Il Re Calcio

Lost in Transit: The Story of Hugo Enyinnaya

2011-12-18T21:30:00.001-08:00

“I’m going to be rich!” was the typically honest reply of Antonio Cassano when asked what went through his mind after scoring a fantastic goal against Inter as a 17 year old, upon making his first start for Bari in 1999. As crass as such a comment might seem, it was, perhaps, only natural for Cassano to react that way, having been raised in one of Italy’s most impoverished and tough neighbourhoods. As things turned out, though, it was quite a prescient thought. Cassano may have never fulfilled his early promise or achieved as much as he might over the last eleven years, but this player has certainly done pretty well financially for himself.

He was also probably not the only one whose thoughts turned to the promise of potential fortunes that night. Playing alongside Cassano and scoring an equally brilliant goal was another teenage striker in the form of Hugo Enyinnaya. Signed from the Belgian second division club Molenbeek a few months earlier for £125,000, the Nigerian might have been forgiven for thinking that his life was about to change dramatically when his shot from thirty yards out flew past Antonio Peruzzi to give Bari the lead.

But it didn’t. and while Cassano quickly established himself as a regular in Bari’s starting line-up, a series of injuries crippled Enyinnaya’s chances of a lengthy career. In three season he made just twenty appearances without ever managing a lnegthy run in the first team. Loans to Livorno in the Serie B (which resulted in two goals in seventeen appearances) and Foggia in the Serie C1 (from which he returned one goal in seven appearances) followed but when his contract was up there was no one willing to offer him a new one. At just twenty three years of age, Enyinnaya’s Serie A career was effectively over.

Yet not everyone had forgotten about him. The former Udinese midfielder Marek Kozminski, who had just taken over as chairman at Polish side Gornik Zabrze, still remembered the Nigerian with the fierce shot and decided to make an offer for him. An offer was also received to join Hungarian side Debrecen, but Enyinnaya wasn’t convinced of the merits of this move. Agents promised him contracts with Italian sides but as the weeks dragged on, none of those promised materialised. So Enyinnaya decided to go to Poland.”They pay as well as they do in Italy and it will be in the top flight,” he said at the time, “It won’t be too bad”.

Sadly, that wasn’t the case and his story was about to take a turn for the worse. The contract that he signed was written exclusively in Polish, and which – whether intentionally or not – prevented Enyinnaya from noticing that the €10,000 a month that he had agreed to wasn’t mentioned anywhere. When he tried to get paid he was met with excuses. When he played he was pelted with bananas. After a couple of months he had, unsurprisingly, had enough and he left the club having made just four appearances for them.

Friends and agents were all contacted as he desperately tried to find a new club in Italy. Yet it all turned out to be in vain. There were no Serie A or B teams interested in giving him another opportunity, whilst clubs lower down the Italian league system were prevented from signing an ‘extracomunitario’ (a player from outside Europe). For Enyinnaya there was no going back. So he stuck it out in Poland making moves to Poland II Liga Lechia Zielona Gora and Odra Opale. Finally free from injury, he began scoring freely notching up thirty goals in some eighty games.

Eventually he did make it back to Italy, joining Anziolavinio in the Eccellenza (non-league) where the ban on non-Europeans didn’t apply. Within months he moved on to Meda and then Zagarolo. Always struggling to play and show a glimpse of that early promise, he finally gave up this year at the age of thirty and chose to return home to Nigeria. “I thought that after that day nothing would have been the same for me,” he says of that game with Inter struggling to mask his bitterness. “Especially as everything in my life before had sucked. They said that he [Cassano] would become like Maradona so I wanted to be at least like Careca”.

Instead, that game and that goal against Internazionale turned out to be the highlight of his career. “People ask me ‘Hugo, how’s Cassano’, as if I had remained the same as that young player”, he later said, “I’ve got no contact with Cassano, I don’t hear from him. In these years I’ve got through situations that have left their mark. My story was different from Cassano’s. Our paths were different.”

This article was originally published on TwoHundredPercent. This is Enyinnaya's goal from that night against Inter:

A Different Kind of Success

2011-01-11T03:26:00.000-08:00

With the exception of those who happen to be quite familiar with the Italian Serie B, that of Walter Salvioni isn’t a familiar name. Helping Ancona avoid relegation from the second division for the past two seasons count as the biggest achievements in Italian football for the man who took over at Triestina in the final week of December.

Yet there’s more to Salvioni than his modest CV reveals, starting by the inspiration that led him to take up coaching. “I was at Parma when Arrigo Sacchi arrived as manager,” he says during an interview held a couple of days into his new job. “At the time I was 32 and I would say that it was only then that I truly learned to play the game of football.”

