🎭 1: Behind the Curtain - The Sicilian Project

“Palermo per la Sicilia. Sicilia per il Mediterraneo.”

(Palermo for Sicily. Sicily for the Mediterranean.)

Welcome to The Sicilian Project, my FM26 save story with Palermo. This won’t just be a diary of matches and transfers, it will be a living narrative around my fictional manager, Jacques Huber. You’ll see his press conferences, his pitch side and nightlife scandals, and follow his rise (or fall) in Sicily.

But before the story begins, here’s a look behind the curtain. These are the rules and guiding principles that will shape the save in-game, so as is to make it more fun and challenging for me.

Sicily and the South of Italy has long been under-represented in Italian football. The vast majority of Serie A teams and Italian players now originate from the far wealthier northern region. Only three clubs this season (Napoli, Lecce, Cagliari) are geographically more southern than Rome, and over the past few years there has never been more than three Sicilians playing in Serie A .

The Sicilian Project is therefore about more than just winning matches and trophies; it’s about giving Sicily and Southern Italy a greater voice and representation on the national stage.

✅ Recruitment Policy

1. Southern Italy Core

• Players only from Rome and below: Lazio, Abruzzo, Campania, Molise, Puglia, Basilicata, Calabria, Sardinia, and Sicily.

2. Mediterranean Circle

• Recruitment also allowed of players from culturally and geographically connected regions:
  • Corsica, Marseille.
  • Balearic Islands, Canary Islands.
  • Cyprus, Greece, Malta.
  • Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt.

3. Diaspora Links (Special Cases)

• Can also bring in some players from Argentina, Uruguay, USA → Some of Palermo’s most famous players are from these countries so I am allowing it, but I am also limiting myself to only players of Italian heritage (surnames, backgrounds, or cultural ties).
  • A policy of “bringing our people home.”

4. Squad Restructure

• By the end of Season 4, all the Northern Italian players and ineligible foreigners already at the club have to be replaced.

👥 La Primavera Siciliana (Youth Development)

• By Season 2 → at least one Sicilian player in the senior squad.
• By Season 4 → at least one Sicilian academy graduate in the first XI.
• Continuous investment in Palermo’s youth academy to make Sicily a hub for talent.

⚽ Tactical Vision

• Attacking, possession-based football.
• Inspired by Bielsa, adapted by Huber: positional fluidity, high intensity, relentless movement.
• Built around flair players, expressive midfielders, and dynamic dribblers.
• Football that excites, entertains, and represents Palermo’s character.

🚫 Prohibited Approaches

• No signings from Northern Italy or unrelated foreign nations.
• No defensive, or overly cautious tactical systems.
• No shortcuts. No mercenaries. No compromises on Palermo’s new identity.

📝 Closing Note

This blog will mix football updates with story: match results, press conferences, tabloid gossip, lifestyle spreads, ultras statements – all wrapped around Jacques Huber’s Palermo journey. Apologies in advance for any poorly made AI visuals (slop). I think visuals are important for a blog but just know, if I was capable, I would make them myself. 

Next up: Meet the Manager, where we explore Huber’s extraordinary path from Rennes to Palermo, via Cambridge lecture halls and Marcelo Bielsa’s dugout.

📰 2: Meet the Manager - Jacques Huber

From Rennes to Leeds, from Cambridge lecture halls to Bielsa’s dugout, Jacques Huber’s path to Palermo has been anything but ordinary. At just 32 years old, the Franco-English coach arrives in Sicily with a story shaped by tragedy, resilience, and a relentless obsession with the game. Now, he steps into the pink-and-black spotlight of Palermo: a city where football is passion, theatre, and sometimes chaos.

👶🏻 Early Life & Playing Dreams

Jacques Huber was born on 17 May 1993 in Dinard, France, to a French mother from Saint-Étienne and an English father from Leeds. Raised on the outskirts of Rennes, Huber joined the Rennes academy as a promising central midfielder. But at 10, his father’s new job took the family to Oxford, ending his spell in Brittany and beginning a new one at Oxford United’s youth academy. 

In Oxford, Huber’s talent quickly stood out, and by 13 he was on the radar of his boyhood club, Leeds United. He joined their academy in 2006, balancing long-distance travel with his school studies. At 16, he signed as a first-year scholar, and later that year he made his professional debut in League One (2009–10). 

Over that season, Huber made 28 appearances as a defensive midfielder. Praised for his composure and tactical maturity, he was regarded as one of the club’s brightest young players. 

Tragically, however, just weeks before Leeds secured promotion to the Championship, Huber (number 19) suffered a devastating quadruple leg break against MK Dons. The injury ended his professional playing career just 3 weeks before his 17th birthday.

🎓 Cambridge & the Birth of Il Professore

Walking away from football, Huber, at the behest of his mother, turned to higher education. After doing exceptionally well at his A-levels, Huber enrolled at Cambridge University in 2011, studying psychology.

Initially focusing solely on his studies, he was eventually persuaded to coach his college football team, Fitzwilliam. His first season brought immediate success, as Fitzwilliam went unbeaten to win the inter-college title. 

Huber then went on to complete undergraduate, master’s, and PhD degrees with top honours whilst continuing to coach. Under his leadership, Fitzwilliam won another college title and Cambridge University's first team earned promotion back to the top division of the university league system, finishing second in their first season before capturing back-to-back titles in 2016–17 and 2017–18.

Remarkably, his inventive tactical experiments, such as deploying two right wingers and inverted full backs, drew coverage from regional news outlets and grassroots football blogs, earning him the nickname “The Professor”. For a university side to receive this level of attention was unusual, and it marked Huber out as a coach with ideas far beyond the amateur game. 

⚽ Leeds United & the Bielsa Years

By the time Jacques completed his PhD in psychology as well as his UEFA B License, Huber had transformed from reluctant student coach into the most intriguing young mind in English university football. That growing reputation as well as his playing connections eventually helped him return to Leeds United as a youth coach, where he impressed with his work in the academy and with the U23s under Carlos Corberán. It was here that Marcelo Bielsa first noticed him. 

Bielsa, curious about this young Franco-English coach, invited Huber to dinner after hearing of his tactical curiosity. Despite language barriers, with Bielsa speaking Spanish and Huber, French and English, the two spent hours communicating through sketches, gestures, and fragments of shared vocabulary. That evening laid the foundation for a mentorship that would profoundly shape Huber’s career. Bielsa valued Huber’s analytical mind and psychological background, while Huber absorbed Bielsa’s obsessive attention to detail and uncompromising footballing philosophy. Over time, Bielsa gave him greater responsibilities with the senior team: leading training drills, preparing opponent dossiers, and contributing ideas to tactical setups.

Huber came to view Bielsa not only as a mentor, but as a father figure within football, someone who instilled in him both discipline and creativity.  

“Jacques is a man who thinks deeply about football, but also about people. That combination is rare.” – Marcelo Bielsa 

Huber was part of Bielsa’s staff during Leeds’ promotion to the Premier League in 2019–20 and remained alongside him through their first season back in the top-flight. By the start of 2021–22, Huber was seen regularly on the bench as one of Bielsa’s key assistants, having also completed his UEFA A License. When Bielsa was dismissed in February 2022, Huber chose to depart with him out of loyalty, despite Leeds offering him the chance to remain under the new coach Jesse Marsch.

🌍 A New Stage: Uruguay

During the following year, Huber worked towards his UEFA Pro License while staying in close contact with Bielsa and running occasional training sessions for Cambridge United. In 2023, when Bielsa became manager of Uruguay, he invited Huber to join his staff. Once again, Huber seized the chance to learn under his mentor, this time in an international setting. He led training sessions, contributed to tactical preparations, and played a central role in guiding Uruguay to the semi-finals of the Copa América. 

Bielsa was effusive over Huber’s time with Uruguay: “He was not my assistant. He was my colleague. There is a difference.”

The experience with Uruguay improved Huber's Spanish as well as finally cemented his readiness to step out of his mentor’s shadow, and so whilst assisting Bielsa with Uruguay’s World Cup preparations he began looking for a Head Coach position of his own.

🏟️ The Palermo Project

In the summer of 2025, Jacques Huber was unveiled as the new manager of Palermo FC. Palermo is part of the City Football Group, but despite recently modernising its branding, it is fiercely proud of its Sicilian roots. Huber’s appointment came with Bielsa’s personal recommendation and a clear challenge: restore Palermo to Serie A while building a team that reflects the island’s identity. 

Huber’s philosophy is simple but demanding:

• Attacking, possession-based football.
• Flair and intensity, inspired by Bielsa, but uniquely his own.
• A focus on youth development, especially Sicilian players.

🎯 Closing Thoughts

For Jacques Huber, Palermo represents both risk and opportunity. “My career ended too soon as a player,” he reflected at his unveiling, “but that gave me time to think. Football isn’t only about winning. It’s about identity. Palermo deserves a team that reflects Sicily’s pride.”

At just 32, his story already spans Rennes, Leeds, Cambridge, Montevideo, and now Palermo. The question now is whether Il Professore can become something more: Il Principe di Palermo. 

Next Up: Meet the Staff, where we explore and learn about the men joining Huber in Palermo.

👥 3: Meet the Staff - The Inner Circle

When Jacques Huber signed on as Palermo’s new manager, he didn’t come alone. Football is never a one-man project, and from the beginning he made it clear: any success would be built on the people beside him.

This summer, four young coaches have joined him. All in their first senior jobs, all eager to prove themselves. They are his inner circle.

⚽ Tobi Okori — Assistant Manager 

Nationality: English–Nigerian | Age: 33
Background: Former QPR and Crystal Palace academy player who never turned professional. Built his career through coaching courses and obsessive study. UEFA Pro Licence.
Role: Tactical brain and analyst. Huber’s right-hand man, armed with endless clips, data, and diagrams.
Connection to Huber: Met on UEFA coaching courses, quickly bonding over late-night debates about pressing systems. Agreed to leave his opposition analyst and youth coaching position at QPR to join Huber as assistant manager.

“Tobi can talk about passing networks like its poetry. He sees details most of us miss.” — Jacques Huber

🧱 Adam Fairclough — Defensive Coach 

Nationality: English | Age: 36 (a few years older than Huber)
Background: Ex–Cambridge United defender, a solid lower-league career before moving into coaching. UEFA A License.
Role: Specialist in defensive organisation, bringing structure and discipline to the back line.
Connection to Huber: Met through early coaching courses, later worked together at Cambridge United’s academy during Huber’s break between Leeds and Uruguay. Left his position in Cambridge United’s academy to join the senior coaching team in Palermo.

“Adam’s an old school defender at heart. He gives us all the balance we need.” — Jacques Huber

🧨 Samir Halimi — Technical Coach

Nationality: Moroccan–English | Age: 32 (same age as Huber)
Background: London-born with Moroccan heritage. Studied at Cambridge university with Huber before earning his badges alongside him. UEFA A License.
Role: Focuses on attacking play, ball progression, and player expression.
Connection to Huber: Old friend from Cambridge University days. They coached together and studied side by side. Was managing younger ages at Leyton Orient before agreeing to join Huber.

“Samir protects the joy in our football. When things get too rigid, he reminds us why players love the game.” — Jacques Huber

🏋️‍♂️ Patrick Sullivan — Fitness & Conditioning Coach 

Nationality: Irish | Age: 28 (youngest of the group)
Background: Modern sports science specialist with a sharp eye for fitness and recovery trends.  UEFA B License.
Role: Oversees conditioning and ensuring players can meet Huber’s high-intensity demands.
Connection to Huber: Introduced through Fairclough after impressing during joint training blocks at Cambridge United. Was assisting fitness coaches in both senior and academy Cambridge teams before agreeing to join Fairclough and Huber in Sicily.

“Patrick’s energy is contagious. He’ll keep the players sharp and keep us honest too.” — Jacques Huber

🌙 Settling In

For now, the coaches are still unpacking and finding their rhythm in Sicily. Huber, Okori, and Halimi will be sharing an apartment in the city centre. A new temporary base for long nights of tactical talk and late dinners. Fairclough and Sullivan will also be close by, ready to begin the grind of preseason.

None of them speak Italian yet. They don’t know the city, or the language, or the rhythms of Sicilian life. What they do know is each other, and that trust may prove just as important as any transfer Palermo makes this summer. 

The real work begins now. 

Next Up: The Arrival, Huber faces the press for the first time at Renzo Barbera. What will he say about Palermo’s future, Sicilian identity, and the challenges that lie ahead? 

(I need to wait for the release of FM26 before posting the next blog, but hopefully some of you are now interested in following the story!)

Very interesting, this! Impressive way to present it too.

Nice touch of realism with the Bielsa angle, I follow South American football a bit and at one point there always seemed to be managers popping up with Bielsa connections.

I like the rules you've set out here, should be an interesting save to keep an eye on

How's the initial save going?

I've started the Beta as Palermo and going to continue it when the full game is released today.  I'm currently half way through season 1 sitting top by a point.  Think 3rd place is 5 points behind so all to play for in the 2nd half of the table. 

I haven't set any transfer challenges just yet but might from the start of season 2 (just signed a 35 year old Polish midfielder for experience).  Promoted a 16yo from the academy to the first team and also signed a young LB on a free.

Hoping to gain automatic promotion this season then look to build a team capable of staying in Serie A.

Any tips as never managed in Italy, typical stay in England but wanted a change and Palermo looked a good challenge. 

sempre forza Palermo! 

🎤 4: The Arrival - Huber’s First Press Conference

After a week of speculation, introductions, and quiet work behind the scenes, Jacques Huber finally stepped out in front of the cameras as Palermo’s new manager. Dressed in a crisp black suit, the 32-year-old faced the local and international media at Renzo Barbera’s press room for the first time. 

📝 Transcript Excerpts

Club Spokesperson:
“Good afternoon, everyone. Thank you for joining us here at the Stadio Renzo Barbera. We are proud to present our new manager, Jacques Huber. Jacques will now take your questions.”

Simona Damone (La Gazzetta dello Sport):
Jacques, welcome to Italy. How does it feel to be sitting here today as manager of Palermo FC?
Huber:
“Thank you. It’s a huge honour. Palermo is a club with rich traditions, a strong identity, and passionate supporters. To be trusted with leading this team at such an important moment in its history is a privilege. I feel excited and ready to get to work. Forza Palermo.”

Jacopo Vezzosi (Sky Sport Italia):
You are still a young coach, just 32 years old. Some might say this is a risk for Palermo. What would you say to those who question your experience?
Huber:
“Yes, I am young, but I’ve worked in very different environments. From university football in Cambridge to academy work in England, and later alongside Marcelo Bielsa. Those experiences shaped me. For me, age is less important than clarity of ideas and the ability to transmit them to the players.”

