After returning to Serie A following a one-season absence, Frosinone opened 2026/27 with a heavily rebuilt squad. Five matches in, sitting sixth on 10 points — level with Juventus — the newly promoted side widely tipped for relegation is challenging Italian football’s established hierarchy with a highly distinctive tactical system.
Technical Leadership & Coaching Profile
Manager: Massimiliano Alvini
Alvini was confirmed as first-team head coach in May 2026, tasked with leading the club through its 2026/27 Serie A campaign. The Florence-born coach possesses one of the most unusual CVs in Italian football — his managerial career began in 1995 with an amateur side called Amatori Calcio Ferruzza, and has since climbed the complete ladder through amateur football, Promozione, Eccellenza, Serie D, Serie C, Serie B and now Serie A. Over thirty-one years, Alvini has accumulated 881 competitive matches as a coach, and is the only current Serie A manager with a LinkedIn profile.
Alvini describes his football philosophy on LinkedIn as follows: “My greatest wish has always been to have teams that play good football — to engage spectators and fans in this way, creating a wonderful team-fan environment. My football idea is to have an aggressive team capable of dominating matches, and capable of recognising the principles of play that can stimulate the technical, tactical, physical and psychological qualities of the players.”
His career trajectory is frequently compared to that of Maurizio Sarri. During Sarri’s time at Empoli, Alvini would lean on the fence at the Sussidiario training ground to observe and learn, attempting to absorb lessons from a fellow coach who had risen from the lower leagues. Today, Alvini’s Frosinone sit level on 10 points with Luciano Spalletti’s Juventus after five rounds — an achievement Italian outlet La Nazione has labelled “the Alvini miracle.”
Tactical Philosophy
Alvini’s system is defined by aggression, verticality and defensive resilience. He states plainly that his football “has identity and credibility, built on aggression and verticality, where the players know exactly what they must do and do it well — high line, pressing and sudden counter-attacks.”
This philosophy was perfectly demonstrated in the fifth-round victory over Como. Despite holding just 35.1% possession and completing only 72.3% of their passes (compared to Como’s 64.9% and 86.3% respectively), Alvini’s side beat the previously unbeaten opponents through direct, efficient attacking. Frosinone managed just 6 shots on target from 22 attempts but scored twice, while goalkeeper Palmisani saved all 8 of Como’s shots on target.
The tactical core is ceding possession, compressing space and exploiting transitions. The team does not seek to win matches through control of the ball, but rather “to let the opponent have more of the ball, then find opportunities when they lose their structure.” This was evident in both goals against Como: Calderoni opened the scoring in the 14th minute from Schmid’s pass, and Kvernadze struck just 48 seconds into the second half, with both goals arriving in moments when the opponent’s defensive organisation had not fully set.
Defensively, Frosinone are the most fouling team in Serie A 2026/27 (66 fouls). This is not a negative metric but a reflection of Alvini’s tactical discipline — using tactical fouls to break the opponent’s rhythm and buy time for defensive reorganisation.
Preferred Formations
4-2-3-1 (in possession) / 4-4-2 (out of possession)
Alvini established 4-2-3-1 as the base shape early in the season. Calderoni and Masini partner in the double pivot, with Schmid operating as the attacking midfielder, Ghedjemis and Kvernadze on the flanks, and Raimondo leading the line.
With the arrivals of Grillitsch and Schmid, Alvini gained the flexibility to adjust his midfield configuration. Grillitsch can sit in front of the defence alongside Calderoni in a double pivot, while Schmid is best suited to operating behind the striker.
Strategic Transfer Activity
Frosinone’s summer window was ambitious by newly promoted standards. The club spent a total of €31.6 million, bringing in players with European experience including Thomas Bobcek (€10.7m), Romano Schmid (€8.5m) and Alexander Terzic (€2.5m).
Perhaps the most strategically significant move was retaining Fares Ghedjemis. The 23-year-old winger was the key player in last season’s promotion and attracted interest from multiple clubs, but Frosinone succeeded in keeping him in the squad — a move TMW described as “a genuine signing.”
Table A: Summer Major Transfer Influx
| Player | Position | Former Club | Fee Paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas Bobcek | Forward | Lechia Gdańsk | €10.7m |
| Romano Schmid | Midfielder | Werder Bremen | €8.5m |
| Alexander Terzic | Left-Back | RB Salzburg | €2.5m |
| Luis Hasa | Midfielder | Napoli | €2.5m |
| Alessio Zerbin | Winger | Napoli | €2.0m |
| Florian Grillitsch | Midfielder | Free transfer | Free |
| Kevin Akpoguma | Centre-Back | Free transfer | Free |
| Sebastiano Desplanches | Goalkeeper | Palermo | Loan |
| Giorgio Cittadini | Centre-Back | Atalanta | Loan |
| Gabriele Calvani | Centre-Back | Genoa | Loan |
The First-Team Roster
Goalkeepers
Sebastiano Desplanches (#1): The young goalkeeper arrived on loan from Palermo, born in 2003 and viewed as a long-term solution between the posts. His early-season performances, however, have not fully secured the starting role, with Alvini maintaining competition for the position.
