WELCOME TO KTNBIO

Everything to know about Gian Piero Gasperini, including his playing career and managerial journey, personal life and recent issues with Ademola Lookman.

Gian Piero Gasperini has received untold criticism for his remarks after Ademola Lookman’s missed penalty in Atalanta’s Champions League playoff second-leg against Club Brugge on February 18, 2025, and for seemingly doubling down after the Nigerian’s brace against Empoli on February 23. 

Pulse Sports reveals everything about the experienced Atalanta boss, including his biography, tactical approach and personal life.

Who is Gian Piero Gasperini?

Gian Piero Gasperini is an Italian football manager and former player. He is current head coach of Serie A club Atalanta.

Gian Piero Gasperini Age

Gian Piero Gasperini is 67 years old. The manager was born on January 26, 1958.

Gian Piero Gasperini Height

Gian Piero Gasperini is 5 feet 10 inches tall (1.77m).

Gian Piero Gasperini Biography

Born in Grugliasco, Turin, Italy, Gian Piero Gasperini joined the Juventus youth system as a nine-year-old. 

He progressed through the ranks, winning an Allievi Nazionali championship and featuring in the Primavera squad alongside notable names like Paolo Rossi and Sergio Brio. 

He played a few Coppa Italia matches with the Juventus first team before embarking on a journeyman career that saw him play for various clubs in Serie A and Serie B.

Gasperini’s playing career spanned over 15 years, during which he represented clubs like Reggiana, Palermo, Cavese, Pistoiese, Pescara and Salernitana. 

The former midfielder finally achieved his dream of playing in Serie A with Pescara in 1987, scoring on his debut in the top flight. He retired from professional football in 1993 after two seasons with Vis Pesaro.

Gian Piero Gasperini Managerial Career

Gasperini’s passion for football extended beyond his playing days. In 1994, he returned to his roots, joining Juventus’s youth system as a coach. 

He honed his coaching skills with various age groups, starting with the Giovanissimi (U-14) and progressing to the Allievi (U-17) before taking charge of the Primavera (U-20) squad. That experience in youth development laid the foundation for his future success as a manager.

Gasperini’s first foray into senior management came in 2003 with Crotone in Serie C1. He made an immediate impact, guiding the team to promotion to Serie B in his first season. 

His success with Crotone caught the attention of Genoa, who appointed him as their head coach in 2006, and he led the Rossoblu to Serie A in his first season with the club.

Gasperini’s tactical prowess and his ability to get the best out of his players were evident during his time at Genoa, highlighted by leading the club to a fifth-place finish in the 2008-09 Serie A season, their highest league position in 19 years. 

This achievement secured a UEFA Europa League spot for Genoa and earned Gasperini widespread praise for his attacking style of play.

Gasperini’s growing reputation led to his appointment as Inter Milan manager in 2011. However, his time at Inter was short-lived, as he was sacked after just five winless games. 

He then took over at Palermo on September 12, 2012, but was dismissed twice — on February 4, 2013, and March 11, 2013 — during a tumultuous season.

Gasperini returned to Genoa for a second spell as manager on September 29, 2013, further demonstrating his ability to build competitive teams. 

However, it was his move to Atalanta in 2016 that would define his managerial career. Gasperini took over a La Dea side that was perennially battling against relegation. 

He has since transformed the club’s fortunes, instilling an attacking philosophy and developing a cohesive unit that would challenge the Serie A elite.

Under his ongoing leadership, Atalanta achieved a remarkable fourth-place finish in his first season, securing European football for the club. 

Gasperini’s success with Atalanta continued, with the club consistently qualifying for European competitions and reaching the Coppa Italia final in 2019.

In 2019-20, they made history by qualifying for the Champions League for the first time, reaching the quarter-finals in their debut season. La Dea also finished third in Serie A, with their attacking trio of Josip Ilicic, Luis Muriel and Duvan Zapata scoring over 15 league goals each.

Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the departure of key players, Gasperini maintained Atalanta’s impressive form, securing consecutive third-place finishes in Serie A and another Champions League qualification. In 2021, they reached the Coppa Italia final again, narrowly losing to Juventus.

PAY ATTENTION: Stay updated with the Latest Soccer News in Nigeria from Pulse Sports

The 2023-24 season proved to be a landmark one for Gasperini and Atalanta. They reached the semi-finals of the Europa League, overcoming Liverpool in a thrilling encounter. 

The Bergamo outfit also advanced to the Coppa Italia final, where they once again faced Juventus. 

Although Atalanta fell short in the Coppa Italia, they secured a Champions League spot for the following season and, most importantly, achieved European glory by winning the Europa League, defeating Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 in the final after a historic Lookman hat-trick. 