Chiara Fracaros (Corriere dello Sport):
How important was Marcelo Bielsa in your development, and what parts of his philosophy will you bring to Palermo?
Huber:
“Marcelo was fundamental. From him, I learned discipline, intensity, and the courage to trust your principles. I won’t copy him. I am my own coach. But his values will always be present in my work: hard pressing, fluid rotations, and respect for the physical side of the game.”

Alessandro Redaelli (La Repubblica Palermo):
Supporters here are desperate to see Palermo back in Serie A. What is your vision for the club?
Huber:
“We want to return to Serie A, but we must build step by step. I believe in football that is brave, intelligent, and intense. If the team reflects the passion of our fans, results will follow.”

James Gardner (BBC Sport):
You speak French and English fluently, and now you’re working in Italy. How are you adapting to the language and culture?
Huber:
“My Italian is still a work in progress, but I’m studying every day. It’s vital to respect the culture of the club and the city. Communication is key, so I’ll keep improving until I can give this press conference in Italian.”

Darren Johnston (The Sun):
Jacques, you’re now managing in Sicily, a place that, frankly, many people abroad still associate with the Mafia, corruption, and danger. Does that reputation worry you or affect how you think about your job here?
Huber (pausing, then firmly):
“I know those stereotypes exist, but they don’t reflect the Palermo I see. What I see is a city full of life, A city full of passionate people and a beautiful culture. Football should tell that story, not clichés. Yes, Sicily has a powerful and complex history, but it is not my role to repeat tired narratives. My role is to represent this club and its supporters with pride, to build a team that belongs to them, and to show people a Palermo that the world should respect. That is the only story I want to tell.”

Jacopo Vezzosi (Sky Sport Italia):
You’ve also brought several young coaches with you. How important is that staff to your project?
Huber:
“Very important. This is not a one-man job. I wanted people I trust, who share the same vision, and who are ready to learn about Palermo as I am. They are ambitious coaches, and together we will give everything to build this club.”

Simona Damone (La Gazzetta dello Sport):
In recent years, we have not seen many young players coming through from Sicily. Do you have a plan for this side of the club?
Huber:
“Yes, absolutely. Palermo must be a club that represents Sicily. That means opportunities for local players. We must create a pathway where young players know they will be trusted if they have the quality and mentality. My dream is to see Palermo succeed not only with signings from outside, but with boys who grew up here wearing the pink shirt.”

Club Spokesperson:
“Grazie, thank you everyone. That concludes today’s press conference.”

📰 Reactions: Media & Fans

Giornale di Sicilia
“Huber promises courage, youth, and Sicilian pride. The words the city wanted to hear.”

Corriere dello Sport
“A Professor at Heart: Big ideas, but can he turn them into victories?”

La Stampa
“Another foreign coach with promises. Palermo needs results, not speeches.”

📣 Voices from Palermo

Mauro, 44 (taxi driver):
“He talks nicely, but he’s a foreign coach who doesn’t know Sicily yet. Let’s see if he really understands this city.”

Isla, 27 (curva sud season ticket holder):
“At last someone speaks about Sicilian boys playing for Palermo. If he keeps that promise, we will back him forever.”

🎯 Final Word

Jacques Huber’s first press conference set the tone: bold words, a clear philosophy, and promises of youth and identity. But Palermo is a city that has heard promises before. The pink and black faithful are hopeful but cautious. In Sicily, trust is not given freely, it is earned, one performance at a time.

Next Up: Transfers & First Impressions, who will Huber and his team bring in to wear the pink shirt, and how will they shape Palermo’s  squad for the season ahead?

🔄 5: Transfers & First Impressions

The press conference was only words. Palermo supporters know that speeches do not win promotion, but players do. And in Sicily, the mercato (transfer market) is more than just business. It is theatre and hope wrapped in pink and black.

For Jacques Huber, this will be his first real test: can he reshape a squad that has drifted and mould it into something competitive, that reflects his vision of Southern grit and Mediterranean flair?

📝 Transfers In

Stefanos Tzimas – Striker (19, Greek) – Loan from Brighton & Hove Albion
The first arrival under Huber, and already a statement. A promising young Greek striker known for his powerful dribbling and ability to beat the offside trap. At 19, he has a lot to learn, but with an eye-watering option to buy of €27,500,000, there is a tiny chance that if he fires Palermo to the riches of Serie A, he can become a permanent part of Huber’s rebuild. 

Seydou Fini – Winger (19, Italian, Sardinia) – Loan from Genoa
A much needed depth addition on the wings for Huber and Palermo. Incredibly raw but with bags of pace, Fini will likely excite in his cameos off the bench. Born in Nuoro, Sardinia, his arrival is a reminder of Palermo’s new Mediterranean identity. 

Yeremay – Winger (22, Spanish, Canary Islands) – Transfer from Deportivo La Coruña, €8,000,000 (€11,750,000)
From Gran Canaria to the Conca d’Oro. Signed for his creative trickery and fearless dribbling, he is the kind of flair player Huber has promised to unleash. At just 22, he represents a huge coup for Palermo, who moved quickly once news arrived that he was transfer listed. With a fee potentially reaching €11,750,000, this marquee signing is a big show of faith from the board, as well as an expensive risk. If all the addons are hit, Yeremay will become Palermo’s second most expensive signing ever, only trailing the fee paid for one Paulo Dybala.

🌱 Academy Promotions

Alongside the new signings, Huber has also rewarded youth with some first-team opportunities. With the arrival of Huber, the Palermo board appointed a new manager for the U21s, 37-year-old Sicilian Tommaso Longato, who immediately advocated for the promotion of Salvatore Di Mitri to First Team training. With the loan of Giacomo Corona, Di Mitri will become third choice striker, whilst still playing fixtures for the U20s.

• Salvatore Di Mitri, Striker, 19 — A product of Palermo’s academy and born in the city, Di Mitri impressed during preseason with his athleticism and finishing. He will train with the senior squad this season and awaits his senior debut.

Huber has been vocal about his desire to see Sicilian talent flourish. Including homegrown players in the squad is an early step toward that vision.

🚪 Transfers Out

Huber described the departures as “difficult but necessary,” the first step in reshaping Palermo’s squad to reflect Sicily and the South.

👥 Staff Moves

It wasn’t just the squad being reshaped this summer. Behind the scenes, Palermo also added Michelangelo Rampulla, a Sicilian goalkeeping coach, and Salvatore Foti, a former striker turned defensive coach born in Palermo, in order to strengthen the local voice on the training ground. An exciting young Naples-born coach, Roberto Secchi, also joined Huber’s coaching team. 

On the recruitment side, the Director, Dario Mirri, also made a few changes to support Palermo’s new direction. Mirri appointed a new Director of Football, Gianluca Petrachi from Lecce, as well as orchestrated the return of Palermo-born, Rosario Argento as Chief Scout. Over the next couple weeks, both Petrachi and Argento are planning to brutally reshape the entire scouting department.

Beyond their technical work, these various appointments serve another purpose: helping bridge the gap between Huber’s newcomer staff – English, Irish, Nigerian, Moroccan – and the players who grew up in Sicily and Southern Italy. Communication, trust, and cultural understanding will be as vital as tactics in the months ahead.

⚽ First Impressions: Preseason

At their summer training base near Lago di Garda, under the Italian sun, the hard work began. Huber’s sessions are relentless: pressing drills, positional rotations, endless running. His staff – Okori buried in data, Fairclough barking at defenders, Halimi urging expression, Sullivan driving fitness – are quickly making their presence felt.

The squad, at first hesitant, is beginning to adapt. The Naples-born midfielder, Antonio Palumbo, caught the eye in the first preseason friendly with a hattrick, whilst the new Spanish winger, Yeremay, electrified the crowd in the final match of pre-season with a nutmeg and goal that drew great applause from the ultras. The only negative was the unfortunate groin injury (6-9 weeks) sustained by new signing Seydou Fini against Virtus Verona.

Observers noted Huber quietly shaping patterns of play that hinted at what’s to come: full-backs drifting inside, midfielders interchanging, and an insistence on attacking with width and speed.

📊 Preseason Results

• Kočevje 0–11 Palermo — Brunori, Gyasi, Palumbo (3), Ranocchia, Segre, Vasić (3), Verre
• Palmese 2–4 Palermo — Gomes, Le Douaron, Palumbo, Ranocchia
• Trapani 2–4 Palermo — Bani, Palumbo, Tzimas (2)
• Virtus Verona 1–3 Palermo — Brunori (2), Peda
• Reggina 1–3 Palermo — Palumbo, Tzimas, Yeremay

“The scorelines are not important yet,” said Huber. “The intensity, the spirit, that is what matters.”

Next Up: Life in the Bunker, how Huber and his inner circle are settling into Palermo life, with late-night tactics, cheap pasta, and a flat already nicknamed Il Bunker del Calcio.

🏠 6: Life in the Bunker - Settling in Via Agrigento

The drive back from the training ground had been quiet. Now they were back from training camp, Palermo’s facilities were even better than expected: modern, clean, with room to grow. Jacques Huber had walked the pitches with his hands in his pockets, already imagining changes. Tobi Okori had muttered about analyst space and briefings. Samir Halimi, though, had been grinning since they left.

“You’ll see,” Samir said as he finally unlocked the door to their new apartment. “It’s not too glamorous, but it’s us.”

The flat was wide and modern, with high ceilings, neutral walls, and a balcony overlooking the rooftops. Tobi scanned the room like he was judging a player. “It works,” he nodded. “Enough space for a table, a whiteboard, maybe a projector.”

Samir laughed, throwing open the balcony doors. “If we’re going to build something in Sicily, we need to live Sicily. This isn’t Cambridge anymore. Here, it’s espresso at dawn, pasta at midnight.”

That night, they christened the flat with cheap wine, overcooked pasta, and endless talk of football. By the third week, it no longer resembled a rental. The crisp walls were hidden by tactics boards and diagrams; the dining table buried under notebooks and laptops; arrows on the whiteboard tangled into something between strategy and abstract art.

The clock read 2:17 a.m., but no one moved to close their laptops. Empty glasses and garlic fumes filled the room. Jacques tapped his notebook. “The line’s too flat. Push the full-back five metres higher, and the press holds.”

Across from him, Tobi shook his head. “It only holds if the midfield shifts too. Otherwise, they’ll get cut straight through.” He rewound the clip of the Trapani game, stabbing the screen. “You’re asking too much of Gomes in the six.”

Samir leaned back in his chair, arms folded, a grin tugging at his mouth. “We could argue all night, but the players aren’t machines. Passion first, order second.” He gestured at the whiteboard in the corner, where overlapping arrows had turned into a mess of formations. “Give them patterns, yes, but give them freedom too. If we shackle them, we kill the flair Jacques keeps talking about.”

Jacques laughed, rubbing his eyes. “Freedom with discipline, Samir. That’s the balance.”

Even away from the training ground, football consumes them. Tobi’s family is still back in England, and sometimes he scrolls through photos of his kids before returning to analysis. Jacques scribbles notes endlessly. Samir cooks late-night pasta and plays devil’s advocate in every debate. 

Their neighbours have noticed. Just the other night, a voice called up from the street: “Allenatori! Sempre calcio, eh?” – Coaches, always football, huh?

The three leaned over the balcony, waved, and laughed. Palermo is starting to notice them, too.

This is how projects begin. Not under bright stadium lights, but in cramped apartments, over cold pasta and late-night arguments. If the dream of rebuilding Palermo is ever realised, it may be said it was born here, in Il Bunker del Calcio – The Football Bunker.

📰 Giornale di Sicilia - “The Football Bunker: Inside Huber’s Palermo Flat”

It’s not often that a football revolution begins in a rented apartment, but that may be the case in Palermo.

For weeks, neighbours on a quiet central street have spoken of the three foreign coaches who never sleep. The lights burn into the early hours, voices rise and fall, and whiteboards covered in arrows are visible through the curtains. This is the base of Jacques Huber, 32, Palermo’s new manager, alongside his assistant Tobi Okori and coach Samir Halimi.

None of them yet speak Italian, but they are learning quickly. Their days are intense at the training ground, their nights even more so. A neighbour told us: “At two in the morning, you hear them arguing. One shouts, another laughs, then silence. Always football, football, football.”

Sources close to the club say Huber and his staff are already gaining a reputation for obsession. They cook together or eat late at trattorie but talk always returns to the pitch. Okori is the data man, Halimi the romantic, and Huber the relentless planner.

Locals may smile at their eccentricities, but in Palermo, they are already making waves. Whether victories will follow remains to be seen, but if they do, history may say they were born here, in Il Bunker del Calcio.

Next Up: Serie B Kick-Off, Palermo begin their campaign under Jacques Huber. How will the new-look squad fare when the real football starts?

⚽ 7: Season Kick-Off — A New Era in Serie B

The waiting is over. After a summer of introductions, press conferences, transfers, and late-night debates, Jacques Huber finally took charge of his first competitive matches as Palermo manager. The task ahead is monumental: a return to Serie A, built on a new identity and intensity. But the opening weeks already offer a glimpse of what this new Palermo might become.

🧩 Tactical Reveal

To begin the season, Huber’s Palermo lined up in a 4-3-3, inspired by both Bielsa and Guardiola. One full-back, typically Tommaso Augello, inverts into midfield to create overloads, allowing the advanced midfielders—Filippo Ranocchia, Jacopo Segre, or Antonio Palumbo—to crash the box and drive into the half-spaces. On either side, Yeremay and Jérémy Le Douaron stretch the play by sitting wide on the touchline, only driving inside when they receive the ball in an attempt to force 1v1s. “Freedom with discipline,” as Huber likes to say, is the balance they’re chasing.

Early signs? When it works, Palermo look fluid, dynamic, and suffocating. When it falters, however, big gaps appear and they are highly susceptible on the counterattack. Out of possession, the team press high, with the midfielders jumping, and maintain a high defensive line. At present, they have been switching between a more aggressive 4-3-3 and a more conservative 4-1-4-1 depending on the opposition. Huber and his staff have also been experimenting with a 4-4-2 pressing structure but are yet to fully commit. The fine margins of Serie B and the individual quality of the players will eventually decide which of these approaches succeeds.

📝 Match Reports — Opening Rounds

Coppa Italia — Sassuolo 1–2 Palermo (A) 

A tough first competitive match for Palermo, as the Rosanero head to Sassuolo in the Coppa Italia. Despite the 1,000 km trip, pink shirts filled the away terraces, voices echoing with anticipation as Huber led his Palermo into battle for the first time.