Lorenzo Palmisani (#22): The 2004-born goalkeeper won the starting job early in the season and delivered a decisive performance against Como — saving all 8 of the opponents’ shots on target to secure a clean sheet. Palmisani’s form has given Alvini reliable cover in goal and made Desplanches’ loan role more complicated.
Erdin Lolic (#12): A 2004-born third-choice goalkeeper, currently providing squad depth.
Matteo Pisseri (#75): The experienced veteran goalkeeper, born in 1991, offers stability within the dressing room.
Defenders
Anthony Oyono (#20): The first-choice right-back, born in 2001, possesses excellent box-to-box capacity and defensive discipline. In Alvini’s 4-2-3-1, he carries significant responsibility for transitions on the flank.
Jérémy Oyono (#21): Anthony’s twin brother, also a full-back, providing depth and competition on the right.
Giorgio Cittadini (#2): The centre-back returned on loan from Atalanta, born in 2002. Cittadini offers the ball-playing ability and positional awareness required of a modern defender and is a key component of Alvini’s defensive structure.
Gabriele Calvani (#3): The young centre-back arrived on loan from Genoa, born in 2004, physically imposing and dominant in aerial duels.
Ilario Monterisi (#30): A centre-back born in 2001, retained from last season’s promotion squad, with a deep understanding of the club’s culture and Alvini’s tactical demands.
Kevin Akpoguma (#32): The Bundesliga-experienced centre-back arrived on a free transfer from Hoffenheim, born in 1995. Akpoguma’s arrival brought top-flight experience and leadership to a defence that badly needed it, and his physicality and defensive reading — honed in the Bundesliga — make him a strong candidate for the defensive cornerstone role.
Gabriele Bracaglia (#79): A left-back/centre-back born in 2003, providing defensive depth and representing the club’s commitment to internal development.
Riccardo Marchizza (#23): The experienced left-back, born in 1998, offers Serie A know-how and reliability on the left flank.
Midfielders
Luca Mazzitelli (#36): The midfield anchor, born in 1995, brings leadership and tactical intelligence to the base of the midfield. His experience in Serie A with Sassuolo and Monza provides essential guidance within a young squad.
Matteo Cotali (#29): The left-sided midfielder, born in 1997, offers versatility across wide and central roles.
Marco Calderoni (#17): A key figure in Alvini’s double pivot, his defensive screening and tactical discipline provide the platform for the team’s structure. Calderoni’s ability to break up play and initiate transitions is central to the tactical system.
Romano Schmid (#8): The marquee summer arrival from Werder Bremen, born in 2000. The Austrian international brings creativity and goal threat from advanced midfield positions. His assist for Calderoni’s opener against Como demonstrated the quality he adds in the final third. Schmid’s ability to operate between the lines makes him the creative hub of Alvini’s attack.
Florian Grillitsch (#6): The Austrian midfielder arrived on a free transfer, born in 1995, bringing extensive Bundesliga and Champions League experience from Hoffenheim and Ajax. Grillitsch offers tactical intelligence and the ability to dictate tempo from deep positions, providing Alvini with a more possession-oriented option alongside the more destructive Calderoni.
Luis Hasa (#10): The young midfielder arrived from Napoli, born in 2004, possessing technical quality and vision beyond his years. Hasa represents a long-term investment and an option for Alvini when seeking greater creativity in central areas.
Ben Lhassine Kone (#4): The Ivorian-born midfielder, born in 2000, provides physical presence and ball-winning ability in the middle third.
Isak Vural (#7): The Swedish midfielder, born in 2006, is a promising young talent whose development will be closely monitored.
Fares Ghedjemis (#11): Primarily a winger but also capable in attacking midfield, Ghedjemis is one of the squad’s most important players. The 23-year-old’s retention over the summer was a statement of intent, and his direct running and goal threat from wide areas make him central to Alvini’s attacking plans.
Forwards
Gennaro Borrelli (#9): The striker, born in 1998, offers a physical presence in the attacking line and serves as a focal point for hold-up play.
Gianluca Lapadula (#19): The veteran striker, born in 1990, brings extensive Serie A experience and a proven eye for goal. His professionalism and work rate make him a reliable option in the attacking rotation.
Thomas Bobcek (#27): The club-record signing from Lechia Gdańsk, born in 2004. The Slovak striker represents a significant investment and a long-term attacking cornerstone. His physical profile and movement offer a different dimension to Alvini’s attacking options.
