[3] 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.

[4] 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.

[6] 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.

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.

[11] 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.

[13] 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.

[14] 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.

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.