“I wouldn’t say that I took nothing from my previous managers but Sacchi was something else; his approach to the game, the pressing high up the pitch, his offensive outlook, everything.”

The time spent with the man who would eventually lead AC Milan to dominate European football clearly marked Salvioni who has always tried to replicate his mentor’s system wherever he’s been.

At Vastese, his first managerial role, he was handed a group of very young players who were widely expected to be relegated. That prediction was ultimately played out but only on the final game of the season and, even so, the locals greatly appreciated the adventurous style of play adopted by Salvioni.

“Before the final game,” he recalls. “They had a banner that read ‘let’s go to support Salvioni’ which was a great way for them to show their appreciation.”

That of being put in charge of teams that are fighting against relegation is a recurring theme in Salvioni’s carrer, including this latest job at the side who went into the new year bottom of the Serie B.

“You have to give players a new stimulus, hit them with something new,” he says, talking of the impact he tries to make. “Before I accept a job, I check what the previous manager used to do in training and how he used to operate. If his method is similar to mine, then it is useless to go there as I won’t be able to change much.”

There have, however, been occasions where Salvioni was tasked with more than simply keeping a club up. Most notable was OGC Nice, the French club then owned by Franco Sensi where he spent eighteen months and achieved probably the biggest success of his career.

“Sensi had been there for some three years and had spent a lot of money without achieving anything. Ultimately he got fed up and so decided to sack everyone, from the club president to the groundsman!”

This created a vacancy that Salvioni, who had just left Parma’s primavera setup, was invited to fill. “What we found when we arrived was a group of players who weren’t willing to work hard enough,” he recalls. “Nice is on the Cote d’Azur so they were perhaps more interested in the beaches and the nightlife. What we did was instill in them the mentality that they were professionals and had to put in the effort if they wanted to achieve anything.”

The message eventually got through: after finishing thirteenth in his first season, Nice pushed on and were eventually promoted in his second year.

It was also at Nice that he met and shaped the future of a player who would go on to be on of the world’s best: Patrice Evra. “In my first year, there was a bit of pressure from within the club to use Evra,” Salvioni recalls, picking up the story. “My reply always was that I would use him when I felt that he was showing the humility and desire to improve. At the time he was a striker and I think he only played a handful of times that year.”

“But then, within three days of getting back together for the new season, I realized that I had a whole new Evra on my hands. His attitude had changed completely and he started to take on what we were telling him.”

By that point, Salvioni had already made a minor modification to his playing position by using Evra on the left hand side of midfield. Then necessity forced the Italian coach to make a further change. “The way I set out my teams means that I need my wingers to know how to defend so that they can cover for the full-backs,” he explains “so I knew that Evra was capable of handling that side of the game.”

“Then, during a game with Laval that we drawing 1-1, I needed to change some players and ended up putting Evra at left-back.” It was a switch that would define the career of a player who is now arguably the best in that position. “He was a revelation as we won the game, played there for the rest of the season and was one of the best defenders of the division.”

Even so, Salvioni is honest enough to admit that he wouldn’t have guessed that the player would achieve as much as he has. Not that he begrudges him such success. “I always say that if a player does well, it isn’t due to the manager but due to the player himself because he puts in the effort needed. The fact that he’s gone on to play for Manchester United is, I think, down to the hard work that he put in to constantly improve himself.” He might be too modest to say it, but the defender’s success is at least partly down to the work ethic that Salvioni instilled in him during that time in Nice.

For most managers, such a story would define their career. Salvioni, however, can also boast playing a key role in shaping the career of another player who is now one of the best there is and who, ironically, now plays opposite Evra for the blue club of Manchester.

This story takes us to Lumezzano, where Salvioni was put in charge with eight games to go and the team was fighting against relegation.

“Every Wednesday, to give some match practice to fringe players, I used to organize a friendly game with a different local side. Then one week we couldn’t find anyone so we played against the club’s junior teams.”

“It was during that game that I noticed a striker doing exceptional things with the ball. I asked the youth coach about him and he replied ‘Oh, that’s Mario Balotelli. He’s a bit mad but very talented’. At the end of the game I told him that starting from the next day he was going to be training with the senior side.”

Yet Salvioni had more in mind than simply having him train with the first team. “I wanted to play him but we had to get dispensation from a doctor before we could use him because he was still fifteen and at school at the time. The next Sunday I put Balotelli on when we were losing 1-0 and managed to draw the game. That was the impact he had despite being so young.”

