Stefano Pioli-core really exists

Most football manager just want to coach. They don’t aim to wear flashy outfits or hypebeast sneakers—though some might recall Sinisa Mihajlovic’s excessive passion for such styles. Others, however, lack the refinement of Pep Guardiola, who carefully selects pieces from Stone Island and Rick Owens for his appearances on the Manchester City bench, or Scott Parker’s obsession with Thom Browne. For instance, Stefano Pioli falls into the broad category of managers—especially Italian ones—who have embraced the blazer, t-shirt, and white sneakers combo as a sort of comfort outfit they are unwilling to part with. Joining this group are Roberto De Zerbi, Eusebio Di Francesco, Alessio Dionisi, who, to stay warmer during the winter season, often add a layer—usually a sweater or a turtleneck. Naturally, managers' looks are almost always dictated or influenced by the formal wear of the clubs they lead. In Serie A, for example, this season Inter—and thus Simone Inzaghi—is dressed by Canali after their partnership with Moncler ended; Thiago Motta wears Loro Piana, and Paulo Fonseca sports Off-White. 

The same Fonseca who replaced Stefano Pioli, who in his last two seasons coaching Milan wore the brand founded by Virgil Abloh—including the gray blazer with a squared silhouette and wrist patch. Pioli seemed almost constrained in a look that didn’t feel like his own, standing firm in his role as an ambassador of normcore among Italian managers while nostalgically eyeing the dachshund logo on Harmont & Blaine polo shirts—the fashion partner of Milan before the switch to Off-White. Today, Stefano Pioli has returned to his comfort zone; even on the other side of the world, he has embraced his beloved style once again—especially since Al-Nassr closed their partnership with Tombolini, a Made-in-Italy brand known for its tailoring excellence. This allows Stefano Pioli to dress once more like a finance bro on an ordinary casual Friday. The new outfits provided to Al-Nassr by Tombolini were showcased during the last Asian Champions League match: Cristiano Ronaldo, Marcelo Brozovic, Otávio, and others all wore the same outfit. 

A look for a young and youthful dad, proudly displaying the forearm tattoo that celebrates Milan’s 19th Scudetto, perhaps even in front of his son’s friends. An outfit that makes him feel younger without going too far outside the box, avoiding excesses like those seen in Off-White’s style—such as the last jacket worn by Fonseca during a Rossoneri Champions League match. Above all, it’s a look that matches the style of Cristiano Ronaldo—the Portuguese phenomenon, who is also a strong supporter of pairing chino pants with white sneakers. Here lies the secret ingredient of the manager-player duo chasing Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal in the Saudi league. 

In short, it’s not a competition over who dresses more fancy or less, nor about who puts more effort into finding unusual pieces to wear to embody the role of a football coach. Embracing the Pioli-core today means adopting a low-profile look while cultivating the illusion of being cool – probably thanks only to a pair of sneakers or a t-shirt paired with a blazer – essentially, a reality-show aesthetic. After all, examples like Luciano Spalletti with SSC Napoli have taught us that sloppy looks don’t always go unnoticed. Spalletti, in fact, stood out for his unprecedented style: a neck warmer worn as a turban, Copa Mundial boots paired with the team’s official tracksuit on the bench, a rosary with colorful stones and a crucifix, rings, and even a military tag necklace recalling his past in the Italian Army. So, if you don’t have the time, desire, or passion to create a distinctive style, the Pioli-core will save you.