacked after three consecutive defeats — a decision so swift that many believe Fiorentina's management had already prepared a replacement in advance. And that replacement was Vanoli, who had a memorable tenure at the club, guiding the team from a dangerous position to 15th place and securing a Conference League spot. His return was announced through an official club statement, with thanks for accepting the invitation. Vanoli's first match will be against Venezia — a newly promoted side also winless after three rounds. This is an opportunity to secure the first three points, but also the first test of whether the return of a familiar face can truly make a difference or is merely a temporary sedative. Looking at Fiorentina's three matches so far, I realize the problem is not in the tactical formation. Grosso tried various approaches, but what this team lacks is not ideas, but belief. One goal in three matches is not a number reflecting attacking quality, but a sign of mental collapse. When a team sits at the bottom of the table, every pass becomes heavy, every shot lacks decisiveness, and every play carries the fear of failure. I have witnessed too many teams fall into this spiral to know that it cannot be escaped through tactics alone. Vanoli arrives carrying something no tactician can create from a drawing board: memory. He once led this team through a 10-game winless crisis when he first took charge. He took them to the Conference League quarter-finals, where they only stopped at Crystal Palace. Those memories, though they cannot replace pressing drills or specific passing patterns, can soothe the panic in the dressing room. The players need someone they trust, and Vanoli is the only candidate who can generate that trust immediately. He doesn't need to introduce himself, doesn't need to prove his ability — what he once did at the Franchi speaks for itself. However, what intrigues me most is how Vanoli will handle the defense. Nine goals conceded in three matches is an alarming figure, showing the problem lies not only in spirit but also in structure. Vanoli is known for his pragmatic style, prioritizing solidity over flair. He may not bring a tactical revolution, but he will bring order — the very thing Fiorentina needs most right now. Based on my experience watching matches, I believe Vanoli will prioritize shoring up the defense first, then consider improving attacking output. He understands that in a relegation battle, the most important thing is not scoring many goals, but not losing. And for a team at the bottom, not losing is the first step toward learning how to win. But there is something most articles overlook: the return of a familiar face is not always a good thing. Vanoli left Fiorentina, and football does not stand still. Opponents have studied how he operates. New players have arrived, old ones have departed. Returning to an old home does not mean you will find everything in its place. Vanoli's first match will be against Venezia — a newly promoted side also winless in three matches. This is the perfect opportunity to secure the first three points, but also the perfect trap. If Fiorentina stumbles again against a weaker opponent, the pressure will multiply. And then, the story of "the familiar face returning" will quickly become "the old man who cannot adapt to the present." Being mocked for poetry on television is something I take pride in — football is poetry. But poetry also needs rhythm, and Vanoli needs to find a new rhythm for a team that has changed greatly since he left. Vanoli doesn't need to be a tactical genius. He just needs to be himself — the man who once led Fiorentina through darkness. And at 67, I still believe in magic, because I have seen a rough gem find itself in the mud. The question is not whether Vanoli can save Fiorentina, but whether he still has the patience to love the rough gems waiting to be polished in purple. Because a rough gem doesn't need polishing, it only needs a patient enough gaze to love. And in football, patience is always the most expensive commodity — more expensive than blockbuster contracts, more expensive than perfect tactical diagrams on paper.