Long remembered in France for his brief and painful spell at Olympique Lyonnais, Fabio Grosso is carving out a new place for himself in Italy. Having agreed to return to Serie B with Sassuolo, the 2006 World Cup winner is now helping the Neroverdi establish themselves in the top flight and breathing new life into a club fresh from relegation.
At Lyon, Fabio Grosso never had a moment’s respite. Returning full of enthusiasm to a club in crisis, the Italian endured the stone-throwing incident in Marseille, followed by a series of tense weeks before being sacked after seven matches – a symbol of a spell that did him more harm than good.
What followed tells a different story. In June 2024, the Italian accepted the challenge of leading Sassuolo back up from Serie B, finding an environment where he was given the freedom to build. A year later, the club was promoted, and their return season in Serie A is already characterised by consolidation, far removed from a mere struggle for survival.
A newly promoted side already firmly established
The return to the top flight has so far gone smoothly. After 27 matches, Sassuolo sit in 9th place with 38 points, having scored 34 goals and conceded 36, and, crucially, with a comfortable cushion above the relegation zone. For a club fresh from relegation, the initial aim was simple: to rebuild a solid foundation and avoid an immediate return to the lower division. In this respect, the mission is well on track, with a team that has found its rhythm in mid-table and is progressing with a balance that is quite rare for a newly promoted side.
Recent form further reinforces this impression of stability. Sassuolo have won five of their last six matches, a run that has allowed them to consolidate their place in the top half of the table and quickly dispel any relegation fears. The Neroverdi have notably dominated Udinese, Verona and Cagliari, whilst securing two notable victories against Atalanta, including a clear 3-0 win in the first leg. Conversely, their limitations are, unsurprisingly, evident against the top sides, with defeats against Napoli, Inter, Juventus and Roma.
A project built around Grosso
The club’s progress is also underpinned by a clear tactical identity. In a Serie A largely dominated by three-man defence systems, the 48-year-old manager employs an attacking 4-3-3 formation based on width and verticality. The full-backs push forward to stretch the defence, Domenico Berardi and Armand Laurienté often cut inside to create space, whilst Andrea Pinamonti acts as a target man in the box. In midfield, Nemanja Matic, who is enjoying a resurgence in Italy, dictates the tempo and allows Ismaël Koné and Kristian Thorstvedt to provide cover and drive forward into the final third.
This consistency is also evident in the squad building. Over the last two transfer windows, Sassuolo has invested around €38.7 million – a significant effort for a newly promoted side – whilst limiting major departures. Matic arrived on a free transfer to provide leadership, Jay Idzes (€8m) strengthened the structure, Koné was brought in on loan and then permanently signed with the option exercised (€13m), and Darryl Bakola arrived this winter (€10m) to expand the squad rotation. This trajectory also continues Grosso’s track record, having already won the Serie B title with Frosinone in 2023 and then with Sassuolo in 2025, proof that the Italian knows how to build a project capable of climbing the ranks and establishing itself.
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