Roberto D'Aversa

Roberto D'Aversa (born 12 August 1975) is an Italian football coach and former midfielder. He is the head coach of Serie A club Empoli.

Playing career
A Milan youth product, D'Aversa spent most of his playing career with provincial Serie A clubs and in the lower divisions.

In the 2004–05 season, he was banned for six months for match-fixing. Stefano Bettarini, Antonio Marasco, Maurizio Caccavale, Alfredo Femiano and former Siena teammate Generoso Rossi were also banned.

On 28 January 2007, he played his first Serie A match for Messina against Ascoli.

In January 2009, he was loaned from Treviso to Mantova. In July 2009, he was released due to Treviso going bankrupt. On 5 September 2009, he moved to Gallipoli. On 22 January 2010, he was transferred to Triestina on a six-month contract. In July 2010, he was signed by Virtus Lanciano on a free transfer.

Virtus Lanciano
After his retirement, he stayed at Virtus Lanciano as part of the non-playing staff as technical area manager. In July 2014, he was appointed as the club's new head coach to replace Marco Baroni for the 2014–15 Serie B campaign.

After saving Lanciano from relegation in his first season in charge, he was confirmed for the following season. He was sacked on 30 January 2016 after a 0–3 loss to Trapani, which left Lanciano in second-last place in the Serie B league table.

Parma
On 3 December 2016, he was named new head coach of Parma, following the sacking of Luigi Apolloni and a short caretaker spell of Stefano Morrone for two games.

In his first season, he guided Parma to win the promotion playoffs after defeating Alessandria in the final.

He was confirmed for the club's 2017–18 Serie B season, in which he successfully led Parma to second place and direct promotion to Serie A in their first season in the second division following the club's refoundation. This was the club's third back-to-back promotion in three years (two of which under his tenure). D'Aversa was also confirmed as head coach for the 2018–19 Serie A season.

On 23 August 2020, D'Aversa was sacked by Parma, with the club citing a lack of unity and enthusiasm for the decision.

On 7 January 2021, D'Aversa was re-hired as Parma manager. After failing to save Parma from relegation, D'Aversa was successively dismissed by the end of the 2020–21 season.

Sampdoria
On 4 July 2021, D'Aversa was named new head coach of Sampdoria in Serie A. On 17 January 2022, after achieving just 20 points in 22 league games, D'Aversa was dismissed from his role.

Lecce
On 27 June 2023, D'Aversa returned to management as the new head coach of Serie A club Lecce, succeeding Marco Baroni, who joined Hellas Verona. On 11 March 2024, D’Aversa was sacked by Lecce after he headbutted Hellas Verona striker Thomas Henry.

Empoli
On 2 July 2024, D'Aversa was announced as the new head coach of Serie A club Empoli, agreeing on a two-year contract with the Tuscanian club.

Honours
Parma
 * Serie B runner–up: 2017–18

Manager
Individual
 * Serie A Coach of the Month: August 2023