Ilias Koutsoupias (#70): The Greek attacking midfielder/forward, born in 2001, provides creativity and versatility across the attacking line.
Anthony Partipilo (#31): The experienced winger, born in 1994, offers Serie A know-how and directness from wide areas.
Michele Cerofolini (#71): The young forward, born in 2005, represents the club’s investment in emerging attacking talent.
Seydou Fini (#80): The young forward, born in 2006, provides additional attacking depth and developmental potential.
Leadership Group & Squad Regulations
Club Captain: Luca Mazzitelli
The midfielder remains the unequivocal leader of the squad, his voice and standards-setting influence anchoring a dressing room that has undergone significant transformation. His experience of Serie A football with Sassuolo and Monza provides a reference point for a squad containing several players new to the top flight.
The Leadership Committee
Marco Calderoni and Kevin Akpoguma serve as the senior voices alongside Mazzitelli, their combined experience providing essential guidance through a challenging campaign. Akpoguma’s Bundesliga background and Calderoni’s tactical intelligence make them natural lieutenants within Alvini’s structure.
Homegrown Quota Check
With Lorenzo Palmisani, Ilario Monterisi, Gabriele Bracaglia, Matteo Cotali and several other Italian-trained players in the first-team squad, Frosinone maintains a strong domestic core. The club’s tradition of developing young Italian talent remains a core principle, though the step up to Serie A has required supplementing the squad with experienced foreign additions.
Financial & Contractual Health
Financial Balance Overview
Frosinone’s salary limit for 2026/27 stands at approximately €38 million, a modest figure by Serie A standards that reflects the club’s status as a newly promoted side operating within the league’s economic control regulations. The €31.6 million spent on transfers represents a significant investment relative to the club’s revenue base, justified by the financial imperative of Serie A survival. The club’s financial situation remains constrained, requiring careful management across the rolling three-year assessment period.
Contract Red Alerts
Alvini’s contract rewards survival with an automatic extension, providing clear performance incentives. Securing the futures of key young assets like Romano Schmid and Fares Ghedjemis remains a priority, with their market value having risen significantly since arrival. The loan agreements for Cittadini, Calvani and Desplanches include purchase options that the club will assess based on their contributions across the campaign.
The Academy Pipeline & Loan Tracker
Breakout Talents to Watch
Frosinone’s academy has produced several players now featuring in the first-team squad, including Lorenzo Palmisani, whose performances in goal have been a revelation. The club’s youth pipeline continues to supply depth, with Bracaglia and Cerofolini among those pushing for greater involvement. The step up to Serie A represents a significant test of the academy’s capacity to produce top-flight quality.
Notable Out on Loan
Frosinone’s loan strategy has focused on moving on fringe players to manage the wage bill while providing development opportunities. The club has utilised loan departures to create space for the summer arrivals, with several young players gaining experience in Serie B and Serie C.
Set-Piece Specialists & FPL Cheat Sheet
Penalties: Romano Schmid (First Choice) / Fares Ghedjemis (Second Choice).
Direct Free-Kicks: Romano Schmid / Luis Hasa.
Corners & Crosses: Romano Schmid / Fares Ghedjemis / Marco Calderoni.
Final Outlook: Defying the Odds
Frosinone enters 2026/27 in a state of managed ambition. The summer’s substantial investment — by the club’s standards — reflected the recognition that survival required more than the squad that earned promotion. Massimiliano Alvini’s appointment provided continuity and a clear tactical identity, but the step up in quality has tested the squad’s depth and resilience.
The early-season returns offer genuine encouragement. Fifth place after five matches — level with Juventus and above the likes of Roma, Lazio and Fiorentina — represents a start few predicted. The victory over Como demonstrated that Alvini’s system can deliver results against quality opposition, with the goalkeeper Palmisani and the defence proving capable of withstanding sustained pressure.
The emergence of Romano Schmid as a creative force and the retention of Fares Ghedjemis provide genuine attacking quality. The experienced additions of Akpoguma, Grillitsch and Mazzitelli have added the top-flight know-how the squad lacked. The academy continues to supply depth, with Palmisani’s performances in goal particularly encouraging.
The road ahead remains unforgiving. Alvini’s high-risk, high-reward tactical approach requires maximum concentration and discipline across every match. The squad’s lack of proven Serie A goalscorers — Bobcek is adapting, Lapadula is 36, Borrelli is unproven at this level — represents a genuine concern across a 38-game season. The fixture list will inevitably bring periods of adversity, and the margin for error remains perilously thin.
But the Alvini miracle has a foundation. If the tactical system holds, if key players remain fit, and if the summer investment delivers the quality expected, Frosinone possesses the structure and identity to avoid relegation. The consequences of failure would be significant — but the early evidence suggests this newly promoted side is not content to merely make up the numbers.