Despite a cagey start, Palermo managed to impose themselves early in the first half with chances for Tzimas and Bani. The press was sharp, the tempo high, and Augello’s inverting greatly helped ball progression. Unfortunately, however, the breakthrough came the other way for Sassuolo in the 28th minute, when a mix-up in defending a set-piece allowed Fadera to lash one through a crowded penalty box. The collective groan that followed from the away crowd captured the disappointment of Huber and his team as they headed into half-time 1–0 down.

Fortunately for Palermo, the second half started much better, with Stefanos Tzimas levelling in the 50th minute after volleying home the cross of fellow debutant Yeremay. The away fans were then sent further into raptures when substitute Jacopo Segre popped up, slotting home a rebound to make it 2–1 in the 70th minute. Despite a late onslaught from Sassuolo after Huber’s team retreated into a mid-block, the Rosanero held on for a statement 2–1 win. When the final whistle blew, the cheers from the away end were thunderous. Palermo were not just competing; they were dictating.

Matchday 1 — Palermo 3–0 Reggiana (H)

The Renzo Barbera was alive again. It was the first home game of the new era, and the fans were in for a treat.

Coming off the back of their own Coppa Italia win against Udinese, AC Reggiana posed a stern test for Palermo in their first Serie B game. However, 13 minutes in, Yeremay curled a free-kick around the wall and set Palermo on their way. Twenty minutes later, a lovely, intricate passing move ended with Palumbo thumping another home from just outside the area. The roar from the crowd that followed the 2–0 lead wasn’t just joy; it was relief—a sense that Palermo have an exciting new era ahead of them.

Despite Reggiana having chances of their own, the second half brought more of the same. In the 65th minute, Tzimas tapped home a Yeremay cross for his second of the season, capping off a resounding Palermo win. Three points on the board and two wins from two for Huber.

Matchday 2 — Palermo 3–1 Frosinone (H)
The most convincing performance yet. Palermo dominated possession and pressed relentlessly in this match against their rivals. Goals from Palumbo (22’), Gomes (26’), and Tzimas (77’) secured a comfortable home win and gave fans plenty to cheer about.

Matchday 3 — Südtirol 1–3 Palermo (A)
Another win in a gritty, stop-start affair on the road. Palermo struggled at times to find their rhythm, but a fabulous hat-trick from Stefanos Tzimas (23’, 27’, 88’) secured the three points.

Matchday 4 — Palermo 4–2 Bari (H)
A dominant display at home, in which Palermo created chance after chance for their attackers. A hat-trick from Tzimas (8’, 17’, 39’) and a goal from Palumbo (38’) capped off a scintillating first-half attacking performance. Lapses at the back, however, may prove a cause for concern for Huber over the course of the season.

📊 Early Standings

After four games, Palermo sit top of Serie B. It’s early days, but the table already hints at what might be possible. That being said, promotion isn’t decided after four games, and every point matters in the long race for the top flight.

🔎 First Impressions

It’s still too soon for grand conclusions, but the foundations are clear. Palermo play on the front foot, they press with intent, and they have already begun to reconnect with their fans.

Early Standout Performers

• ⭐Stefanos Tzimas (8.22) — The difference-maker. He has scored nine in the opening five games and already looks like the ideal focal point for Huber’s attack. Quick, sharp, and relentless in the pursuit of goals, some fans have already started online fundraisers to bring him in on a permanent deal.
• 🛡️ Claudio Gomes (7.02) — Antonio Palumbo may have stolen the headlines with his goals, but it is Gomes that has been the heartbeat of Palermo’s midfield. He reads the game well, breaks up play, and sets the tempo with simple, precise passing.
• ⚓️ Mattia Bani (7.04) — Bani has been calm, assured, and growing into a real leader from the back. He has also relished his new role in possession when he shifts to the centre of a back three.

New Signings Settling In

• ✍️Yeremay (7.24) — Still adjusting to Serie B but has shown flashes of quality, especially in partnership with Tzimas. He looks like a player who could grow into a key role, with one goal and two assists already this season.
• ✍️Seydou Fini (N/A) — A disappointing start to his loan spell, as a groin injury has ruled him out of every fixture so far. He is almost back, however, and his performances in pre-season suggest he might be a useful weapon off the bench this season.

Youth Promotion Watch

• 🌱 Salvatore Di Mitri (N/A) — Promoted to the first team this summer and, though still waiting to make his first start, his energy in training has already caught the eye. Two goals in two matches for the Under 20s side.

The challenge now is consistency, turning this brilliant start into a season-long march.

Next Up: Settling into Serie B, the grind begins. September and October bring packed fixtures, away trips, and Palermo’s first real tests of consistency in Serie B and the Coppa Italia. Can Huber’s side turn early promise into momentum?

📅 8: Settling into Serie B — September & October

The honeymoon is over. After the excitement of the opening games, Palermo entered the grind of Serie B with away trips, midweek fixtures, and the reality of a long season. For Jacques Huber and his staff, this was the first true test of consistency.

📝 Match Reports

Coppa Italia — Como 0–1 Palermo (A)
Another unbelievable afternoon for Huber in the Coppa Italia. Palermo put together a commanding display in which they defended deeper than usual in a mid-block and exposed Como on the counterattack. The only goal of the game came in the 70th minute, when Filippo Ranocchia combined well with Brunori before smashing one home.

Matchday 5 — Cesena 0–2 Palermo (A)
Huber’s fairy tale continued at Cesena. A Tzimas brace (30’, 43’) in the first half preceded a rather turgid second-half performance. It wasn’t pretty, but the travelling fans roared when Palermo-born striker Salvatore Di Mitri made his debut in the closing minutes.

Matchday 6 — Palermo 0–0 Venezia (H)
This top-of-the-table clash proved a cagey affair. In the end, it finished 0–0 despite Palermo having the better of the chances. It was the first dropped points for Huber and perhaps a sign of Palermo’s early-season fatigue following three games in seven days.

Matchday 7 — Spezia 1–2 Palermo (A)
Tense and tactical. Palermo responded well to the draw midweek to edge out an in-form Spezia side. An early own goal (20’) and a great header from Tzimas (32’) eventually decided the contest.

Matchday 8 — Palermo 2–0 Modena (H)
Another controlled display from Palermo. Modena were seven games unbeaten prior to this match, but a Yeremay curler (29’) and a late Segre screamer (89’) secured all three points. By the end, the fans of the Rosanero were singing Huber’s name.

Matchday 9 — Catanzaro 1–3 Palermo (A)
Under torrential rain in Catanzaro, a rival promotion candidate was easily brushed aside. Palermo took the lead early through Tzimas (25’), as he slotted home an improvised panenka cross from Yeremay. Another goal from Tzimas (52’), and then one by Yeremay (54’) in the second half, sealed a deserved away win as Palermo maintained their momentum heading into October’s final fixture.

Matchday 10 — Palermo 2–0 Monza (H)
Another resounding victory over a promotion rival. Segre opened the scoring in the 14th minute before Jesse Joronen was called upon to save a penalty in the second half, after substitute Davide Veroli dragged a player down in the area. Eventually, Gyasi added the finishing touches to the victory with a wonderful solo goal in the 90th minute. Ten league games, ten unbeaten.

📊 League Table Snapshot

After ten games, Palermo still sit top of Serie B. Their early-season momentum has already given them real daylight between them and their nearest rivals. Venezia sit five points behind, with Monza and Catanzaro a further four points back. Huber’s side are showing the killer consistency that wins titles, but there is still lots of work ahead.

🔎 Notable Themes

• Huber’s style is settling: the inverted full-back system is beginning to click, allowing Palermo to dominate possession.
• Key players emerging: Yeremay (7.13) is fast becoming the creative spark in attack, while Jesse Joronen (7.14) has begun to provide a calm authority at the back.
• Defensive solidity: after a hectic start, the back four and goalkeeper have begun grinding out crucial clean sheets away from home.
• Fitness tests: rotation is starting to matter, with Sullivan’s fitness work becoming crucial. Fortuitously, Palermo have, so far, avoided any major injury problems.
• Added Staff: following an extensive interview process, Palermo appointed Habeeb Nwankwo, a young Nigerian and English set piece coach.

Next Up: Late Dinner at Seidita Steakhouse, not every battle is fought on the pitch. Join Huber and his staff as they step out of the bunker and into Palermo’s nightlife. A late dinner where football mixes with family, language lessons, and the bonds that hold the Sicilian project together.

🥩 9: Late Dinner at Seidita Steakhouse

The sizzle of steak on hot plates cut through the hum of Seidita Steakhouse. It was close to midnight, but Palermo thrived on late hours. Families lingered over wine, waiters moved briskly between tables, and the air was thick with the smell of grilled meat.

At a long corner table, Jacques Huber raised his glass. Around him sat his closest staff: Tobi Okori, still hunched over a glowing tablet; Adam Fairclough, ribeye in hand and laughing loudly; Samir Halimi, sipping red wine; and Patrick Sullivan, sneaking glances at his phone’s fitness and calorie tracker.

They weren’t alone tonight. Two of the Italian coaches had joined them. Salvatore Foti the grizzled striker with stories of Palermo from his youth, the other, Roberto Sechi, the promising coach from Naples, who doubled as the group’s unofficial translator. Between the English, French, and hesitant Italian, the table was a jumble of languages, but laughter carried across the plates easily enough.

Samir groaned, catching sight of Tobi’s screen. “Passing maps? At midnight? You’re addicted.”

Tobi didn’t look up. “Look, the left side was fading after 70 minutes. It’s why we conceded against Catanzaro.”

Jacques smirked. “Keep bringing analysis to the dinner table and the club might have to start paying you more.”

That got a laugh from the locals, and Tobi finally closed the tablet. “That would be nice. My wife’s sorting schools back home. Another month, and I’ll be out of the Bunker and in my own place.”

“About time,” Samir grinned. “Then maybe I’ll get the big bedroom.”

Adam leaned back, amused. “Don’t let him fool you. Tobi’s the type to sneak back just for the arguments. He won’t survive in a quiet house.” 

Conversation drifted. Fairclough mentioned how his daughter was already learning Italian faster than him. “She orders gelato like a Sicilian. I still point at the menu.” At the other end of the table, the Italians teased Patrick Sullivan for his endless gym sessions, insisting he’d see more of Palermo if he learned where to buy proper cannoli.

When the waiter came by to refill their glasses, Jacques tried a line in halting Italian. The pronunciation was clumsy, but it earned him a grin and a warm “piano piano, Mister Huber” – slowly, slowly.

Samir raised his glass. “Soon you’ll be giving press conferences in Italian. God help the translators.”

The table erupted in laughter, the kind of tired, easy laughter of men who had shared too many hours together and somehow still wanted more.

For one night, the steaks and the wine outshone the tactics. Tomorrow, the video clips would return. But tonight was about Palermo, about roots being laid and about a staff finding common ground. Foreigners and locals, slowly becoming a family in the city they had come to change.

Next Up: Back to the pitch, with the autumn fixtures piling up, Palermo face a crucial run in Serie B. Can Huber’s side continue turning late nights of steak, wine, and debate into results that matter?

⚽ 10: Back to the Pitch

With the introductions, the press conferences, and the first tastes of Sicilian life behind us, Palermo’s season rolls into its next phase. Every week brings a new test, every dropped point feels costly. For Jacques Huber and his squad, maintaining the momentum before a short winter break is everything.

🎯 Match Results

Matchday 11 — Palermo 4–1 Pescara (H) 
The Renzo Barbera roared into life as Palermo carved out another strong performance. Tzimas opened the scoring with a neat finish in the 17th minute before adding another at the 42nd. Shortly before half time, Gyasi (45+2’) extended the lead to three goals. In the second half Brunori added a fourth to secure a comfortable three points.

Matchday 12 — Juve Stabia 0–5 Palermo (A)
Palermo produced their biggest win under Huber with a ruthless display away at Juve Stabia. They flew out of the blocks, with Tzimas finishing coolly on 8 minutes before Palumbo doubled the lead on 12’ to silence the home crowd. A late flurry turned a dominant performance into a demolition: Tzimas grabbed his second on 82’, Segre added a fourth on 84’, and Le Douaron swept home two minutes later to complete the rout. Huber’s team are on a march, and right now it feels like nothing can stop them.

Matchday 13 — Virtus Entella 2–3 Palermo (A)
In front of a tight crowd in Chiavari, Palermo had to grind for all three points. Tzimas opened the scoring on 30 minutes, but Virtus Entella hit back just before the break through Flavio Russo on 43’. Any momentum for the hosts, however, was instantly snatched away when Yeremay (44’) restored Palermo’s lead a minute later. The game swung again on 66’, as Virtus Entella levelled to make it 2–2 and set up a nervy finale. Huber’s side, however, refused to let their unbeaten run slip. Ten minutes from time, pressure from a Palermo cross forced Tommaso Del Lungo into turning the ball into his own net, sealing a hard-fought away win for the league leaders.

Matchday 14 — Palermo 0–1 Carrarese (H)
Huber’s unbeaten Palermo finally came unstuck at the Renzo Barbera in a frustrating first defeat of the season. Palermo created the better chances and spent long spells camped in Carrarese’s half, but a mix of wasteful finishing and tired legs after a gruelling run of fixtures kept the scoreline level. The punishment came late: in the 87th minute, Julián Illanes rose highest from a set piece to nod home the winner. A flat, fatigued Palermo were left to reflect on missed opportunities and the end of Huber’s remarkable unbeaten start.

Coppa Italia — Roma 1–1 Palermo (Palermo win 5–4 on pens) (A)
Four days after their first defeat under Huber, Palermo produced a heroic Coppa Italia upset away to high-flying Roma, who currently sit fourth in Serie A. Huber set his side up deeper than usual, looking to absorb pressure and break on the counter. The plan led to an incredibly cagey first half, with chances at a premium; Dovbyk came closest, rattling the bar just before the interval.

Roma finally broke through on 63 minutes, when Matías Soulé arrived in the box to guide a low cross past Joronen. Chasing the game, Palermo pushed higher and pressed more aggressively but struggled to carve out any clear openings until the 90+3rd minute. Seydou Fini whipped in a desperate late cross and club captain Matteo Brunori stole in to prod home an equaliser that silenced the Olimpico and took the tie straight to penalties.

Both sides scored their first spot-kicks, before Joronen denied Baldanzi to hand Palermo the advantage, and then Gyasi coolly converted to make it 2–1 in the shootout. Roma scored their next three and Palermo their next two, leaving centre-back Mattia Bani with a fifth penalty to win it—only for his effort to be saved and sudden death to beckon. Joronen then produced another huge stop, saving Roma’s sixth penalty from Daniele Ghilardi, and fellow centre-back Pietro Ceccaroni stepped up to smash home the winner.

