Andrea Pirlo’s adventure on the Fatih Karagumruk bench ended after less than a year. The famous Italian star has now left his post in charge of Turkish top-tier club Fatih Karagumruk.Legendary playmaker Pirlo turned his hand to management after an incredible career on the pitch. He won six Serie A titles with Juventus and AC Milan, while also lifting two Champions Leagues and a World Cup. But Pirlo’s time in the dugout has been less eventful. He managed just one season as Juventus boss before being sacked in 2021 after blowing their chances of a tenth straight title. Pirlo then got the chance to redeem himself when ambitious Turkish minnows Karagumruk came calling last year.The Turkish club, on the back of three consecutive defeats in the league, has decided, in mutual agreement with the Italian coach, to interrupt the relationship between the parties in advance, just three days before the end of the season.Pirlo had moved to Istanbul in June 2022, enthusiastic about a new adventure on the bench, after the underwhelming 2020/21 campaign in charge of Juventus.##NAJAVA_MECA_7279130##Suleyman Hurma, the patron of Karagumruk, has always had a soft spot for Serie A and, apart from the players Viviano, Biraschi, Borini and Bertolacci, during his experience as president, he had already entrusted the leadership of the team to another Italian, the emerging Francesco Farioli. Last year, Pirlo had signed a one-year contract, eager to prove himself after the Juve debacle. Fatih Karagumruk’s ambitions were to qualify for the European cups within a few years, but performances in the last few months proved to be below expectations. Karagumruk is currently ninth in the Super Lig standings with 44 points, 19 less than Adana Demirspor, the club managed by another Italian, Vincenzo Montella, and 30 fewer than Besiktas, arithmetically qualified for next season’s Conference League. It wasn’t particularly successful, but Pirlo can at least say his team was involved in some spectacular games. On average, Karagumruk’s games saw an average of 4.03 goals over 90 minutes(125 goals in 31 Super Lig fixtures). They lost 5-4 to Fenerbahce, beat Trabzonspor 4-1, overcame Kayserispor 4-2 and Antalyaspor 3-2. It’s all good fun for the neutrals but not particularly pleasing for the guy who’s bankrolling the whole circus.4.03 – Andrea Pirlo’s 31 Süper Lig appearances have featured 125 goals; with 4.03 goals per game, it is the highest average for a manager in the top-flight history (min. 25 matches). Arrivederci. pic.twitter.com/VZZyIAhVMc— OptaCan (@OptaCan) May 24, 2023 Divorce had been in the air for some time: despite the contract expiring on 30 June, the parties have already announced it. “Since there are no conditions to continue with coach Pirlo and his staff during next season, the club has authorized the coach to leave the team early, hoping that this decision will help him better plan his future. We are very happy to have spent a year with Andrea and we thank him for the work he has done. Good luck!”.
