Ballardini started his coaching career serving as youth team coach for
Bologna, and successively Cesena and
A.C. Milan. He then worked as
Parma under-19 youth team coach from 2002 to 2004. He was then appointed by
Sambenedettese as new head coach for the 2004–05 season, ended with an impressive fourth place and the consequent participation in the promotion playoffs, then lost to
Napoli in the semi-final. He was subsequently chosen by
Massimo Cellino as the new
Cagliari boss for their
2005–06 Serie A campaign; however, he was sacked only a few weeks later, on 11 November, and replaced by
Nedo Sonetti. Ballardini started the 2006–07 season at the helm of
Serie B side Pescara, where he lasted only until October, following a very unimpressive beginning in the league. He was surprisingly announced as the new boss of last-placed Serie A team Cagliari on 27 December 2007, succeeding Sonetti, who ironically replaced him during his first period at the helm of the
Sardinian side. Under his tenure as head coach, Cagliari dramatically improved their results, winning 32 points in 21 weeks, thus rising up the table and managing to escape relegation in advance of a week. However, Ballardini failed to find an agreement with Cagliari chairman
Massimo Cellino for a contract extension, and they ultimately decided to part company on 28 May. On 4 September 2008, Palermo announced they had dismissed head coach
Stefano Colantuono, appointing Ballardini as the new
Rosanero boss in a one-year contract. In his debut match with Palermo, Ballardini led the Sicilians to a very impressive 3–1 home win to
Roma, and then went on to impose the first seasonal loss to
Juventus, winning 2–1 in
Turin, this being the first time Palermo won at Juventus' home in 47 years. His ability to recover Palermo, leading them to the top league positions, was quickly praised again by the media. On 7 October, just two days after the
Rosanero triumph in Turin, Palermo announced to have agreed a two-year contract extension with Ballardini. After weeks of rumours regarding a possible departure of Ballardini from Palermo at the end of the season, on 30 May the
Rosanero head coach announced he had agreed for 10 days to give a definite answer to the club regarding his intentions. Later that day, Palermo chairman
Maurizio Zamparini announced Ballardini had asked to be relieved from his position due to his unwillingness to keep on serving as Palermo's head coach. A few days later, on 5 June, Palermo unveiled
Walter Zenga as new head coach, thus ending speculation regarding Ballardini's future with the
Rosanero. Despite being dismissed as head coach following these events, Ballardini was still under a contract for two more years with the Sicilian club. Finally, after long rumours connecting Ballardini's name as the next coach of
Lazio following
Delio Rossi's departure, he was appointed as the new manager of the Roman club on 15 June 2009. He signed a two-year contract with an option for a third worth €750,000 yearly. On his first competitive match as Lazio boss, Ballardini led the club to triumph in the
2009 Supercoppa Italiana, as his side won 2–1 to outgoing Italian champions
Internazionale in a single-legged game played at
Beijing National Stadium in China. However, Ballardini did not repeat this triumph at Serie A level and failed to qualify for the
2009–10 UEFA Europa League knockout round. Later, in January and February, several disappointing results left Lazio in 18th place and in danger of being relegated, leading club chairman
Claudio Lotito to dismiss Ballardini and appoint
Edy Reja as new head coach. On 8 November 2010, Ballardini returned to management, accepting an offer as head coach of Serie A club
Genoa. He signed a two-year contract with the club, but club president
Enrico Preziosi terminated the contract with him for no particular reason on 5 June 2011. On 9 November 2011, Ballardini returned to manage Cagliari for the third time in his career. He was dismissed for just cause on 11 March 2012. On 21 January 2013, Ballardini returned to Genoa to try to save them from relegation. He has managed to do so with still one game to go. Nevertheless, chairman Preziosi may decide yet again to let him go at the end of the season. Many Genoa supporters respected Ballardini for his manners and energy on the pitch. On 8 January 2014, Serie A club Bologna announced that Ballardini agreed on a six-month deal to coach their first team. On 10 November 2015, he became the manager of Palermo. He was later relieved of his duties on 11 January 2016, one day after having been publicly accused of unprofessionalism by team captain
Stefano Sorrentino in the wake of a 1–0 away win at
Verona. On 12 April 2016, he was rehired as coach of Palermo after the sacking of
Walter Novellino, the ninth managerial change for the club during the
2015–16 season. On 21 December 2020, Ballardini was appointed manager of
Genoa, beginning his fourth spell with the club. He was sacked on 6 November 2021, due to negative results in the
2021–22 Serie A season. On 15 January 2023, Ballardini returned to management as the new head coach of bottom-placed Serie A club
Cremonese, signing a contract until 30 June 2024. Despite suffering relegation to Serie B by the end of the season, Ballardini was confirmed in charge of the
Grigiorossi for the
2023–24 season but was eventually dismissed on 18 September 2023 after an unimpressive start in the league, with just one win in the first five games. On 1 March 2024, Ballardini was hired by relegation-battling Serie A club
Sassuolo as their new head coach until the end of the season. On 18 February 2026, he was hired as head coach of
Avellino in Serie B. ==Personal life==