Palermo advanced 5–4 on penalties and, remarkably for a Serie B side, booked their place in the Coppa Italia quarterfinals, marking one of the defining nights of Huber’s reign so far.

Matchday 15 — Empoli 0–1 Palermo (A)
Back to league business after their Coppa Italia heroics, Palermo ground out a professional, if unspectacular, win away at Empoli. The hosts sat deep in a back five and allowed Huber’s side over 70% of the ball, but their low block made chances hard to come by. The decisive moment came on 21 minutes, when Gyasi’s shot took a deflection and wrong-footed the goalkeeper to put Palermo in front. It was far from a vintage performance, yet Huber’s men managed the game well and saw out a scrappy 1–0 victory.

Matchday 16 — Palermo 3–0 Sampdoria (H)
A chaotic first half handed Palermo complete control. Sampdoria went down to ten men on 32 minutes when Ioannou was sent off for a nasty tackle on Fini, and things unravelled further in stoppage time: Tzimas made it 1–0 on 45+3’, before Ferrari saw red for another horror challenge on Gyasi a minute later. With a two-man advantage, Palermo dominated after the break. Gyasi smashed in a brilliant long-range strike on 51’, and Ranocchia, returning from injury, added a third on 81’. Sampdoria failed to record a shot on target as Huber’s side cruised to a routine win.

Matchday 17 — Avellino 1912 0–3 Palermo (A)
Even without Gomes and Gyasi, now away at AFCON, Palermo kept their momentum rolling in Avellino. Tzimas struck after just four minutes to settle any nerves, finishing a move that set the tone for a controlled away display. In the second half, Seydou Fini took over as chief creator, first cutting back for Valerio Verre to make it 2–0 on 76’, then whipping in another cross for Tzimas to slot home his second on 85’. A comfortable 3–0 win, and further proof Huber’s side can cope without key absentees.

Matchday 18 — Palermo 1–0 Padova (H)
Palermo dominated the first half but were repeatedly let down by their finishing in a one-sided contest at the Renzo Barbera. The breakthrough finally came on 59 minutes, when Antonio Palumbo volleyed home from inside the area to give Huber’s side a deserved lead. Padova failed to register a shot on target as Palermo saw out a controlled 1–0 victory in their final game before a short two-week New Year break.

📊 League Table Snapshot

As Serie B approaches the halfway point and Palermo’s season pauses for a short winter break, Huber’s side sit top of the table, well clear of the chasing pack. The gap has stretched to an astonishing 15 points, with only Venezia, who have a game in hand, offering any real pursuit. At this stage, the title and promotion feel less a question of if and more a matter of when.

📰 Press Round-Up

La Gazzetta dello Sport:
“Huber’s Palermo are no longer just a pleasant surprise. They’re a machine. High pressing, ruthless transitions, and a clarity of ideas rarely seen in Serie B. With a 15-point gap at the top and a place in the Coppa Italia quarter-finals, the only real question now is not if they will reach Serie A, but how far this project can go once they get there.”

Corriere dello Sport:
“Consistency was supposed to be the challenge, yet Palermo have turned it into their greatest weapon. One defeat all season, a relentless defensive record, and the ability to grind out 1–0s when the legs are heavy. AFCON absences and a crowded calendar will test them, but Huber has built a squad that believes, and plays, like champions in waiting.”

Giornale di Sicilia:
“The city is living this season as a rebirth. Renzo Barbera is filling up again, children wear pink shirts in the streets, and every matchday feels like a festival. Palermo are not just leading the table; they are restoring pride to a club and a city that for too long have watched others take the spotlight.”

Voce Rosanero (Ultras spokesperson):
“Huber understands us. He talks about Sicily and about respect for the shirt. You can see it in the way the team presses in the 90th minute, even when they’re already ahead. Promotion is almost there, but for us it’s more than that. It’s feeling that these players are finally fighting for our colours every week. If he keeps going like this, Huber will be one of us forever.”

Next Up: Half-Way Home, with January upon us, it’s time to pause and reflect. How has Huber’s Palermo squad taken shape? Which signings have stood out, which youngsters are pushing through, and what lies ahead in the second half of the season? A full mid-season assessment awaits.

🏟️ 11: Halfway Home — Palermo’s Squad Under the Microscope

📊 Introduction

A short winter break between 27 December and 10 January offers a rare pause in the grind of Serie B. For Palermo, it’s more than a breather, it’s a checkpoint.

Six months into Jacques Huber’s reign, the Rosanero haven’t just climbed to the top, they’ve built an identity that feels unmistakably theirs. Intense pressing, brave possession, and flashes of flair have carried them 15 points clear and into the Coppa Italia quarterfinals. The Renzo Barbera is alive again and, for the first time in years, hope feels more than justified.

But promotion isn’t won in December. The question now is not only whether Palermo can maintain this pace, but whether the squad has the depth, balance, and resilience to carry them through the long months ahead.

This is a closer look at the men in pink: who has stood tall, who has more to give, and where reinforcements might be needed in January.

📑 Team Report

🧤 Goalkeepers

Jesse Joronen (7.14) has firmly established himself as the undisputed No. 1. His shot-stopping and penalty heroics have rescued Palermo on more than one occasion. With ten clean sheets, joint-top in the division, he has been a steady, reliable presence behind a solid back line.

Behind him, Francesco Bardi (N/A) has offered competent backup without ever truly challenging for the shirt. Looking ahead, Palermo may need to think about succession planning: Bardi is already frustrated with his limited role, and there are question marks over how well Joronen will adapt to a higher level. Out on loan at Pescara, young goalkeeper Sebastiano Desplanches (7.11) is staking his claim; he also leads Serie B for clean sheets and could return next season as a genuine contender.

🛡️ Defenders

At the back, Palermo have been solid and consistent. Mattia Bani (7.00) and Pietro Ceccaroni (7.10) have formed the first-choice partnership. Both are asked to step out with the ball and hold a high line in Huber’s system and, while they’ve handled it well, at 32 and 30 there may be a need to look for a younger option in the summer. Neither loanee Davide Veroli (6.87) nor Patryk Peda (N/A) has done enough in limited minutes to truly threaten their places.

Full-backs have been central to Huber’s approach. Niccolò Pierozzi (6.92) and Salim Diakité (6.76) have both impressed at times on the right, often tucking inside as a third centre-back. On the opposite flank Tommaso Augello (6.82), and Pierozzi during his lengthy injury absence, have taken on the challenge of inverting into midfield. Veteran Bartosz Bereszyński (6.92) has offered reliable cover at right-back and done well in his cameos, but at 33 and with limited upside, he is unlikely to be a long-term solution.  The adjustment hasn’t always been seamless, but when it clicks it gives Palermo crucial control in the middle of the pitch.

Depth remains a concern, however. Injuries to the starting full backs have exposed the lack of reliable rotation options, and any viable opportunities in the January market will be closely monitored.

⚙️ Midfielders

If the defence has been about stability, the midfield has been the beating heart of Huber’s Palermo. Claudio Gomes (6.96) anchors the trio, with Alexis Blin (6.72) providing capable back-up, breaking up play and giving others a platform to shine when called upon.

Ahead of them, three players have shared the two advanced roles. Filippo Ranocchia (7.14), Jacopo Segre (7.05), and Antonio Palumbo (7.14) have all emerged as crucial pressers and the legs of the team, while still contributing decisively in the final third. Their freedom to drift into half-spaces and run beyond the striker has been vital to Palermo’s attacking rhythm. Ranocchia has 5 assists and 2 goals, Segre 2 assists and 4 goals, and Palumbo an outstanding 6 assists and 5 goals.

Rotation options Valerio Verre (6.81) and Samuel Giovane (6.90) have also ensured the intensity rarely drops, offering fresh energy and flexibility whenever Huber turns to his bench.

🎯 Attackers

Goals win promotion, and in this department, Palermo have been well served. Stefanos Tzimas (7.60), the talismanic on-loan No. 9, leads the line with strength and composure, scoring an astonishing 22 goals in 21 games. 

On the flanks, Yeremay (7.05) has tormented defences with his direct dribbling and creativity, while Jérémy Le Douaron (6.83) and Emmanuel Gyasi (7.26) have rotated effectively, offering different qualities depending on the game. Between them, the wide players have contributed a healthy spread of goals and assists.

The strength of this unit also lies in its depth. Beyond the first-choice trio, club captain Matteo Brunori (6.90) has chipped in with a couple of important goals, while Seydou Fini (7.12) has shown flashes of real quality, registering 4 assists from 1 start and 10 substitute appearances. Young Palermo-born striker Salvatore Di Mitri (6.80) has also made three cameos from the bench and is still waiting for his first senior goal.

🌱 Training & Development

Stefanos Tzimas has been a central pillar of Huber’s project, and already there are clear signs of progress. In recent weeks his dribbling, off-the-ball movement, and anticipation have all notably improved. There is genuine intent, should the money be available after promotion, to try and make his move permanent.

Since stepping up to first-team training, Salvatore Di Mitri has made some physical gains, but his slower technical development raises questions about his long-term fit in this side. Reports from the academy, however, suggest there may soon be another homegrown forward emerging on the horizon.

📈 Recruitment Focus — January

The January window may not look decisive at first glance, as Palermo don’t need wholesale changes. However, with interest growing in several key performers and a few unhappy squad players, some smart business may still be required.

• Defensive depth: Centre-back cover is thin, and a single major injury could destabilise the back line. Any viable options in this area will be monitored closely.
• Future planning: A young goalkeeper or creative playmaker would fit neatly with the long-term aims of the project and could be targeted if the right profile becomes available.

📝 Closing Thoughts

Half a season into the project, Palermo are not just where Huber hoped they would be – they are far beyond it. Top of Serie B by 15 points, into the Coppa Italia quarter-finals, and playing with a clear, aggressive identity, this side already looks every bit a Serie A outfit in waiting. The dressing room is united, the ideas are understood, and the city has reawakened to the dream of big nights in pink.

Yet the job is not finished. Injuries, AFCON absences and the weight of expectation will test this group in ways the autumn never could, and January’s decisions will shape how strong Palermo look when they finally step up a level.

For now, though, the story is one of resurgence. Palermo are not just back in the conversation, they are setting the pace.

Next Up: Sicilia Gossip, away from tactics and transfers, the turn of the year brings a different kind of headline. Jacques Huber steps into the city’s nightlife and fashion scene, but is it all harmless fun, or the start of a new story off the pitch?

📰 12: Sicilia Gossip

💃 From Dugout to Catwalk: Huber’s New Year Turns Heads

Palermo’s Pink Side: Where football meets fashion, nightlife, and whispers from the piazza.

It seems Palermo’s new manager, Jacques Huber, is making headlines off the pitch as well as on it. The 32-year-old French-English coach, whose intensity in the dugout has already caught the eye of Serie B, was spotted last weekend not in training gear, but in a tailored suit at the Palermo Moda showcase – the city’s biggest winter fashion event.

The timing couldn’t have been more convenient. With Palermo on a short break in fixtures, Huber has found room in his schedule to sample the city’s nightlife and high society. That freedom has set tongues wagging.

Local model Alessia Todaro, one of the event’s standout faces, has already been linked to the coach. Earlier this month, she and Huber were spotted dining at Lumia Restaurant, their quiet corner table anything but discreet. “They weren’t hiding,” one diner recalled. “It didn’t look like football business.”

But at the showcase itself, it was designer Claudia Costa who drew attention. Seated next to Huber in the front row, the pair laughed easily, leaned close, and, according to more than one observer, seemed “a little too cosy” as the show unfolded. Costa, whose bold collection won rave reviews, seemed just as comfortable with Palermo’s new boss as Todaro had been weeks earlier. It didn’t look like just fashion talk either.

“Dinner with a model, cosy with a designer. Palermo’s boss is already stealing headlines off the pitch.”

Next Up: Back to business, Palermo return from the break as title runaways. Can Huber keep the focus on the pitch, or will the spotlight follow him from the catwalk to Serie B? 

 🏟️ 13: Back to Business — January Moves & Serie B Resumes

🔄 Transfer Window Wrap-Up

The January mercato passed without a single signing or sale for Palermo, but it was anything but quiet behind the scenes.

There was significant interest in Claudio Gomes, with multiple Serie A sides and several Premier League clubs, most notably Sunderland, circling. The midfielder even handed in a transfer request, which the club accepted in principle, but no one came close to Palermo’s valuation. For now, Gomes stays at the heart of Huber’s midfield, but this definitely feels like one to watch in the summer.

Young Sicilian striker Salvatore Di Mitri also attracted plenty of loan interest, and the club were close to sending him out for regular minutes. That changed the moment of a serious injury in the squad. With one of their No.9s sidelined for months, Palermo opted to keep Di Mitri in the squad as cover.

No new faces and no departures made it a window that underlined Palermo’s commitment to stability and raised a few intriguing questions for the next mercato.

📊 Results Round-Up

Matchday 19 — Mantova 1–1 Palermo (A)
Fresh from a brief winter break in which Huber was even spotted at a local fashion show, Palermo returned to action with a flat 1–1 draw in Mantova. Tzimas opened the scoring on 13 minutes, glancing in a header from a corner, but the league leaders never fully shifted into pre-break mode. Mantova eventually grew into the game and equalised on 57’, when Nicholas Bonfanti finished off a slick counterattacking move. A rare off-day for Palermo, who had to settle for a point.

Matchday 20 — Palermo 0–0 Spezia (H)
Back at the Renzo Barbera, Palermo were held to a frustrating goalless draw against Spezia. Huber’s side controlled territory but once again struggled to create clear chances, running into a well-organised block and rarely testing the goalkeeper. Another clean sheet, but two points dropped in a game that never really caught fire.

💥Injury Blow – Tzimas Sidelined

Disaster struck in the midweek after the Spezia game as Palermo’s talismanic striker Stefanos Tzimas suffered a fractured ankle in training. Initial scans confirm he will be out for 2–3 months, ruling him out of a crucial stretch of the season just as the fixtures begin to pile up.

With 23 goals in 23 games, Tzimas has been the focal point of Huber’s attack and the symbol of Palermo’s resurgence. His absence now forces a reshuffle up front, with Brunori and youngster Di Mitri both vying to fill an impossible set of boots. The promotion push continues, but without its sharpest weapon.