Balotelli went on to play in the side’s remaining games and on the back of them earned a move to Inter. The two remained in contact – Salvioni recounts the flurry of excited phone calls he received when Balotelli learned that he was going to make his senior debut for Inter – and has no doubt over his talent.

“Perhaps he needed to be managed and guided a bit better to help him mature,” he says of the player who has often been in the news for the wrong reasons.

But there’s no doubting Balotelli’s love of the game, as a story Salvioni recounts highlights.

“When he joined the senior team at Lumezzano I used to notice him rushing off as soon as training came to a close. Then one day I confronted him and suggested he could stay behind to practice shooting. He replied that his brother was going to pick him up as he had to go home to study but I knew that this wasn’t the case because he used to come to training on his bicycle!”

“So I kept pressing for an answer and eventually he confessed that he was going to play football with his school friends!”

These are not the kind of stories that go on one’s CV and it is why Walter Slavioni – who actually prefers to be called Sandro – tends to go by largely unobserved. Yet for people like him people who are simply in love with football and for whom it is a joy to work within the game regardless at which level, it is such experiences that define just how truly successful they’ve been.

One Game is Enough for Arnautovic

2009-10-19T00:29:00.000-07:00

How long does it take to judge a player? In Inter's case the answer is one game and it doesn't even have to be a meaningful one.

That, at least, is judging by Marko Arnautovic's example. The Austrian forward arrived last summer from Twente Enschende and was promptly labelled as the next Zlatan Ibrahimovic. To be fair, there is a certain physical likeness between the two but reality is that it was the Slavic surname that really brought about the comparison.

Inter had battled hard to get Arnautovic. Twente were playing hard to get, a stand boosted by Chelsea's rumoured interested in him, but what looked like turning into an auction quickly fizzled out after the player suffered from a stress fracture to his leg that was to keep him out of action for a couple of months. Still, Inter were interested enough to press ahead with a loan deal that includes a clause allowing them to buy the player for €9 million.

Now it is increasingly looking as if they went through all that trouble for nothing. Already there had been rumours of Jose Mourinho's lack of enthusiasm over the player's attitude, what with his unwillingness to work hard to get back to shape and his increasing waistline. Rumours that increased considerably after Inter set up a friendly with Piacenza (which thely lost 2-1) last week specifically to test out Arnautovic and in which he was, by all accounts, crap.

Now talk has turned from 'if' Arnautovic will leave to 'when' with some insisting that it will be January and others going for next May. Either way, he doesn't seem to have a future at the club and will go down as another dud spotted by Inter's permanently beleagured sporting director Marco Branca.

Serie A Preview 2009/10: Udinese

2009-08-21T23:23:00.000-07:00

Main Transfers: Bernardo Corradi (Reggina), Jose Alemao (Santos), Leandro Caruso (Godoy Cruz), Kelvin Matute (Arezzo)

Outlook: Having waiting as long as they could, Udinese cashed in on Fabio Quagliarella this early on during the summer and with the money that they got ensured that they could comfortably price the likes of Gaetano d’Agostino, Gokhan Inler and Cristian Zapata out of the market.

It is around that trio that coach Pasquale Marino will build his squad that, as per tradition, has been boosted by a host of new players from South America and Eastern Europe in the knowledge that one or two of them will turn out to be quite good.

Having to shift their focus between the league and the UEFA Cup didn’t help last year as they failed to achieve any of their goals. There will be no such distractions this time round so nothing short of a Europa League spot will do.

Manager: Last season was a tough one for Pasquale Marino as the side seemed to hit the wall mid-way through the campaign and he was unable to lift them back up. This led to talk of Pasquale Marino being replaced but such knee-jerk reactions aren’t in Udinese’s style. That said, they’re unlikely to be as forgiving if the team suffers another disappointing season so the pressure is on.

Key Player: Having some of the biggest clubs in Europe express an interest in you can play havoc with a player’s mind so it will be interesting to see how Gaetano d’Agostino (pictured) does after a summer when Juventus, Real Madrid and Liverpool were all willing to sign him until they heard of the price tag that Udinese had placed on him. An intelligent ball playing midfielder, hopefully he will realise that in World Cup year it might be better for him to stay at Udinese where he is guaranteed a starting spot and as a result the opportunity to remain in Marcello Lippi’s mind.

One to Look Out For: Manchester United are apparently interested in signing striker Alexis Sanchez and it is easy to see why as the young Chilean striker has both the skills and the strength to be a world beater. Now that Fabio Quagliarella is gone, he is expected to step in and play on a more regular basis, something that is likely to lead more clubs into following United’s lead and try to sign him.

