Gasperini’s Atalanta: From Humble Beginnings to European Contenders

After gaining promotion to the Serie A in 2010, Atalanta have risen from humble beginnings to reach the Coppa Italia & Europa League final, thanks to genius of Gian Piero Gasperini and his hunters

At the blast of the final whistle, Atalanta supporters jumoed in delight after they just witnessed the thumping of Marseille 3–0 to reach the final of the Europa League. This has been unbelievable for a club that has gone toe to toe with some of the best clubs in Europe since their days of relative obscurity.

So, where did the Atalanta story begin?

Atlanta. The term alone brings up images of a mythical country rising from the ashes. However, Atalanta was not a kingdom in the framework of contemporary football; rather, it was a small-town team that consistently played in Serie B and occasionally made it to Serie A. Atalanta’s narrative dramatically changed when fiery coach Gian Piero Gasperini arrived and implemented an attacking style. This piece examines Gasperini’s magic touch, which took Atalanta from obscurity to the Europa League and Coppa Italia finals, exhibiting incredible transfer market genius and honing gems to become superstars.

Originally founded in 1907, they are among the oldest clubs in Italy. Their name was linked to their offensive ability, which would reappear under Gasperini and was inspired by the legendary huntress Atalanta. But Atalanta, for all its history, had no silverware. The Coppa Italia, their only significant prize, was won in 1963. Arriving in 2016, Gasperini’s Serie A outings had become a distant memory.

Gasperini gave Atalanta new hope because of his passionate attitude and explosive 3–4–3 formation. Atalanta’s weapon of mass creation became the 3–4–3, with wing-backs that bomb forward and a central midfielder who controls play. In this style, players like the Argentine magician Papu Gómez, who had a knack for a deadly pass, flourished and performed brilliantly in the offensive midfield role alongside Colombian striker Duván Zapata and Slovenian Josip Ilicic, who were always dependable, tormented opponents up front, and converted opportunities with merciless efficiency.

The success of Atlanta is remarkable because it wasn’t primarily driven by high transfer costs. Gasperini and sporting director Gianluca Percassi became experts in finding undiscovered treasures. Josip Iličić, a Slovenian winger with a left foot like a wizard, was acquired from Fiorentina for a pitiful €4 million. For around €14 million, Atalanta acquired Teun Koopmeiners, a Dutch midfielder who would go on to become an indispensable part of the team. Atalanta searched at lower levels and took a risk on young players, a move that proved quite profitable. For deals that have high transfer costs, most of them have been spectacular from Scammacca and De Keteleare, who have been huge protagonists of this season’s run to the Europa League and Coppa Italia final.

Atalanta has been both a brilliant and a defensively sound squad under Gasperini. This season’s central defenders — Scalvini, Holm, Berat Djimsiti, and Sead Kolasinac — as well as former defenders like Romero, now a Tottenham player — have demonstrated their mettle against superior clubs. Atalanta reached new heights with this blend of offensive flare and comfortable defense, becoming a mainstay in European competitions and qualifying for the Champions League quarterfinals in 2020 and the Europa League quarterfinals in 2022. They finished second in Serie A in 2019 and had multiple Champions League qualification runs, usually putting up a fight against the seasoned titans in all these competitions.

The season of 2018–19 saw the team reach a final for the first time since 1962. The thrilling final versus Lazio ended in defeat, with glory in Europe remaining elusive.

The 2023–2024 season, however, has seen a variety of results; their league form has been mediocre in comparison to years past, when they stood toe to toe with eventual champions or bigger sides. However, their run in this season’s Coppa Italia has seen them eliminate Milan, destroy Fiorentina, and overcome bookies’ favorites Liverpool in the Europa League, with goals coming from all ends of the pitch from the Nigerian Ademola Lookman, Koopmeiners, and especially their new signings, Charles De Keteleare, on loan from AC Milan, and Gianluca Scammacca, who have fit in like a glove, scoring double digits and delivering when it matters most.

Their league charge goes down to the wire as they are currently fifth with a game in hand and have dispatched Marseille 4–1 to face Bayern Leverkusen, who are on the brink of the unbelievable with magician Xabi Alonso.

Although Gian Piero Gasperini’s contract ends in a year, he has brought Atalanta out of obscurity, established them as a competitive team in Europe, doing this with a team of experienced players, neglected talents, and undiscovered gems, alongside a distinctive tactical philosophy, and a transfer market strategy that seem to work no matter the player leaving. Now, the big question is whether Atalanta can continue to be successful once he leaves for another club or retires.

Smaller clubs can draw inspiration from Atlanta’s story. demonstrating to them that even the most unlikely teams can achieve great things with the correct direction, a well-thought-out transfer plan, and an enthusiastic coach who knows his craft. Gasperini’s Atalanta may end its magical run with one, two, or no trophies, but the legendary huntress who rose to prominence in Italian and European football will live on in legend amongst the La Dea faithful.