Vincenzo Montella, born on 18 June 1974 in the town of Pomigliano d'Arco near Naples in the Campania region of Italy, is a former Italian professional footballer and manager who played as a striker. During his playing career, he became known by the nickname "Aeroplanino" (Little Airplane) for his signature goal celebration, in which he spread his arms wide like airplane wings. After retiring from active football, he began his coaching career and currently serves as the head coach of the Türkiye A Millî Futbol Takımı.

Early Life and Youth Career

He spent his childhood in Castello di Cisterna as the youngest of five children. His father, Nicola, was a factory worker and his mother, Giuseppina, was a homemaker. His interest in football was influenced by his older brother Emanuele, who played amateur football and was four years his senior. Montella began his football journey as a goalkeeper for the local amateur club Unione Sportiva San Nicola. Later, due to his small stature and emerging talent in advanced positions, he transitioned to the striker role. Under the guidance of coach Lorenzo D'Amato at San Nicola, he developed his skills and at the age of 13 in 1986, he won a trial with Empoli, moving to the Tuscany region.

Playing Career

Empoli and Genoa Period

After progressing through Empoli's youth system, Montella made his professional debut in the 1990–1991 season in a Serie C1 match against Varese. In the 1992–1993 season, he was sidelined for nearly two years due to a fractured fibula followed by a viral infection that disrupted his heart rhythm. Upon full recovery in the 1994–1995 season, he appeared in 30 league matches and scored 17 goals for Empoli under manager Walter Nicoletti.

In the summer of 1995, he transferred to Genoa of Serie B, where he scored 21 goals in 34 league matches, finishing second in the league's top scorer race behind Dario Hübner. That same season, he played in the Anglo-Italian Cup final at Wembley Stadium against Port Vale and scored a penalty for his team. He first performed his famous airplane goal celebration after scoring against Cesena during this period.

Sampdoria Period

In 1996, he moved to Serie A side Sampdoria for a transfer fee of 8.5 billion lire. In his first Serie A season, 1996–1997, he scored 22 goals in 28 matches, breaking the record for most goals by a debutant in Serie A history and finishing second in the league's top scorer race behind Filippo Inzaghi. That season, he equaled the record for scoring two goals in four consecutive matches against Inter, Vicenza, Udinese and Cagliari. In the 1997–1998 season, he scored 20 goals in 33 matches, and despite an ankle injury during the first half of the 1998–1999 season, he finished the campaign with 12 goals in 22 appearances.

Roma Period and Championship

In 1999, he joined AS Roma for a transfer fee of 40 billion lire. In his first season with Roma, he scored 18 goals in 31 matches. During the 2000–2001 season, although he occasionally played as a substitute due to the arrival of Gabriel Batistuta and manager Fabio Capello's tactical preferences, he contributed significantly to the team's success with 13 league goals in 28 appearances. He scored crucial goals against title rivals Juventus, Milan and Atalanta, and netted the decisive goal in the 3–1 victory over Parma on the final matchday, securing Roma's first Serie A title (Scudetto) in 18 years. That same year, he won the Italy Super Cup against Fiorentina.

In the 2001–2002 season, he scored four goals in a single 5–1 derby match against Lazio, becoming the player with the most goals in a single Roma derby. His most prolific season came in 2004–2005 when he scored 21 goals in 37 league matches.

Final Years as a Player

In January 2007, he joined English Premier League club Fulham on loan, scoring two goals in 10 appearances. In the 2007–2008 season, he returned to his former club Sampdoria on loan, scoring four goals in 13 matches. He rejoined Roma for the 2008–2009 season and announced his retirement from professional football on 2 July 2009. Over his Serie A career, he appeared in 288 matches and scored 141 goals. Across all official club and national team competitions, he reached a total of 237 goals. With Roma, he played 258 matches and scored 102 goals; in 2013, he was inducted into the club's Hall of Fame.