📊 Results Continued

Matchday 21 — Modena 0–2 Palermo (A)
In their first game without injured talisman Tzimas, Palermo handled an out-of-form Modena with calm authority. Gyasi, freshly back from AFCON, drilled in the opener on 20 minutes, before Claudio Gomes smashed home a strike from just outside the area on 37’. A controlled 2–0 win, built on composure rather than chaos, and early proof that Huber’s side can cope without their star No. 9.

Matchday 22 — Bari 1–0 Palermo (A)
Against rivals Bari, Palermo paid the price for missed chances. Huber’s side dominated the first half, pinning the hosts back but wasting a string of good openings. After the break the intensity dropped, and Bari grew into the game before Leonardo Cerri nodded in at the back post on 74 minutes. Palermo couldn’t find a response and slipped to a flat 1–0 defeat in a match that had looked there for the taking.

Coppa Italia Quarter-Final — Juventus 1–0 Palermo (A)

Palermo’s Coppa Italia adventure ended in brutal fashion in Turin, but not without reminding Serie A that Huber’s side belong on this stage. Up against a Juventus team sitting seventh in the division above them, Palermo set up compact and disciplined, happy to concede possession while denying space between the lines. Juve saw plenty of the ball in a cagey first half but struggled to create anything clear, repeatedly funneled into harmless crosses or long shots as the Rosanero held their shape.

The pattern continued after the break, though Juventus began to threaten more in behind. Kenan Yildiz came closest early in the second half, racing onto a through ball and smacking the post with Joronen beaten. Still, Huber’s men refused to buckle, throwing bodies in the way and looking to steal something on the counter as the clock ticked into stoppage time.

Then came the gut punch. In the 90+6th minute, Khéphren Thuram broke through the lines onto a slipped pass and calmly rolled the ball into the net to finally break Palermo’s resistance. Even then, there was almost one last twist: Yeremay found space on the edge of the box in the 90+8th minute, only to curl his effort agonisingly wide of the far post.

A harsh 1–0 defeat and Coppa exit that makes it just the one win in five for the Rosanero.

Matchday 23 — Palermo 1–1 Empoli (H)
Back at the Renzo Barbera against promotion rivals Empoli, Palermo’s post-Tzimas goal drought continued. Huber’s side dominated possession in the first half but, as has become a theme in recent weeks, struggled to turn control into clear chances. 

The breakthrough finally came on 73 minutes, when Antonio Palumbo stepped up yet again, drilling a low strike from just outside the area into the corner. It looked like another hard-fought 1–0 was on the way—until stoppage time. In the 90+4th minute, Empoli worked a clever corner routine and Gabriele Guarino rose highest to nod home the equaliser. A frustrating 1–1 draw that underlined both Palermo’s defensive solidity and their growing reliance on moments of midfield inspiration without Tzimas.

Matchday 24 — Sampdoria 0–1 Palermo (A)
Palermo edged a tight contest in Genoa to claim a much-needed win. After another quiet first half, the breakthrough came on 47 minutes when Yeremay was tripped in the box. Matteo Brunori took responsibility from the spot and calmly slotted home. Huber’s side managed the game well from there, keeping Sampdoria at arm’s length to secure a solid 1–0 away victory.

Next Up: 🏟️ Breaking the Drought at the Renzo. After weeks without a home win and goals hard to come by Palermo welcome Virtus Entella to a tense Barbera. Can Huber’s side rediscover their spark in front of their own people, or will nerves tighten just as promotion draws near?

⚔️ 14: Breaking the Drought — Palermo’s Release at the Renzo

Matchday 25 — Palermo vs Virtus Entella (H), Renzo Barbera (14 February)

By the time Virtus Entella came to town, the Renzo Barbera had started to feel heavy. Palermo hadn’t won at home since the 27 December, goals had dried up since Tzimas’ injury, and every misplaced pass seemed to carry the weight of a promotion juggernaut losing its momentum.

The tension bled into the first half. Palermo saw plenty of the ball but looked nervy and blunt, a pattern all too familiar in recent weeks. Two speculative efforts crashed off the bar in quick succession, drawing gasps rather than roars from the stands, and aside from that there was little to cling to. The Renzo felt stuck between fear and frustration.

At half-time, the stories from inside the tunnel were unanimous: Huber lost his temper. A rare hairdryer with instructions delivered at full volume. Palermo had sleepwalked through enough first halves recently. This one wasn’t going to cost them.

The response after the break was immediate and led in the most part by one man: Antonio Palumbo.

On 50 minutes, Palumbo slid a perfect through ball between the lines for Matteo Brunori, who timed his run and finished low across the keeper for 1–0. Four minutes later it was almost copy-and-paste, Palumbo once again threading a pass into space, this time for Filippo Ranocchia to burst through and make it 2–0 on 54’. The Renzo stirred, then roared.

On 60 minutes, Palumbo decided to take centre stage himself, drifting into the pocket just outside the area and rifling a left-footed strike into the corner. 3–0. Arms spread, head back, he soaked in the noise from the Curva Nord. A player and a stadium exhaling together.

Despite Palumbo’s inspired flurry, the sweetest moment came four minutes later. On 64’, Palumbo once more found space out wide, drove into the box and cut the ball back for Salvatore Di Mitri, the young Sicilian striker, to steer in his first ever professional goal. Teammates swarmed him, pushing him toward the curva as the stadium bounced. From drought to deluge in fifteen minutes.

Of course, this is Palermo, and nothing is ever entirely straightforward. Virtus Entella mounted a late rally, pulling two goals back in five frantic minutes on 67’ and 71’, then smashed the bar not long after to jolt everyone back to attention. For a brief spell, nerves crackled again around the Renzo.

But this time, Huber’s side held firm. The final whistle brought not wild euphoria, but something more grounded: relief. A 4–2 win, four second-half goals, drought broken. In the stands and on the pitch, the feeling was the same. Palermo and the race aren’t finished yet. But they’re almost there.

🎉Huber and the Curva Nord

As the players embraced on the pitch, Huber didn’t head for the dressing room. Instead, he turned toward the Curva Nord, the heart of Palermo’s ultras. He climbed the advertising boards then part of the fence, pumping his fists, and joining the chants echoing from the terrace. Arms outstretched, voice raised, he sang with the fans.

For a moment, the new manager was no longer a foreigner finding his way in Sicily. He was one of them. The curva roared its approval, and the bond between coach and supporters was sealed in the smoke and song of a Palermo victory.

It wasn’t the wild catharsis of a promotion decider, but something more intimate – a manager thanking his people for their patience, and a curva reminding the team that they never truly doubted.

🎙️Post-Match Press Conference

Chiara Fracaros (Corriere dello Sport):
“Jacques, we saw you celebrating on the barriers with the Curva Nord. Given the tension around recent results, do you ever worry that kind of celebration crosses a line for a manager?”

Huber:
He smiled. “No, honestly. For me, football is emotion and connection. These people suffer with us when we don’t win, they sing for ninety minutes even in difficult moments. Tonight, they were patient, they pushed us. To go to them at the end is respect. I don’t see a line I’m crossing. I see a family I’m now part of.”

Alessandro Redaelli (La Repubblica Palermo):
“Palumbo finished with three assists and a goal, and Di Mitri scored his first as a professional. How important were they to changing the game?”

Huber:
“Palumbo was incredible. He changed the rhythm of our play, he took responsibility in a difficult period, and this is what leaders do. And Di Mitri… he’s a boy from Palermo. To score his first goal in front of this curva is something he will remember all his life. These are the moments that connect the team to the city.”

Simona Damone (La Gazzetta dello Sport):
“With this win and the gap at the top, many people are saying promotion is basically secured. Do you agree?”

Huber:
He shook his head. “No. In football, nothing is secured until the mathematics say so. We have built an advantage, yes, but we must protect it with humility. Nights like this help, they give confidence and remind us of our identity, but the danger is to think the job is finished. Promotion is a target, not a guarantee. If we keep this attitude, this intensity, then we will deserve it when it arrives.”

📈League Table Snapshot

The win doesn’t change everything overnight, but it steadies the ship. Palermo remain well clear at the top, edging closer to the finish line with every matchday. After weeks of draws, frustration and narrow defeats, this felt like a return to the side that stormed through autumn.

🔮Looking Ahead

One match doesn’t erase a bad run, but some games reset the mood. Palermo’s 4–2 win over Virtus Entella will be remembered less for the late scare and more for Palumbo’s masterclass, Di Mitri’s first goal, and the sense that the Rosanero have found their spark again.

Next Up: Results & Rhythm, after the high of Virtus Entella, Palermo must keep their foot on the pedal. Can Huber’s side maintain momentum in the grind of Serie B?

⚒️ 15: Results and Rhythm

After the release of finally Breaking the Drought at the Renzo, Palermo’s focus snapped back to the long, unforgiving road of Serie B. Seasons aren’t decided by one cathartic night; they’re won in the grind that follows – late evenings, awkward away days, and tired legs that still have to find a way to run.

📊 Match Results

Matchday 26 — Palermo 2–2 Südtirol (H)
Palermo let a two-goal lead slip in a frustrating afternoon at the Renzo Barbera. Palumbo was brought down in the box on 12 minutes, allowing Brunori to smash home the resulting penalty. The captain doubled the advantage on 50’, finishing a low cutback from Gyasi as Huber’s side looked in control. Südtirol, however, refused to fold. Daniele Casiraghi pulled one back on 61 minutes, and Alessandro Mallamo later pounced from a long throw to level the game. Palermo pushed for a winner but couldn’t find it, forced to settle for a 2–2 draw that felt like two points dropped.

Matchday 27 — Pescara 0–1 Palermo (A)
In a top-of-the-table clash against second-placed Pescara, Palermo delivered a statement win on the road. The hosts lined up in an attacking 4-2-2-2 but were stunned after just three minutes when Yeremay reacted quickest to a rebound to put the Rosanero ahead. Huber’s side dominated the rest of the first half, carving out chance after chance and racking up 18 shots. The second half was more even, with Pescara finally posing questions of their own, but Palermo’s organisation without the ball and composure in possession saw them through. A hard-fought 1–0 victory that tightens their grip on top spot.

Matchday 28 — Palermo 2–1 Mantova (H)
Palermo edged Mantova in late, dramatic fashion at the Renzo Barbera. They took the lead on 9 minutes when Jérémy Le Douaron’s off-target strike deflected in for an own goal, before a fairly even game saw the visitors equalise through Mattia Caprini on 74’. Just as a draw seemed inevitable, substitute Seydou Fini won the ball high, raced down the wing and rolled it across for Brunori to tap into an empty net in the 90+4th minute, sealing a precious 2–1 victory.

Matchday 29 — Carrarese 1–2 Palermo (A)
Palermo avenged their early-season defeat to Carrarese with a confident 2–1 win on the road. Huber’s side struck first on 19 minutes, finishing off a well-worked passing move through Ranocchia, before Gyasi doubled the lead on 27’ with a composed finish across the keeper. Carrarese pulled one back on the counter through Tommaso Rubino, but Palermo stayed in control for long spells and, despite several missed chances to extend the scoreline, saw out a deserved victory.

Matchday 30 — Monza 0–1 Palermo (A)
Palermo ground out a fiery 1–0 win away at Monza. A superb team move from back to front ended with Yeremay isolating his man on 9 minutes, cutting inside and curling a brilliant strike into the top corner. Monza’s task got harder on 20’, when Ravanelli was shown a straight red for a two-footed challenge from behind on Palumbo, but the numbers were then levelled early in the second half as Gyasi received a second yellow for a petulant kick out on 47’. Down to ten each, the game became scrappy, yet Huber’s side stayed compact and disciplined to see out a hard-earned victory.

📈 Nearly Home

Palermo sit comfortably clear at the top; the rest of the division have failed to keep pace, and promotion to Serie A is now within touching distance. One more win, at home to Juve Stabia, will crown them champions, while simply avoiding defeat will be enough to seal promotion.

📝 Reflection

Huber has often said that consistency, not drama, wins promotion, and these last five games have proved his point. Palermo haven’t always sparkled, but they’ve been resilient, organised, and willing to scrap for every point. It’s that grit, as much as their moments of flair, that has kept their dream going.

Next Up: Academy Spotlight, youth intake day arrives, and with it the first glimpse of the future Huber has promised: Sicilian talent ready to wear pink.

🎓 16: Academy Spotlight

Every project has its future, and in Palermo that future walks through the academy gates. Jacques Huber has spoken often about building a club that represents Sicily, not just with its colours but with its players. This week brought the first real test of that promise: the day academy players officially signed as first-year scholars.

⭐ The New Scholars

Marco Turconi (AM, 16, Palermo)
A diminutive number 10 with great vision and sharp instincts in the box, Turconi already finishes with a calmness beyond his years. Around the training ground, some have jokingly called him “Il Ragazzo d’Oro” – the Golden Boy – because chances seem to find him no matter whether he is playing out wide, up front, or in midfield. His talent is undeniable, but there are quiet off-pitch concerns: the attention around him, older friends from the neighbourhood, the distractions that can tug at a teenager in this city of all cities. The club has already paired him with a senior mentor and academy welfare staff to keep his path clear. 

Leonardo Faedda (RW, 16, Castelvetrano)
A quick winger, with good dribbling and flair. He has the building blocks in place to be an excellent prospect, though both mentally and technically he’ll need time to grow into senior football.

Alessandro Gangi (CB, 16, Avola)
A solid tackler and technician. Gangi represents a promising centre back who could grow into a steady presence in the back line if determined enough.

🎙️ Huber’s Take

In his post-intake comments, Huber kept expectations grounded:

“This is only the first step. Talent means little without hard work. But the most important thing today is identity. These boys are Sicilian, and they will grow up knowing they can fight for Palermo. That is the foundation of everything we want to build.”

🌍 Why It Matters

For Palermo, producing homegrown players isn’t just a luxury, it’s central to Huber’s philosophy. Every academy graduate who makes the first team is another thread tying the club to the island. The fans know it, and the club knows it too: youth development is not about filling gaps, but about finally creating heroes who belong to Sicily.

With that, though, comes a duty of care. Palermo are investing not only in coaching, but also in education, mentorship, and safeguarding, clear guardrails to help gifted teenagers handle the spotlight without losing their way.

🔮 Looking Ahead

Not all of these youngsters will make the leap. Some will fade, some will move on, and maybe one or two will rise to carry the torch for a new generation. But this group represents the start of something Huber has promised since his first day in Sicily: a future built in Palermo, for Palermo.

Next Up: Shifting Spaces, life in Palermo is changing. One coach leaves the bunker, while Huber’s off-pitch headlines grow louder. From family moves to fashion-world fallout, the project takes on a new shape.