This triumph marked Gasperini’s first major title as a manager and was a just reward for one of Italian football’s most innovative managers.

Which clubs did Gian Piero Gasperini play for?

Youth career
Juventus (1967–1976)

Senior career
Juventus (1976–1978)
Reggiana (loan) (1977–1978)
Palermo (1978–1983)
Cavese (1983–1984)
Pistoiese (1984–1985)
Pescara (1985–1990)
Salernitana (1990–1991)
Vis Pesaro (1991–1993)

Gian Piero Gasperini Teams Coached

Juventus (Youth Sector) (1994–2003)
Crotone (2003–2004)
Crotone (2005–2006)
Genoa (2006–2010)
Inter Milan (2011)
Palermo (2012–2013)
Palermo (2013)
Genoa (2013–2016)
Atalanta (2016–present)

Gian Piero Gasperini Stats

Playing Career

According to Transfermarkt, Gian Piero Gasperini played 475 games during his career, scoring 45 times. He made 298 appearances in Serie B while featuring more than 50 times in Serie A (59) and the Coppa Italia (57).

Managerial Career

According to Transfermarkt, Gian Piero Gasperini has managed 862 games in all competitions, winning 396, drawing 206 and losing 260 matches (as of 25 February 2025).

He has managed 427 matches for Atalanta, winning 222, drawing 99 and losing 106 — La Dea have scored 836 and conceded 506.

In his first role as Crotone boss, Gasperini won 49 of 110 matches while playing out 28 draws and losing 33.

Across two spells as Genoa boss, Gasperini managed 297 games, winning 122, drawing 70 and losing 105.

At Palermo, he notched three wins in 23 games, drawing eight and falling to 12 defeats. His ill-fated time at Inter in 2011 was brief, with the Nerazzurri losing four and drawing one of his five matches in charge.

Gian Piero Gasperini Trophies

Atalanta
Europa League: 2023-24

Individual Honours

Serie A Coach of the Year: 2019, 2020

Gazzetta Sports Awards Coach of the Year: 2017

Panchina d’Oro: 2019, 2020

Serie A Coach of the Month: November 2021, May 2024, November 2024

Gian Piero Gasperini vs Carlo Ancelotti

Gian Piero Gasperini has faced Carlo Ancelotti nine times (as of February 25, 2025), winning two, drawing two and losing five times. 

Gasperini’s first victory over Ancelotti was in September 2008 as Genoa boss, defeating Milan 2-0 in the 2008-09 season, while he got the better of the five-time Champions League winner in April 2019, when Atalanta secured a 2-1 success against Ancelotti’s Napoli in Naples.

Gian Piero Gasperini Salary

According to CNA, Gian Piero Gasperini earns €3m per year (€57,000) at Atalanta on his current deal which expires this summer with the option of an additional year.

Gian Piero Gasperini Tactics

Gian Piero Gasperini is renowned for his attacking and fluid tactical approach to football. 

He typically employs a 3-4-3 formation, but this often morphs into various shapes during matches, showcasing the dynamic nature of his system. 

His teams prioritise possession-based football with an emphasis on quick, short passes and off-the-ball movement to create scoring opportunities.

Gasperini’s tactics rely heavily on the versatility of his midfielders and forwards. He often utilises attacking wing-backs who push high up the pitch, providing width and creating overloads in the final third. 

This creates a hyper-offensive approach with a focus on scoring goals, sometimes at the expense of defensive solidity.

Defensively, Gasperini’s teams employ a high defensive line and a compact shape, with minimal distance between the attack and defence. 

They are known for their aggressive pressing and use of man-marking across the entire pitch. This intense pressing style requires his players to be physically fit and energetic. 

In attack, he favours quick, creative players who can exploit spaces and create chances. While his attacking style has earned him plaudits and success, it has also drawn criticism for its vulnerability to counter-attacks and a reliance on outscoring opponents. 

Overall, Gasperini’s tactical approach is characterised by its fluidity, attacking intent and high-pressing style. 

His system demands a lot from his players but can be highly effective in creating an exciting and entertaining brand of football.

Gian Piero Gasperini Wife

Gian Piero Gasperini has been married to his wife, Christina, a former school teacher, since 1980. 

They have two children, Davide and Andrea, and Christina has been a constant source of support and advice throughout Gasperini’s career.

Gian Piero Gasperini Net Worth

Various sources estimate Gian Piero Gasperini’s net worth to be between $5 million and $10 million. This is based on his managerial career, including his current salary at Atalanta and past earnings from other clubs.