The club also signed defender Fabrizio Anselmi, Nicolò Consolini, Sebastiano Girelli, Edevaldo Grimaldi, forward Gaetano Masucci and keeper Alberto Pomini, who all became a key player for the club promoted from Serie C2 to Serie B in 2008.
In 2011–12 season, Piccioni, along with Consolini, Masucci and Pomini, were the only four players from the original 2004–05 squad plus Francesco Magnanelli who already played for Sassuolo since 2005.
[12][13] (but as emergency left-back[14]) Piccioni remained as the midfielder[citation needed] in 2006–07 Serie C1 and played both leg of the first round (semi-finals) of promotion playoffs, losing to former club Monza.
Under three coaches Daniele Arrigoni, Angelo Gregucci and Paolo Mandelli (caretaker), the team almost relegated.
In January 2011 the club re-signed Jonathan Rossini and swapped Minelli with Antonio Bocchetti.
Before the winter break the starting defenders were Bianco, Piccioni and Emanuele Terranova, with Alessandro Longhi and Lino Marzorati as wingback.
However, after the January transfer window the coach used Consolini, Bianco and Marzorati as centre-back, Marcello Gazzola as right-back and Magnanelli as captain when Piccioni did not play.
On 4 July 2012 Piccioni was signed by fellow Serie B team Calcio Padova on free transfer.
[24] In January 2014, Piccioni joined Serie B side Juve Stabia after a short spell with La Fiorita in San Marino.