🏡 17: Shifting Spaces: Life Moves on in Palermo

The Via Agrigento apartment was quieter than usual. For months it had been a bunker of football obsession. Whiteboards were cluttered with arrows, laptops glowed deep into the night, late pasta dinners frequently bled into tactical arguments. But now, one of its pillars was packing up.

Tobi Okori’s wife and children had finally arrived in Palermo, ready to settle into a rented house further from the centre and closer to the coast. His suitcases sat packed, while Jacques Huber leaned against the dining table and Samir Halimi fiddled with the magnets on the tactics board.

“You’ll miss my cooking,” Samir joked.

“You mean your garlic bombs,” Tobi shot back with a grin.

Jacques didn’t say much, but he was smiling too. He knew the flat would feel different without Tobi’s late-night lectures on pressing systems. The work wouldn’t stop, of course, but the rhythm of life was shifting.

“It’s the right time,” Tobi said, glancing at a photo of his kids on his phone. “We’ve all sacrificed a lot. Now they get to be part of it.”

As the door clicked shut behind him that night, the apartment felt a little emptier. Less like a bunker, more like just a place to sleep. Palermo’s project was growing up.

📰Sicilia Gossip

💃 “From Todaro to Costa? Palermo’s manager in hot water.” 

Palermo’s Pink Side: Where football meets fashion, nightlife, and whispers from the piazza.

If Palermo fans thought their coach’s only headaches came from Serie B defences, think again. Off the pitch, Jacques Huber seems to be juggling more than tactics.

Sources close to local model Alessia Todaro say she is “furious” after Huber was again pictured with designer Claudia Costa at a romantic restaurant. The two were seen leaving together, sparking rumours of a blossoming romance.

Todaro, once linked to the Palermo boss after her own series of private dinners and outings this winter, is said to feel “cast aside.” One friend told us: “She thought there was something serious. Then suddenly he’s everywhere with Costa.”

And now another twist: Todaro has reportedly parted ways with her agent, Renata Romano. The move raised eyebrows, not least because Romano herself has also been spotted dining with Huber on more than one occasion. What looked professional to some has been described by others as “very familiar.”

Whether it’s love, business, or just Palermo’s rumour mill working overtime, one thing is clear: Jacques Huber is making as many headlines off the pitch as he is on it.

Next Up: A Clash of Futures. With promotion within reach but not yet secured, Palermo face a would-be party against Juve Stabia that should  decide their fate.

🔥 18: A Clash of Futures — Palermo Crowned Champions at last?

⚽ Matchday 31: Palermo 2–3 Juve Stabia — Party on Hold

The Renzo Barbera hadn’t felt like this in years. The stands were packed, pink shirts everywhere, flares already smoking before kick-off. Everything about the night screamed promotion party. One point would be enough to seal Serie A, a win would crown Palermo champions. Juve Stabia arrived as awkward guests, but most of the city expected a celebration.

Instead, they got ninety minutes of torture.

Palermo started on the front foot, dominating the ball, and almost took the lead when Brunori slid in Ranocchia on 9 minutes, only for Alessandro Confente to save. From the resulting corner, though, the script flipped: Juve Stabia broke the length of the pitch and Giacomo De Pieri finished an incisive move on 10’, silencing the stadium. Palumbo blazed a big chance over on 26’, Ceccaroni thumped a header off the bar in stoppage time, and the Barbera went into the interval buzzing with frustration rather than joy.

After the break, chaos. Le Douaron finally dragged Palermo level on 56’ after a scrambled corner was worked back out and Ceccaroni picked him out at the back post, only for De Pieri to restore the visitors’ lead four minutes later on a lightning counter. A clumsy foul on Palumbo brought a penalty on 62’, and Brunori coolly made it 2–2 on 63’, the stadium briefly believing again… until De Pieri ghosted into the box to complete his hat-trick on 66’. Palumbo’s second yellow on 70’ left Palermo chasing the game with ten men; Diakité’s late header from a free kick shaved the post but wouldn’t go in.

When the final whistle blew, there was no pitch invasion, no trophy, just a stunned silence broken by scattered applause and cheering from the away end. On phones around the stadium, the other scorelines flashed up: Spezia 1–1 Empoli and Pescara 3–1 Virtus Entella. The draw and Pescara’s win meant Palermo still held a commanding lead. The promotion and the title all but inevitable, but mathematically the job still wasn’t finished. The city would have to wait a little longer for its party.

⚽ Matchday 32: Padova 1–1 Palermo — Champions of Serie B

A week after the Juve Stabia gut punch, Palermo travelled to Padova with the equations simple again: one point would guarantee both promotion and the title. No flares, no choreography, just a tight ground, a packed away end, and ninety minutes between Huber’s side and history.

Suspended after his red card, Antonio Palumbo could only watch from behind the dugout, perched on a plastic seat in a club tracksuit, living every pass. On the bench, another symbol: Stefanos Tzimas, still technically in recovery, was named in the squad for the first time since his ankle fracture. Even if he never stepped onto the pitch, his presence felt like a promise of what was coming next.

Palermo almost killed the nerves inside the opening thirty seconds. Straight from kick-off, Gyasi broke in down the right and lashed a shot from a tight angle that the keeper beat away. The pattern settled into something cagier, but Huber’s side kept probing. On 37 minutes Claudio Gomes let fly from distance, forcing a smart save. Just before half-time, the breakthrough then finally arrived. A slick move swept from left to right, Segre slipped Gyasi in behind, and the winger then finished low across the keeper on 45’. One hand on the trophy.

The second half was about control rather than chaos, but Padova refused to disappear. As the clock crept toward full-time, the tension rose with it, and in the 86th minute came the twist: a cross swung in from the left and veteran striker Kevin Lasagna stole in at the back post to tap home the equaliser. For a moment, hearts stopped.

Palermo, though, didn’t crumble. They tightened up and saw out the final minutes with professional calm. When the referee finally blew, there was no last-minute winner to clinch it in style – just a hard-earned 1–1 and a release that had been building for months. With six games still to play, Palermo were finally out of reach.

They were champions. They were promoted. Serie A, at last, was officially theirs.

🏆 The Celebration

Back in Palermo, the party began before the players even landed. Thousands filled the Piazza Politeama, singing, dancing, and waving banners. From car roofs, balconies, and scooters, the chant rang out: Serie A, siamo tornati!

At the Barbera, a hastily arranged celebration saw Huber and his squad parade the trophy in front of the curva. On the big screen above the terraces, one message flashed again and again: “Palermo è tornata.” Palermo is back. Then, in a moment that will live long in Palermo folklore, Huber climbed into the curva itself, arms around the ultras, chanting and singing until his voice cracked. Smoke bombs turned the night pink.

📰 Press Reaction

La Gazzetta dello Sport: “Palermo return to Serie A as champions, driven by the bold ideas of Jacques Huber. His connection to the city grows deeper with every week.”

Giornale di Sicilia: “The Barbera is alive again. Palermo is not just back. It has rediscovered its identity.”

Leornard Velocci (Curva Nord spokesperson): “He celebrated with us, in the curva. Not every coach does that. Jacques is one of us now.”

👉 Next Up: Nights of Pink and Black. From the dressing room to the piazzas, join the celebrations as Palermo basks in the glory of their Serie B title and begins to dream of Serie A.

🎉 19: Palermo Ascend: Champions of Serie B

The final whistle blew, and the away fans erupted. Pink smoke curled into the sky in Padua, chants of “Serie A, Serie A!” rattled through the stands, and Palermo’s long wait was finally over. Tonight, despite a disappointing draw, the title and promotion was finally theirs.

🏟️ Party at the Barbera

Once back at the Barbera, players faced the celebratory crowd with the trophy before embracing one another. Players and staff hoisted thrown scarves and flags above their heads, pointing to the curva where thousands of fans surged, their voices rising in a wall of noise.

Huber, drenched in champagne within minutes, was shoved toward the celebrations by the Sicilian coach, Salvatore Foti. Stefanos Tzimas, the top goalscorer and still with light strapping on his ankle, grabbed Samir in a bear hug before disappearing into a swarm of fans that had made their way towards the advertising boards. Another fan favourite, Antonio Palumbo, climbed the fence to salute the ultras, waving a flare aloft as the curva answered with a roar.

When the trophy was finally lifted, the stadium shook. Pink and black confetti rained down, covering the pitch in the club’s colours. Palermo were finally back where they belong.

🍾 Dressing Room Frenzy

Inside, the atmosphere was chaos. Bottles popped, beer sprayed across the ceiling, and the walls echoed with music and chants. Players danced on benches, drumming on lockers with whatever they could find.

Tobi Okori, usually glued to his laptop, was grinning ear to ear with his young son perched on his shoulders, waving a tiny Palermo flag. Adam Fairclough celebrated alongside his wife, the pair embraced by players who’d come to see him as much more than a coach. Patrick Sullivan was hoisted up by some of the young players he’d pushed to their limits in training, now thanking him in song. Samir Halimi, beer in hand, added to the music with a drumbeat against the benches.

Amidst it all, Salvatore Di Mitri, the young Sicilian doused his teammates with prosecco before sliding across the dressing room floor, cheered on by the squad. Another, Pietro Ceccaroni, stood on a bench and belted out a chant that quickly had the entire room laughing.

Huber himself was soaked in water, beer, and prosecco by the time he escaped the room, smiling through every second.

🌙 A City That Didn’t Sleep

Outside the Barbera, the party spilled into the streets. Car horns blared long into the night, piazzas filled with singing, and fireworks painted the Palermo sky pink and gold. Restaurants stayed open until dawn, pouring wine and beer to anyone wearing the club’s colours. 

Huber and his staff joined the fans briefly on Via della Libertà, where scooters circled in endless loops, and the sound of firecrackers and fireworks was almost constant. Tobi’s children, wide-eyed, were lifted onto fans’ shoulders, while Fairclough’s wife was handed flowers by strangers. The players and coaches couldn’t move ten metres without being stopped for embraces, selfies, or toasts.

Among the squad, Mattia Bani was spotted leading a chant from atop a restaurant table, while Jeremy Le Douaron signed autographs until his hand cramped, surrounded by kids in pink shirts.

It wasn’t just a victory. It was a collective release, years of frustration poured into a single night of joy. 

🍽️ The Days After

In the quiet that followed, Palermo began to catch its breath. But for Jacques Huber, celebration came with new invitations. A private dinner was arranged by senior figures in the curva. Men who had stood at the front of the chants on Saturday, but whose reputations stretched beyond football.

It was warm, welcoming, almost familial: handshakes, embraces, toasts of grappa to “Serie A.” Yet beneath the laughter and congratulations, there was weight. These were not just supporters, but men with involvement in Palermo’s streets as well as its stands.

Huber, glass in hand, listened more than he spoke. Success had brought him glory, but also new company. In Sicily, victories on the pitch echo far beyond the stadium walls.

Next Up: The Final Stretch, Palermo have achieved their dream of promotion. With six games left to play there is time to rotate and begin planning for next season.

⚽ 20: Back on the Pitch — The Final Stretch

Promotion is already in the bag, but the season isn’t over. With six games to go, Huber has shifted focus: rotating the squad, giving minutes to youngsters, and quietly beginning the monumental task of shaping a team that can survive in Serie A. The pressure has changed, but the work hasn’t. This is the phase where auditions and early plans for the topflight begin.

📰 Transfer News — Clauses and Complications

Promotion hasn’t just changed Palermo’s status; it’s also triggered a series of mandatory purchase clauses that could complicate summer planning. With Serie A on the horizon, three loan deals have automatically become permanent:

• Emmanuel Gyasi joins for around €1.2m, a useful and versatile wide option, who has featured regularly and contributed 7 goals and 5 assists.
• Samuel Giovane, a midfielder with just two substitute appearances, is also locked in for €1.2m.
• Davide Veroli, the young centre-back with only four starts this season, is confirmed for a sizeable €3m.

In total, that’s over €5m committed to players who haven’t been consistent starters or who don’t agree with Palermo’s new direction. These deals serve as a reminder that Palermo’s first battle in Serie A may be fought on the balance sheet as much as on the pitch.

⏳ Final Matches

Matchday 33 — Palermo 3–0 Avellino (H)
In a party atmosphere at the Renzo Barbera, Avellino formed the first of what will be six guards of honour for the newly crowned champions before kick-off. Palermo took control early, with Gyasi heading in at the back post on 28 minutes to open the scoring, and Yeremay curling home a lovely effort for 2–0 on 51’. The loudest roar of the night came on 66’, when 16-year-old Palermo-born attacking midfielder Marco Turconi made his senior debut, replacing Ranocchia in midfield. Jacopo Segre added a tidy finish in the 90+4th minute to seal a comfortable 3–0 win, as the champions enjoyed their first outing of the post-promotion lap.

Matchday 34 — Frosinone 1–3 Palermo (A)
Palermo spoiled Frosinone’s day with a sharp, clinical display on the road. Brunori set the tone on 19 minutes, winning the ball high up the pitch and finishing himself, before another aggressive press on 39’ saw Yeremay intercept a pass from the goalkeeper and brilliantly lob him from 25 yards for 2–0. The moment of the night came on 60 minutes however, as Stefanos Tzimas, out for months with injury, returned to a huge standing ovation from the away end. Frosinone hit back through Massimo Zilli on 68’, but of course it was Tzimas who eventually restored the two-goal cushion, pouncing on a rebound in the six-yard box to tap home his first goal since the start of January and seal a 3–1 victory for the champions.

Matchday 35 — Palermo 0–1 Cesena (H)
With Palumbo injured and Segre nursing a knock, 16-year-old Marco Turconi was handed his first senior start as Palermo hosted Cesena. The visitors struck early, Berti finishing a cutback on 6 minutes, and despite Palermo dominating territory and possession thereafter, chances of real quality were hard to come by. Tzimas worked tirelessly up front but service was limited, and Cesena held firm to claim a 1–0 win. On a flat night at the Renzo Barbera, Turconi was the generally the brightest spark, showing composure and personality in an otherwise disjointed Palermo display.

Matchday 36 — Reggiana 1–2 Palermo (A)
With injuries to Fini and Yeremay, 16-year-old Marco Turconi kept his place at Reggiana but this time he was pushed out wide. In the end, Huber’s faith was spectacularly rewarded. On 15 minutes the youngster twisted his marker inside and out before curling a gorgeous finish into the bottom-left corner for his first senior goal. Manuel Marras unfortunately levelled four minutes later. After the break, Turconi produced again, floating a lovely lofted pass in behind for Tzimas, who coolly converted on 51 minutes. Palermo saw out a 2–1 win, and it was hard to escape the feeling that a new golden boy had just announced himself.