National Team Career

He made his debut for the Italy A National Football Team on 5 June 1999 against Wales. He was part of Italy's squad for the 2000 UEFA European Championship (Euro 2000) and came on as a substitute in the final against France. He was also called up for the 2002 FIFA World Cup and provided an assist for Alessandro Del Piero's goal against Mexico. Over his international career, he earned 20 caps and scored three goals: one against South Africa and two against England.

Coaching Career

Early Years in Italy and Fiorentina

Vincenzo Montella Fiorentina period (AA)

After retiring from playing in 2009, Montella began his coaching career as head of Roma's U-15 (Giovanissimi) team, leading them to win the Viareggio Junior Cup.

On 21 February 2011, following Claudio Ranieri's resignation, he was appointed interim head coach of Roma's first team. He managed the side in 16 matches, achieving seven wins, four draws and five losses, and finished the league in sixth place.

In the 2011–2012 season, he coached Catania, guiding the club to 48 league points and setting a new club record.

In June 2012, he was appointed head coach of Fiorentina. During his three seasons with the club, he consistently placed the team in fourth place in the league, reached the final of the Coppa Italia in 2014, and led them to the semi-finals of the UEFA Europa League in 2015. He was dismissed in June 2015 due to disagreements with the club management over contract terms. In November 2015, he became head coach of Sampdoria after the club paid the 500,000 euro release clause in his previous contract, successfully keeping Sampdoria in the league.

Vincenzo Montella Milan period (AA)

Milan and Sevilla Period

In June 2016, he signed a two-year contract as head coach of AC Milan. He won his first trophy as a manager in December 2016, defeating Juventus on penalties in the Italian Super Cup held in Doha. That same season, he guided Milan to sixth place in the league, securing European qualification for the club after a three-and-a-half-year absence. However, following a series of poor results, he left the club in November 2017.

Vincenzo Montella Sevilla period (AA)

In December 2017, he was appointed head coach of Spanish La Liga side Sevilla. He led Sevilla to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League and the final of the Copa del Rey, but was dismissed in April 2018 following a string of consecutive defeats. In 2019, he briefly returned to Fiorentina as head coach.

Türkiye Period and National Team Achievements

On 1 September 2021, he was appointed head coach of Adana Demirspor, a club in the Türkiye Süper Lig. In the 2022–2023 season, he led Adana Demirspor to fourth place in the league, the highest finish in the club's history, and secured their first-ever qualification for the UEFA Europa Conference League qualifiers.

Türkiye-Kosova match end (AA)

On 21 September 2023, he signed a three-year contract with the Türkiye Football Federation (TFF), valid until 31 July 2028, becoming head coach of the Türkiye A Millî Futbol Takımı. He led the team to promotion from League B to League A in the UEFA Nations League and guided them to the quarter-finals of the 2024 UEFA European Championship.

On 31 March 2026, in the UEFA play-off final match at the Fadil Vokrri Stadium in Pristina, Kosovo, Türkiye defeated Kosovo 1–0 thanks to an assist from Orkun Kökçü and a goal from Kerem Aktürkoğlu, securing Türkiye's qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a 24-year absence. In the tournament, Türkiye was drawn in Group D alongside the United States, Australia and Paraguay. With these achievements, Montella became the first foreign head coach to qualify Türkiye for both a European Championship and a World Cup. In his first 24 official matches as national team coach, he achieved 16 victories, recording a win rate of 66 percent.

Personal Life

Vincenzo Montella married Rita Iannaccone in 1998, with whom he has a son named Alessio; the couple divorced in February 2003. Alessio Montella also played football professionally before retiring. On 15 August 2010, he married Rachele Di Fiore, a former television presenter, in Las Vegas. They have two children: Maddalena and Emanuele. On 14 May 2025, he appeared as a guest on the Italian TV program "Una Giornata Particolare," hosted by Aldo Cazzullo on La7, which focused on the Fall of Constantinople (1453). In 2025, his name was frequently mentioned in the media as a potential candidate for the head coaching position at his former club AS Roma.