Pisa SC have sealed a long-awaited return to Italy’s top tier after more than three decades, with Algerian international Mehdi Léris poised to make his Serie A comeback following a year marred by injury.
Despite suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat to Bari on the final day of the Serie B season, Pisa secured automatic promotion to Serie A, capitalising on the concurrent slip-up by direct rivals Spezia.
The result capped off a determined campaign under the guidance of Filippo Inzaghi, whose leadership has revived a club absent from top-flight football since 1991.
In a poignant subplot, Inzaghi is now set to face his brother Simone, manager of Inter Milan, in a rare family rivalry at the highest level of Italian football.
Within the heart of Pisa’s promotion story lies a personal narrative of resilience and unshaken commitment—that of Mehdi Léris.
The 26-year-old midfielder joined the Tuscan side last summer after a difficult spell in England with Stoke City, hoping to reignite his career in familiar surroundings.
But just three matches into the Serie B season, misfortune struck. A devastating anterior cruciate ligament rupture in his left knee, sustained during a friendly, sidelined him for the entirety of the campaign.
While his time on the pitch was abruptly cut short, Léris refused to become a bystander. From the sidelines, he remained a constant presence, backing his teammates with unwavering support.
His visible involvement off the field, from team celebrations to morale-boosting moments in the dressing room, played a quiet but significant role in the team’s unity during a tense promotion race.
The former Juventus youth product, who also spent time with Sampdoria before heading to England, underwent a successful operation and began a long road to recovery.
Now fully focused on returning to competitive action, Léris views Pisa’s promotion as more than a team triumph—it represents unfinished business in a career yet to reach its true height.
Capped four times by Algeria under coach Djamel Belmadi, Léris is determined to return stronger and carve out a starting place in Pisa’s Serie A campaign.
For him, the coming season is not only a return to the elite but a personal mission to overcome setbacks and prove his worth at the highest level.
Pisa’s rise marks one of the feel-good stories in Italian football this year. After years of fluctuating fortunes in the lower leagues, the club’s steady progress under Inzaghi’s leadership culminated in a promotion that few dared to predict at the start of the season.
Now, as preparations begin for life in Serie A, Pisa’s loyal supporters can look forward to facing giants of Italian football once more—this time with players like Mehdi Léris hungry to make a statement.
For the Algerian midfielder, the next chapter holds the promise of redemption, ambition, and the chance to finally showcase his talent where it matters most.
🇮🇹‼ OFICIAL I El Pisa del ‘Pippo’ Inzaghi asciende a la Serie A tras 34 años de ausencia.
Su última temporada en la élite fue la 1990-91. La próxima será su 8ª campaña en Serie A.
Se confirman como el segundo ascendido a la Serie A 2025-26 tras el Sassuolo. pic.twitter.com/W53ybFsgR1
— Soy Calcio (@SoyCalcio_) May 4, 2025