Matchday 37 — Palermo 0–1 Catanzaro (H)
Palermo suffered a frustrating defeat at the Renzo Barbera despite dominating from start to finish. Catanzaro snatched the lead on 25 minutes when Matias Antonini rose highest to head home from a corner, then retreated into a deep block. Huber’s side piled on the pressure and finally earned a lifeline on 74 minutes when Le Douaron won a penalty, but Tzimas saw his spot-kick saved. Palermo continued to camp in Catanzaro’s half, yet the equaliser never came, turning a one-sided performance into another reminder that control without goals can still leave you empty-handed, even if you are the champions.

Matchday 38 — Venezia 1–2 Palermo (A)
Palermo closed their title-winning season with a tidy 2–1 victory away to Venezia, inspired by Filippo Ranocchia and Marco Turconi. Ranocchia opened the scoring on 14 minutes, stroking home from outside the box after a neat pass from Turconi, and the pair combined again on 53’ as the teenager slipped him through to double the lead. Andrea Adorante pulled one back with a header on 67 minutes, but Huber’s side saw out the remaining minutes with composure, ending their campaign with three points and another glimpse of the Ranocchia–Turconi axis that could define Palermo’s future in Serie A.

📈 The Final Standings

💥Injury Update — Yeremay Blow

The winless night against Cesena in Matchday 35 also brought more than just a flat performance. Post-match scans revealed that Yeremay suffered a spinal injury from a heavy tackle during the game. He will need to see a specialist and is expected to be sidelined for around six months, ruling him out of pre-season and the start of Palermo’s Serie A campaign.

For one of Huber’s key attacking sparks and Palermo’s second most expensive signing ever, it’s a brutal setback. A reminder that Palermo’s first year back in the top flight will be nowhere near as straightforward as this one.

Next Up: Sicilia Gossip. With the final 6 games done and the historic season finished, the celebrations aren’t just on the pitch. From dinners with ultras to luxury island getaways, Jacques Huber’s name is back in the headlines over the summer holidays. 

📰 21: Sicilia Gossip

“Il Mister Playboy: Dinners, Islands, and New Seasons”

The first part of the summer may have been quiet for Palermo’s transfer market, but off the pitch, Jacques Huber has kept Sicilian tongues wagging.

Fresh from securing promotion to Serie A, the 33-year-old coach was spotted dining with leaders of the Curva Nord ultras in the days following Palermo’s title celebrations. Eyewitnesses describe the meeting as “convivial but serious,” suggesting Huber is keen to strengthen his ties with the club’s most passionate fanbase. But the Curva Nord’s history is checkered. Some of its leading figures carry criminal records, and whispers of Cosa Nostra links continue to cast a shadow. For a newly crowned champion to be seen so close with them has certainly raised eyebrows across the city.

If that wasn’t enough, whispers from the Aegean suggest Huber’s holiday took him far from Sicily. The Palermo boss was seen on the luxury beaches of Mykonos, in the company of fashion designer Claudia Costa. Sun-soaked yacht trips and late-night dinners mark what seems like a sustained relationship between the pair, after a brief spell where Huber was linked to modelling agent Renata Romano.

Romano herself may now be regretting that chapter. Once the architect of Alessio Todaro’s rise, she distanced herself from the model to focus her attention on Huber – a gamble that now looks costly, both personally and professionally.

“She burned one bridge too many,” one Palermo insider quipped. “And for what? Il Mister Playboy doesn’t stay still for long.”

With the beginning of preseason a few weeks away, Palermo fans may hope their manager shows the same intensity on the pitch as he does off it. One thing is certain: all eyes will be on Huber, both in the dugout and beyond.

👉 Next Up: End of Season Review & Checklist Progress. With Palermo’s title celebrations fading, we take a step back to look at the season just gone: the standout performers, the goals that lit up Serie B, and which long-term challenges have already been ticked off on the road to building Sicily’s club.

📋 22: End of Season Review & Checklist Progress

🎭Behind the Curtain

Before we look ahead to Serie A and review this first season, I want to briefly reflect on the series itself. I don’t know how many people are actually reading these posts, but I hope you’re enjoying this slightly different take on a save. With FM26 having its fair share of issues, forcing myself to roleplay a manager and build stories around the game has helped me hang onto some of that FM magic that feels missing this year.

I won’t lie though, it is really time-consuming: planning and writing posts, generating AI images, stopping mid-game to jot down notes on goals and key moments. But I’ve genuinely had fun doing it and do encourage it for those on the fence.

As for the save, if I’m honest, I’ve never had a first season go this smoothly. The rest of the league were pretty poor, and there were times while writing when I found myself wishing for a bit more jeopardy and nerves. That’s probably why I leaned harder into the “lifestyle” side of things this year: the off-pitch stories, the dinners, the Curva Nord moments etc.. That balance might shift a bit next season, when the fight to stay in Serie A begins, but at the same time it might not. 

Anyway this has been a bit of a ramble to break the fourth wall, but thanks guys. Hope you have enjoyed this first season.

🏆 End of Season Awards

• Serie B Player of the Year: Stefanos Tzimas, Palermo (7.48).
• Serie B Young Player of the Year: Stefanos Tzimas, Palermo (7.48).
• Serie B Goalkeeper of the Year: Sebastiano Desplanches, Pescara (7.07)
• Serie B Top Goalscorer: Stefanos Tzimas, Palermo (24 Goals).
• Serie B Golden Glove: Sebastiano Desplanches, Pescara (16 Clean Sheets)
• Serie B Goal of the Season: Cesar Falletti, Mantova (vs Frosinone). Gyasi came third for a goal against Monza.
• Palermo Signing of the Season: Stefanos Tzimas – 25 goals in 28 appearances slotted in seamlessly and proved crucial to the promotion push.
• Team of the Season (Best XI):
   

🌍 Winners Around the World

While Palermo were writing their story in Serie B, the rest of the footballing world kept turning:

• 🏆 Champions League – Liverpool 2–0 Barcelona
  Arne Slot’s men claimed Europe’s biggest prize with a dominant win over Barça.
• 🏆 Europa League – Nice 1–0 Aston Villa
  A tight final settled by a single goal, as Nice lifted their first major European trophy.
• 🏆 Europa Conference League – Crystal Palace 1–0 Fiorentina
  Palace and Glasner made history again with a narrow win, adding their name to UEFA’s growing roll of honour.
• 🇮🇹 Serie A – Roma
  Roma won a dramatic title play-off against Atalanta, edging it on penalties to be crowned champions of Italy.
• 🇪🇸 La Liga – Atlético Madrid
  Atleti miraculously muscled past Spain’s giants to take the title.
• 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Premier League – Arsenal
  The Gunners and Mikel finally finished top of the pile in England. No more bottle jobs.
• 🇩🇪 Bundesliga – Bayern Munich
  Some things never change: Bayern back on the throne in Germany.
• 🇫🇷 Ligue 1 – Paris St. Germain
  Paris dominant as always in France, winning the league comfortably by over 13 points.
• 🌎 World Cup – France
  Les Bleus added yet another star to their shirt, winning the biggest prize of all. Mbappe had the most goals and most assists in the tournament.

✅ Checklist Progress

Obviously this save isn’t just about results, it’s about adhering to some rules. Here’s what we’ve ticked off so far:

• 👶 Sicilian Identity: Three Sicilian players in the squad, all from Palermo. Marco Turconi, who became both the club’s youngest ever player and youngest ever goalscorer last season, plus two strikers: Salvatore Di Mitri, handed his debut by Huber, and Giacomo Corona, now back from his loan spell.
• 🏆 Domestic Success: Promotion to Serie A secured and the Serie B title wrapped up in the same season.
• 🧑‍💼 Managerial Milestone: Huber delivers promotion in his first year in charge and is now listed among Palermo’s favoured personnel, alongside Stefanos Tzimas and Matteo Brunori.

Not a bad start for year one. The journey has only just begun, but the boxes already ticked show Palermo is heading firmly in the right direction.

📷 The Full Checklist

Next Up: Transfers & Preparations. Palermo step into a new era: fresh faces arrive, staff changes reflect Serie A ambitions, and the Rosanero unveil their new look under Adidas with Etihad Airways across the chest. The journey to top-flight football begins here.

✈️ 23: New Season, New Look — Palermo Prepare for Serie A

The party is over. The confetti has been swept from the pitch at the Renzo Barbera, and Palermo are back to work. Serie A awaits, and with it the challenge of proving last season’s triumph was not a one-off.

This summer has already seen change, new signings, new staff, and a fresh look on the shirt, but the biggest shift is in ambition. Palermo are no longer chasing promotion. They are defending their place among Italy’s elite.

🔄 Transfer Business

Palermo’s first summer back in the big time has started with clear intent.

💰 Arrivals (€35m)

• Stefanos Tzimas (20, Greece) — €29m from Brighton & Hove Albion
  The headline deal. Palermo have smashed their transfer record to bring back last season’s talisman on a permanent basis. Palermo paid €1m more than his loan clause, in exchange for a far more manageable structure: around €17m up front, with the rest spread across instalments and achievable add-ons. It’s a huge outlay, but for Huber, building his attack around Tzimas was non-negotiable.

• Mariano Troilo (23, Argentina) — €3.8m from Parma
  A ball-playing Argentinian centre back with Italian roots (the Troilo surname is most common in Apulia), Mariano arrives to add energy, bite, and a bit of South American technical ability to the squad. At 3.8 million, he’s a fairly safe bet on a player who can grow with Palermo in Serie A.

• Haissem Hassan (24, Egypt) — €2.2m from Real Oviedo
  A 24-year-old Egyptian winger with electric pace and sharp dribbling, Hassan arrives as a good-value replacement for Seydou Fini, who returned to Genoa after his loan. Comfortable on either flank and dangerous 1v1, he gives Huber another direct option out wide for the step up to Serie A.

• Christian Comotto (18, Rome, Lazio) — loan from Milan
  Born in Rome, Comotto arrives on loan to bolster the midfield. Comfortable on the ball and already very well-rounded, he gives Huber another creative option between the lines without a major financial commitment.

• Honest Ahanor (18, Aversa, Campania) — loan from Atalanta (with option)
  Raised in Aversa, just north of Naples, Ahanor joins on a loan deal worth €2.2m, with a €10.25m option to buy. Athletic, technically sound, and capable of playing multiple roles, he’s very much an audition signing intended to play inverted wingback: impress, and Palermo will look to make the move permanent next summer.

🔚Departures (€34.5m)

As ever after promotion, the other side of the mercato has been just as busy, and a little more emotional.

• Kristoffer Lund → Fulham — €7.75m
  After a strong loan spell at Köln, Lund drew Premier League interest and Fulham put real money on the table. Palermo accepted, using the sizeable fee to help finance the Tzimas deal.
• Salim Diakité → Rennes — €6.25m
  Rennes also came calling with a sizeable offer and Diakité moves back to France. The plan is for returning loanee Alessio Buttaro, fresh from Foggia, to step into his squad role.
• Matteo Brunori → Angers — €4.8m
  The heartbreaker. Captain, promotion icon, and scorer of big goals, Brunori wanted guaranteed starts that Huber simply couldn’t offer with Tzimas returning. Palermo cashed in at a good price, but emotionally this is the toughest goodbye of the summer.
• Claudio Gomes → Paris FC — €4.3m
  A promotion stalwart whose January transfer request lingered into the summer. With disruption growing and an offer on the table, Palermo chose to cash in and reshape the midfield.
• Giangiacomo Magnani → Swansea — €2.9m
  Back from loan and behind in the pecking order, Magnani leaves for the Championship in a move that suits all parties.
• Patryk Peda → Al-Hazem — €2.9m
  With Troilo arriving and other centre-back options ahead of him, Peda was deemed surplus and moves on for a great fee.
• Jesse Joronen → Cesena — €2.6m
  A stalwart of the promotion campaign and Coppa hero, Joronen moves on after losing his No.1 spot in all but name to returning loanee Sebastiano Desplanches. A fair fee and a dignified exit for a key figure in year one.
• Tommaso Augello → Sporting Gijón — €2.6m
  Contract talks broke down and Augello heads to Spain. The hope is that Honest Ahanor, plus internal options, can cover his minutes at left-back and in the inverted role.
• Stredair Appuah Owusu → San Diego — €1.1m
  After spending last season out on loan, the winger makes a permanent move to MLS.
• Valerio Verre → Salernitana — €750k
  Frustrated by limited minutes and overtaken by Turconi, Verre heads out in search of a more prominent role.
• Fringe exits
  Several other squad players depart for regular football elsewhere: Dario Šarić to Antalyaspor for €1.2m, Francesco Bardi to Al-Dhafra for €225k, and Leo Štulac to Luton Town for €150k.

Huber, calm as ever, hasn’t panicked about the turnover.

“We need players who fit the identity,” he told the local press. “We’ll strengthen, but always with purpose.”

👥 Staff Expansion

Promotion has brought room to grow, and Palermo have quietly reshaped the backroom team. Several new Italian staff members have arrived, blending local expertise with Huber’s trusted lieutenants. Among them are Palermo-born Fitness coach Vincenzo Teresa, Foggia native Marcello Quinto, and Rome-born goalkeeping coach Lorenzo Bucchi.

There have been departures too: set-piece specialist Habeeb Nwankwo has been lured away by Fiorentina, with Greek coach Antonis Garozis brought in as his replacement.

The changes strengthen Palermo’s coaching, scouting, and fitness departments – all vital for surviving a long Serie A campaign. Behind the scenes, integration is no longer just a goal but a reality: Huber, Fairclough, Okori, Halimi, and Sullivan all now speak Italian, and their voices mix naturally with the new locals around the training ground. As one staff member put it, “It feels more complete now.”

👕 A New Era in Pink and Black

The new Palermo is also a new look Palermo. Adidas have built upon their manufacturing of the training kit and have now taken over from Puma as playing kit suppliers, while Etihad Airways becomes the new front-of-shirt sponsor. The connection to the City Football Group has never been clearer.

The shirts themselves speak of ambition:

• Home: Classic pink with sharp black and white trim, a statement of identity.
• Away: A deep navy with a retro badge, striped collar, and subtle pink accents, sleek and modern.
• Third: A bold white-and-blue pattern with the adidas originals logo designed to stand out.

🌍Pre-Season in the Valle d’Aosta — Fénis, Italy

Palermo’s summer work begins far from Sicily’s heat, in the cooler air of the Alps. The squad has set up camp in Fénis, a small town in the Valle d’Aosta, using the quiet surroundings and mountain backdrop to prepare for life in Serie A. The friendlies are against local Italian opposition and some teams in the area, more about sharpness and rhythm than glamour.

