Position: 9
Points: 53
Comparison with previous season: +8 (10th)
Season overview
The Gialloblu didn’t have their best start to the season, losing three games from three under Eusebio Di Francesco, who was sacked during the first break in September. Igor Tudor, a former assistant of Andrea Pirlo at Juventus, was called to turn things around and he did it in style. They Gialloblu were one of the most entertaining teams of the year in Serie A, perhaps the most surprising one and came just one point short of equalling the record of points in the club’s history. Impressive.
Turning point of the season
It’s not just a single game. Tudor’s appointment completely changed Verona’s season. The Croatian boss won his first match in charge at the Stadio Bentegodi, beating José Mourinho’s Roma 3-2. They treated Lazio the same way one month later, winning 4-1 against Maurizio Sarri’s men. Last but not least, they beat Juventus 2-1 at the end of October and forced Napoli to a 1-1 draw at the Stadio Maradona. It says it all about the season they’ve had. Hats off.
The coaches – Eusebio Di Francesco and Igor Tudor
Verona made an impressive turnaround when Tudor replaced Di Francesco in September. The former defender, who had gained experience at Udinese (head coach) and Juventus (assistant) in the previous campaigns, continued the path begun by Ivan Juric at the club. Man-to-man marking all over the pitch and an attacking mentality made Verona strikers and attacking midfielders shine. Gianluca Caprari, Antonin Barak and Giovanni Simeone had their best season in Serie A and owed it to Tudor. The Scaligeri broke their record for goals in Serie A, managing 65 this term.
Player of the Year – Giovanni Simeone
He looked lost in the previous campaigns at Cagliari and Fiorentina but rediscovered his true self at the Stadio Bentegodi, netting 16 goals in 35 appearances. Although he has only managed five goals in 2022, Simeone was Verona’s best scorer this season, followed by Caprari and Barak. He joined Verona on loan with an option to buy from Cagliari and the Scaligeri will likely make his move permanent in the summer. El Cholito is finally back, but many other players deserve to be mentioned, including Davide Faraoni and Nicolò Casale, one of the most promising Italian defenders.
Disappointing player of the year – Nikola Kalinic
The Croat began his second season in Verona and was supposed to be the leading figure of the Gialloblu attack. He scored four goals in 14 appearances before suddenly terminating his contract after an away game at Juventus. He had entered the pitch in the second half and Verona announced his rescission when the team was leaving the Allianz Stadium. He signed with Hajduk Split a few weeks later.