Following his playing career, Bernardini worked as a manager, and coached Roma, Vicenza, Fiorentina (winning the Italian championship during the 1955–56 Serie A season), Lazio (winning the Coppa Italia during the 1957–58 season), Bologna (winning the Italian championship during the 1963–64 Serie A season), Sampdoria, and Brescia, before going on to coach the Italian national team from 1974 to 1975.