For Huber, the choice of location is deliberate. “It’s still Italy, still our football culture,” he explained, “but it’s calm, away from the noise. The players can focus, breathe, and reset.” Training sessions echo around the valley, shouts bouncing off the hills, and between double sessions there are small smiles and stolen photos of the mountains. This is hard work, but after last season, it also feels like a quiet reward before the storm of Serie A.

👉 Next Up: Pre-Season Friendlies. Palermo take to the pitch for the first time since their title celebrations. Who shines, who struggles, and what do the early signs say about their Serie A readiness?

⚽ 24: Pre-Season Friendlies — First Steps Toward Serie A

🏔️ Fénis Tour

The crickets were loud as Jacques Huber and his staff strolled back from the training pitches in Fénis, shirts sticking after another double session in the thin Valle d’Aosta air. Serie A loomed, and so did the weight of history. Palermo hadn’t been in the topflight since 2017, and no one was under any illusions about how steep the climb would be.

Samir Halimi flicked a towel over his shoulder and grinned. “Not bad for the first week away, Mister. But the real test was that yacht in Mykonos. Costa, Todaro, Romano? Which was it again?”

Tobi Okori laughed, shaking his head. “Forget double sessions, Jacques is doing triple rotations in the gossip pages.”

Jacques rolled his eyes but smiled. “You two worry more about Pisa and less about magazines.”

“Pisa? Please,” Tobi shot back. “My challenge is convincing Dayo and Zuri that their new school in Palermo won’t be the end of civilisation.”

Samir clapped Jacques on the back. “And you – just hurry up and find your own place. I’ve already picked the paint colours once you’re out the bunker. Your notebooks and magnets are going straight in the bin.”

As they reached the edge of the complex, Tobi’s tone shifted. He looked out across the empty pitches, arms folded. “On a real though, Serie A is going to be a different beast. The boys are buzzing, sure, but it’s not going to be like last year. Every mistake will cost us twice as much.”

Samir shrugged, still smiling. “That’s good. Fear keeps you sharp. Besides, we’ve already beaten the odds once. Why not again?”

Jacques listened, smiling faintly. He knew they’d need both perspectives: Tobi’s realism and Samir’s optimism. Between them, he felt Palermo had the balance to face what was coming. The work was serious, but he was confident in his team to give it a go.

🏟️ Match Results

Palermo came through pre-season unbeaten, but it was very much a mixed bag as Huber used the games to road-test a more conservative mid-block ahead of Serie A.

• Palermo 1–1 FC København — (Palumbo)
• Palermo 5-1 Union Saint-Gilloise — (Gomes, Le Douaron, Ranocchia (2), Segre)
• Bari 2-2 Palermo — (Le Douaron, Palumbo)
• Pisa 1-3 Palermo — (Ceccaroni, Giovane, Ranocchia)
• Südtirol 1-1 Palermo — (Palumbo)
• Lecco 0-0 Palermo — (N/A)

📝 Tactical Adjustments

Huber’s core philosophy hasn’t changed, but Serie A demands tweaks. Palermo will still play with ambition, yet their style has been tuned to survive against stronger, smarter opposition.

• Selective pressing – Instead of relentless all-pitch pressure, Palermo now spring targeted traps in midfield zones.
• Compact out of possession – Wingers tuck in slightly narrower to protect central spaces, staying ready to explode forward on the break.
• Quicker transitions – With less of the ball expected, the focus is on punishing mistakes: win it, play forward, and attack at speed.
• Set-piece focus – The arrival of a new specialist coach has seen extra hours on dead balls, a vital weapon for any newly promoted side.

Huber summed it up during the camp: “We still want to be brave, but bravery in Serie A is not the same as in Serie B. Sometimes intelligence is knowing when not to chase everything.”

Early pre-season results reflected that balance: flashes of creativity in possession, wrapped in a more measured, structured approach without the ball.

🌟 Who Impressed

• Filippo Ranocchia looked sharp, comfortably alternating between a more advanced role and a deeper midfield position upon the sale of Claudio Gomes.
• Mariano Troilo settled quickly at the heart of the defence, looking calm on the ball and aggressive in duels.
• Marco Turconi played with maturity beyond his years. With Yeremay sidelined for the start of the season, the youngster may initially see more minutes out wide, and on this evidence, he looks ready for the responsibility.

⚠️ Who Struggled

• Stefanos Tzimas has looked a little off the pace this pre-season, finishing without a goal. Hopefully it’s just a case of playing his way back to full fitness and he’ll be ready once the competitive fixtures begin.
• Defensive lapses have cropped up too often, even against lower-level opposition – a sharp reminder of how ruthless Serie A could be while a new-look squad is still bedding in.

📰 Press Reaction

• La Gazzetta dello Sport:

“Six years out of Serie A leaves scars. Palermo’s enthusiasm is clear, but this league punishes naivety. Survival will take more than bold ideas.”

• Il Giornale di Sicilia:

“Palermo’s return feels different. Under Huber, there is identity, energy, and togetherness. Serie A will be brutal, but for the first time since 2017, hope feels genuine.”

👉 Next Up: Opening Day in Serie A. The pink shirts return to the big stage. Can Huber’s Palermo make a debut to remember?

⚽ 25: Opening Day in Serie A

Palermo’s Return to the Big Stage

📋 Starting XI

Huber’s first Serie A lineup looked like this:

Huber kept faith with most of the core that had carried Palermo up, but his hand was forced into a few changes. The shape was familiar: a 4-3-3 in possession, adjusted with the pre-season tweaks: a slightly deeper defensive line, wingers tracking back narrower, and a clear plan to break forward at speed in transition.

Short-term injuries to Stefanos Tzimas and Filippo Ranocchia in the week leading up to the game, combined with Yeremay’s long-term absence and a knock for Giacomo Corona, left Palermo’s attack looking lighter than planned for their return to the top flight. New signing Haissem Hassan and Jérémy Le Douaron started on the wings, while Huber made an unusually bold call through the middle: 16-year-old Marco Turconi, trusted to lead the line as a false nine in Palermo’s first Serie A match since 2017.

🏟️ Match Report

The Curva Nord unfurled its first top-flight banner in six years, pink and black stretching across the stand under the floodlights. The Renzo Barbera was packed, loud, and restless. Palermo were back in Serie A.

What followed, at first, was pure tension. The opening 20 minutes were cagey, neither side creating a clear chance until Christian Comotto let fly from distance on 21 minutes, forcing Łukasz Skorupski into a sharp save and a corner. From that set piece, Bologna only half-cleared; Haissem Hassan met the loose ball on the edge of the box and drew another stop from the keeper. It felt like Palermo were edging into the game, which is why the punch the other way hurt twice as much. On 30 minutes, Santiago Castro threaded a pass through for Tommaso Pobega, who finished coolly past Desplanches. Four minutes later, Castro made it 0–2 himself, volleying home after a lofted ball from Juan Miranda. Just before half-time, Turconi thought he’d pulled one back after lovely wing play from Haissem Hassan, only for the linesman’s flag to cut the celebrations short. Palermo went in two goals down.

Belief returned almost immediately after the restart. On 52 minutes, Palumbo drove to the byline and cut the ball back for Comotto, who marked his league debut by sweeping a composed finish into the corner. Astonishingly, from Bologna’s kick-off, Palermo pressed, won the ball back high and stitched together a flowing move down the left; this time Comotto returned the favour, laying the ball off for Palumbo to smash in the equaliser on 53 minutes. The noise inside the Barbera was deafening. Two goals in a minute, 2–2, and Serie A suddenly didn’t feel so intimidating.

Bologna reminded everyone of the level on 63 minutes, rattling the crossbar with a header from a corner, but neither side could find a decisive third. The final whistle brought applause more than ecstasy: a 2–2 draw, a comeback from 0–2 down, and a valuable first point on Palermo’s return to the top flight. Proof that Huber’s side might just be able to live at this level.

🗣️ Huber’s Take

“For half an hour we were too timid, and Serie A punished us. But the reaction after the break was pure Palermo. To come from 0–2 down and play with that courage says a lot about this group. We still have many details to improve, but if we keep this spirit, the points will come.”

🔑Key Notes

• Christian Comotto scored Palermo’s first Serie A goal since 2017 on his league debut.
• 16-year-old Marco Turconi started as a false nine and had a goal ruled out for offside after clever movement. Remarkably he did not look out of place at this level.
• Defensive lapses in a four-minute spell before half-time showed how unforgiving Serie A can be.
• The Curva Nord never stopped singing, turning a nervy opener into a statement that Palermo are truly back in the big time.

⚽ Coppa Italia — Palermo 3–0 Mantova (H)

Before the league opener, Palermo also quietly took care of business in the Coppa Italia with a comfortable win over Mantova. Ceccaroni opened the scoring at 7’ with a towering header from a Ranocchia corner, an early sign that the new set-piece work might be paying off. Ranocchia, anchoring the midfield in a deeper role, then stepped up to arrow in a long-range strike for 2–0 (60’). Late on, Stefanos Tzimas finally broke his pre-season drought, pouncing on a loose ball in the box on 67’ to fire home the third. Among the new faces, both Honest Ahanor and Mariano Troilo impressed, offering early encouragement that Palermo’s summer business has added real substance to the backline.

👉 Next Up: Settling In. The opening day showed both pain and promise. Now comes the real test: finding points in a brutal first run of fixtures.

📉 26: Settling In — Lessons From Serie A’s Early Weeks

The roar of the Stadio Renzo Barbera was still ringing in the players’ ears after the opening day. A poor first-half had promised Palermo a nightmare return, but Jacques Huber quickly reminded Serie A not to underestimate the Rosanero. The challenge was clear: survival would demand discipline and resilience.

🏟️ Results Round-Up

Matchday 2 — Milan 3–0 Palermo (A)
Palermo’s first trip to San Siro was a brutal reminder of Serie A’s level. With Tzimas and Ranocchia back in the XI, Huber’s side barely had time to settle before Rafael Leão headed in a Saelemaekers cross on 7 minutes, then doubled the lead on 39’ by slotting home after slick work down the left from Pervis Estupiñán. Palermo showed more fight after the break and were handed a lifeline when Estupiñán was sent off for a nasty tackle on Pierozzi in the 78th minute, but Milan held firm and even killed the game on the counter, Alex Jiménez making it 3–0 late on. A chastening night for Palermo, and a clear marker of the challenge ahead.

Matchday 3 — Palermo 1–0 Pescara (H)
Palermo picked up their first win of the season with a controlled display at the Renzo Barbera against fellow newly promoted side Pescara. Huber’s team dominated the first half and finally broke through on 42 minutes, when Ranocchia threaded a clever pass in behind for Haissem Hassan, who opened his Serie A account by curling a gorgeous finish into the top corner. The second half was tighter and Palermo failed to kill the game off, but the back line held firm to secure a valuable 1–0 victory and their first top-flight three points under Huber.

Matchday 4 — Juventus 5–0 Palermo (A)
Palermo’s trip to Turin turned into a nightmare, overshadowing the emotional return of Yeremay, who made his first appearance in six months after a serious spinal injury. Under new boss Roberto De Zerbi, Juve started at full throttle: Khéphren Thuram smashed in a stunning opener after just 6 minutes, and Francisco Conceição doubled the lead with another brilliant finish on 28’. Palermo carved out a couple of chances but couldn’t find a way back, and Jonathan David’s strike early in the second half effectively ended the contest at 3–0. Mariano Troilo then conceded a penalty on 71 minutes, coolly dispatched by Dušan Vlahović, before new signing Rodrigo Mora added a fifth on 86’. A humbling 5–0 defeat and a stark reminder of the gulf Palermo must bridge to compete with Italy’s elite.

Coppa Italia — Palermo 3–0 Juve Stabia (H)
On a rainy afternoon at the Renzo Barbera, Palermo cruised into the next round with a comfortable win over Juve Stabia. Tzimas opened the scoring on 29 minutes, pouncing on a loose ball in the box to fire home, before Marco Turconi doubled the lead on 67’ with a strike that took a helpful deflection on its way in. Jacopo Segre then capped things off four minutes later, arriving late in the area to slot home for 3–0. A professional, drama-free victory and a welcome clean sheet after some bruising league fixtures.

Matchday 5 — Palermo 0–2 Atalanta (H)
Palermo’s afternoon started in the worst possible way as El Bilal Touré nodded Atalanta in front from a corner inside the first minute, plunging the Renzo Barbera into early silence. Huber’s side gradually grew into the game and pushed hard after the break, coming agonisingly close to an equaliser on 57 minutes when Jacopo Segre slipped Tzimas through, only for the striker to hit the outside of the post. Against the run of play, Atalanta killed it off late on, Fiete Arp turning in a wicked Bellanova cross to make it 2–0. A harsh reminder of Serie A’s fine margins on a day where Palermo competed but couldn’t find a way back.

Matchday 6 — Genoa 1–1 Palermo (A)
Palermo endured another slow start at Marassi, falling behind on 7 minutes when Mikael Egill Ellertsson finished a Genoa move to put the hosts in front. Huber’s side gradually settled and got their reward later in the second half, as Jacopo Segre surged down the flank and cut the ball across for Stefanos Tzimas to sweep home his first Serie A goal, levelling the game on 65’. Both teams probed in the final half hour without carving out a decisive chance, and Palermo dug in to see out a 1–1 draw. An important point on the road and a good moment for their No. 9 after a poor start to the season.

📊 League Table Snapshot

A single win, two draws, and three humbling defeats leave Palermo hovering above the relegation zone. Not disastrous, but not comfortable either, especially with both Napoli and Inter below them. Serie A has shown its teeth.

⚠️ Club Investment 

Following promotion, Palermo have started upgrading both their senior and youth training facilities. Around €4.2m is being spent on the first-team complex, due for completion in January 2027, and a further €2.3m on the youth facilities, expected to finish in February 2027. Clear signs of the City Football Group’s intent and ambition for the club’s long-term future.

📰 Press Reaction

• La Repubblica Palermo:
  “Serie A is unforgiving, but Palermo are not overawed. A draw away and a home win suggest they belong here. The question is whether the squad has the depth to endure.”
• La Gazzetta dello Sport:
  “Palermo are brave, but perhaps too brave. Their defensive structure is fragile, and opponents are punishing them. If adjustments aren’t made, survival will be a constant battle.”

👉 Next Up: Home Is Where the Mister Is. Away from the pitch, Jacques Huber has reportedly secured his own Palermo apartment. A glossy lifestyle piece, or the city’s latest gossip headline?