Serie A: Was the split from Carlos Cuesta the latest drama

While the Nations League is in full swing, the Italian club Parma in Serie A announced that Carlos Cuesta, only 31 years old, is no longer the head coach of the first team. This makes it the third managerial split in the league and the latest coaching debut of the season.

Cuesta's Record and Farewell

Cuesta took over Parma in July 2025, after previously working as a co‑coach under Mikel Arteta. In 48 matches he averaged 1.21 points per game and most recently guided the historic club to 13th place. In the current season, the team was only 15th after a single win when the international break began.

Parma's Search for a Successor

The club now has two weeks to appoint a new coach. According to official statements, candidates with Serie A experience are being considered, including Paolo Zanetti, Roberto D’Aversa and Alberto Gilardino. An internal promotion of Nicola Corrent, the youth coach, is explicitly ruled out.

Official Europe shock as Parma sack 31‑year‑old Carlos Cuesta

Historical Context in Serie A

Before Cuesta's departure, Fabio Grosso at Fiorentina and former Bundesliga manager Domenico Tedesco at Bologna had already ended their contracts. This makes Serie A the league where, in the first five matchdays, three managerial changes have already taken place – a record that no other top‑five league in Europe has yet achieved. Parma, which has had the youngest squad composition in the competition for two years, is now looking for a coach who can further raise the sporting quality.

In a statement, the club management said that after internal discussions there was “no longer any basis for continuing the partnership,” particularly regarding the sporting project development. Cuesta thanked the fans, players and the club on his social‑media channels, saying: “I gave everything, we were a family.”

The split marks the third debutant on Parma’s bench after Chivu and Cuesta. Owner Kyle Krause has already employed eight coaches in the past seven seasons, underscoring the club’s instability.