Fiorentina: Best players & manager profile of West Ham’s Europa Conference League final opponents

Florence was the birthplace of a cultural renaissance seven centuries ago, and now, Vincenzo Italiano is hoping to oversee the culmination of a sporting resurgence in the great city.

Fiorentina were a force to be reckoned with in the 1990s. With superstars such as Gabriel Batistuta and Rui Costa, La Viola threatened to destabilise Serie A's aristocracy on several occasions before financial turmoil resulted in a demise to Serie B at the start of the 21st century.

Stability has long been established in the years succeeding their return to the top flight in 2004, but tangible success in the form of silverware has continued to escape the Florentines.

Fiorentina blew their first shot at a trophy in 2022/23 when they were beaten by Inter in the Coppa Italia final, but a second chance awaits Italiano's side. La Viola have embarked on a memorable Europa Conference League journey, and the showpiece event in Prague awaits them as they face West Ham in the final on Wednesday night.

This Fiorentina outfit have the chance to make history as they go in search of just their second-ever piece of European silverware, and a first trophy since 2001.

Who is Fiorentina's manager?

The aforementioned Italiano is regarded alongside current Brighton coach Roberto De Zerbi as Italy's brightest managerial prospect.

The 45-year-old, who enjoyed a humble playing career with several Serie A clubs, has gradually worked his way up the Italian football pyramid since his retirement and subsequent dabble into management. He made a name for himself at Spezia, whom he guided into Serie A for the very first time in 2020 and, even more impressively, kept them in the top flight during their maiden voyage.

His work in Liguria convinced Fiorentina, a former member of the 'Seven Sisters', to take a plunge and Italiano once again enjoyed success. The Italian, who has overseen a proactive and aggressive brand of football wherever he's been, guided La Viola to their highest Serie A finish since 2015/16 and entry into the Europa Conference League following a five-year absence from Europe.

Italiano's rise is set to continue this summer, with some believing Wednesday's final might be the last game he manages as Fiorentina boss. Scudetto winners Napoli, who recently saw the back of Luciano Spalletti, are said to be sniffing around.

Fiorentina players to watch out for vs West Ham

1. Cristiano Biraghi

Following an indifferent loan spell with Inter during Antonio Conte's first season at the club, Biraghi has returned to the Artemio Franchi and taken his game to new heights.

The left-back has been a dependable figure in Florence for years now, and his technical proficiency has rendered him such a valuable asset to Italiano, with his side constantly seeking to build up from the back.

The Fiorentina skipper also has a wand of a left foot and West Ham would be wise to not give any silly free-kicks away on the edge of their own box.

2. Sofyan Amrabat

Once a transfer target for Fabio Paratici at Tottenham, the unassuming but physically imposing Amrabat made a name for himself at the 2022 World Cup as Morocco became the first African nation to reach the semi-finals.

The brutish holding midfielder was one of the standout players of the tournament, and he's played a crucial role in Fiorentina's run to the Conference League final.

The Moroccan's minutes have been carefully managed down the stretch with this competition prioritiised. He'll be the key disruptor on Wednesday night up against Declan Rice and Lucas Paqueta in midfield.

3. Arthur Cabral

Cabral had big boots to fill when he was signed as a replacement for Dusan Vlahovic in January 2023, and the striker initially struggled to settle.

This season, however, Cabral has found another gear and he tops Fiorentina's scoring charts in both Serie A and the Conference League.

The Brazilian is an astute forward who's clinical in the box. He's somewhat of a traditional target man, but there's certainly a modern edge to his game. Cabral can run the channels well and he's athletic enough to effectively attack space in behind defences. His duel with Nayef Aguerd on Wednesday will be one to keep an eye out for, that's for sure.

Where did Fiorentina finish in 2022/23 Serie A?

Fiorentina's 2022/23 Europa Conference League journey

Italiano's side have been on quite the European venture to reach the Conference League final.

After edging past Dutch outfit FC Twente to qualify for the group stages, their campaign got off to a pretty torrid start as they dropped points at home to Latvian side RFS before succumbing to a 3-0 defeat away at İstanbul Başakşehir.

However, four straight victories, including two beatdowns of poor Hearts, ensured they progressed into the knockout stages as runners-up in the group. Nevertheless, they made light work of a potentially tricky tie in the knockout play-off round as they thrashed Braga 7-2 over two legs.

Sivasspor were then swatted aside in the round of 16 before La Viola looked to be coasting into the last four after they beat Lech Poznan 4-1 away from home in the first leg of their quarter-final tie. The Poles, however, rallied at the Franchi and stunned the hosts, going up 3-0 with 20 minutes remaining. Riccardo Sottil then eased fears of an improbable comeback when he scored to make it 3-1 on the night before Gaetano Castrovilli made sure of Fiorentina's progression.

Italiano's men, for the first time in the tournament, were beaten at home by a mediocre Basel side in the first leg of their semi-final clash which forced them to come from behind in Switzerland. A dramatic encounter was taken to extra time thanks to a Nicolas Gonzalez brace either side of Mohamed Amdouni's strike and it wasn't until the 130th minute (as a result of a lengthy delay) that Fiorentina's dominance was rewarded.

Former Hellas Verona playmaker Antonin Barak struck in the dying embers to send them to Prague.