The 2015/16 Serie A will get underway in less than two months’ time now.
Although the summer transfer window will officially start today week, the 20 clubs in the Italian top flight are all active on the transfer market trying to bolster their respective squads for the new season.
So far, some transfers have already been sealed, others are still in the offing whereas some deals will remain just paper talk until deadline day August 31.
What is sure, however, is that all Serie A clubs have unveiled their coaches for next season.
The big majority – 14 – have opted for continuity whereas the six others decided to change.
Last weekend Fiorentina an-nounced that former Juventus and Inter midfielder Paulo Sousa will be their new coach.
Vincenzo Montella still had two years to run on his contract in Florence but the club decided to sack him earlier this month after accusing him of lack of commitment.
Sousa has to plug the gap left by Montella who led Fiorentina to a fourth-place finish as well as reaching the semis of the Coppa Italia and Europa League
Sousa, 44, has an arduous task ahead of him as he has to plug the gap left by Montella who led Fiorentina to a fourth-place finish in May as well as reaching the semi-finals of both Coppa Italia and Europa League.
Maurizio Sarri had an excellent debut in the Serie A last term as he led minnows Empoli to a safe position in the standings while launching the careers of a few interesting players including Mirko Valdifiori (now signed by Napoli), Daniele Rugani, Riccardo Saponara and Matias Vecino.
At 56, Sarri was presented with the opportunity of a lifetime as he was appointed to replace Rafa Benitez, now at Spanish giants Real Madrid.
Marco Giampaolo, who had been unemployed since quitting Brescia in September 2013, has a great opportunity to revive his ailing career at Empoli.
After a promising start with Ascoli a decade ago, Giampaolo was fired by Cagliari, Siena, Catania and Cesena in succession, before his short stint with Brescia.
In similar vein, the much-travelled Walter Zenga has a good opportunity to establish himself in the Serie A as he got the Sampdoria job to replace Sinisa Mihajlovic.
Zenga, himself a Sampdoria goalkeeper between 1994 and 1996, makes a much-awaited return to the Italian top flight after a five-year absence.
In his career, apart from Italy, Zenga has coached in several countries including Romania, Serbia, Turkey and UAE.
His best season in the Serie A was as coach of unfancied Catania in 2008/09, leading the Sicilians to a 15th-place finish.
However, the former Italy and Inter custodian’s move to Catania’s bitter rivals Palermo proved to be a poor decision as he was sacked in November 2009, after just 13 games in charge.
Andrea Stramaccioni, formerly of Inter, just proved to be an ordinary coach at Udinese and the writing was on the wall following the northeasterners’ 16th-place finish.
Stefano Colantuono, who did not deserve to be sacked by struggling Atalanta midway through last season, may just be the right coach for Udinese.
Milan hope to have made the right choice in appointing Mihajlovic, after sacking Massimiliano Allegri, Clarence Seedorf and Filippo Inzaghi in quick succession.
It is being rumoured that Milan are ready to spend big this summer to give the former Serbia national team coach a side competitive enough to make a creditable quest for a top-three finish.
In his career, Mihajlovic has alternated between good and low-key seasons. So, this is an ideal opportunity for the 1991 Champions League winner to prove himself at the top level.
Mihajlovic did well when in charge of Catania and Sampdoria but less successful at Bologna and Fiorentina.
Meanwhile, Fabrizio Castori and Roberto Stellone will make their debuts of fire in the Serie A in charge of newcomers Carpi and Frosinone respectively.
Bologna, so far, have kept faith with the experienced Delio Rossi – the coach who led them to an immediate promotion to the top flight after taking over from Diego Lopez towards the end of last season.
Rossi had led Lazio to the Coppa Italia in 2008/09 and was a runner-up in the same competition two years later with Palermo.