Loyalty pays off: Lucas Biglia lands Torino assistant role

Lucas Biglia, the 40‑year‑old Argentine former midfielder, has secured a new assistant role at Serie A club Torino after resigning from Anderlecht when head coach Besnik Hasi was dismissed, with the Italian side having finished 12th in the previous league campaign.

Biglia played for RSC Anderlecht from 2006 to 2013, making 303 appearances in the purple‑white shirt. He was a regular in the side that reached the 2014 World Cup final with Argentina, where he was tasked with protecting Lionel Messi alongside Javier Mascherano.

He joined Anderlecht’s coaching staff under Besnik Hasi, the Albanian manager who had previously been his teammate in Brussels. When Hasi was sacked during the season, Biglia quit his assistant position out of loyalty, referring to Hasi as the person who gave him his chance.

Torino appointed former AC Milan right‑back Ignazio Abate as head coach for the upcoming season, and Biglia will serve as the second assistant (T2). The club concluded the last Serie A campaign in a modest 12th place, offering Biglia a fresh challenge in Italy.

Between 2013 and 2017 Biglia also wore the colours of Lazio, alongside those of AC Milan, further deepening his familiarity with Italian football. His experience in Serie A therefore extends beyond his playing days.

Biglia was in talks with Belgian Pro League side Eupen, but the club’s intentions regarding a head‑coach or assistant role remained unclear. Eupen ultimately appointed Felice Mazzù, a coach with more experience, prompting Biglia to accept Torino’s offer.

Biglia will begin the new season at Torino as the T2 assistant, working under Ignazio Abate and aiming to translate his playing and coaching experience into the Italian top flight. His appointment underscores the network of former teammates influencing coaching moves across Europe.