Serie A Preview 2009/10: Siena

2009-08-21T23:21:00.000-07:00

Main Transfers: Gael Gennevier (Pisa), Gianluca Pegolo (Parma), Reginaldo (Parma), Francesco Parravicini (Atalanta), Albin Ekdal (Juventus), Michele Fini (Cagliari)

Outlook: Another summer, another host of key players that have left but still no one seems overly worried. Key for them was holding on to manager Marco Giampaolo whose organisational skills are at the heart of their continued survival in the Serie A despite the constant sale of key players.

Maintaining their impressive home form will be of imperative importance for Siena as it is there that they must gain the points that will ensure a stay in the Serie A for the eight consecutive year.

Manager: With such a good track record both at Cagliari and at Siena, there were expectations that Marco Giampaolo (pictured) would move this summer yet, as with many others, the big clubs’ decision to look within for new managers meant that his options were limited and ultimately he ended up staying at Siena. Not that he seems all too disappointed as it gives him the opportunity to keep building on the side that he already knows so well.

Key Player: Captain Simone Vergassola is not a player that many are likely to notice but his hard work in midfield is key for Siena and typifies their attitude where working hard for the team as at the base of everything.

One to Look Out For: Agostino Garofalo’s season at Grosseto didn’t end in the best of manners as he was accused by the club’s president of focusing largely on not getting injured to ensure that nothing jeopardised his move to Siena but up till that point the left midfielder had played a significant role in the small club’s surprising run to the top of the Serie B. Now that he gets his wish of playing in the Serie A, Garofalo will have to fill the void left by Daniele Galoppa.

Serie A Preview 2009/10: Sampdoria

2009-08-21T23:19:00.000-07:00

Main Transfers: Daniele Mannini (Napoli), Fernando Tissone (Argentina), Marco Rossi (Parma), Matteo Guardalben (Treviso).

Outlook: The arrival of manager Gigi del Neri was the big news of the summer for Sampdoria whose transfers have largely been low key. Of utmost importance for them was keeping the strike duo of Giampaolo Pazzini and Antonio Cassano after the two hit it off so well in the second half of last season.

The two did so well that it led to inevitable comparisons to Sampdoria’s other strike partnership made up of Roberto Mancini and Gianluca Vialli. Pazzini and Cassano are perhaps just as talented as those two, and their understand almost as telepathic, yet the rest of the team is nowhere near as good as the one of Sampdoria’s golden era so dreaming of repeating their success is just that: dreams.

Sampdoria is usually a tranquil club where expectations aren’t too high but neighbours Genoa’s success last season has raised the stakes and they will now be expected to do just as good, even though the squad doesn’t look good enough to do so. A youth system that seems to be producing a number of promising players will help but the Coppa Italia once again looks like their best bet.

Manager: For some years, the man who had led Chievo Verona to the Serie A and then the Champions League looked to have lost his way as spells at Porto, Palermo and Roma all ended abruptly and with his reputation shredded. Yet the beauty of Italian football is that, despite all the sackings, coaches still keep of finding jobs and Gigi Del Neri was lucky enough to be given the chance to manage Atalanta, one of the most stable ones around. That stability allowed him to rediscover his touch as he led the Bergamo side to two good seasons. Having decided that he had taken them as far as he could, Del Neri now moves to an equally stable but perhaps more ambitious Sampdoria in the hope that here he can continue his upward ascent.

Key Player: Off the pitch he might not be the model professional that everyone seems to expect football players to be and his lifestyle leaves a lot to be desired. Yet there are few players in the world that can ignite a football game with a piece of individual magic as much as Antonio Cassano (pictured) can. There were rumours of Inter making a move for him but most probably it is better for him to stay at Sampdoria where he is the big fish in a small pond rather than end up being swallowed by the squad culture as he was in Madrid.

One to Look Out For: The best player of the last Viareggio Tournament – a famous youth competition held annually in the city of Viareggio – Guido Marilungo made his first full start for Sampdoria against Cagliari and marked the occasion with two goals. Five further games ensued during which he scored once more but enough had been seen of the twenty year old to offer him a five year contract at the end of June.

Serie A Preview 2009/10: AS Roma

2009-08-21T23:17:00.000-07:00

Main Transfers: Stefano Guberti (Bari)

Outlook: Contrary to most other clubs, most rumours surrounding Roma haven't included players' names but names of those who could buy the club from the Sensi family. So far, however, nothing concrete has come about meaning that nothing has been made available to be spent on new players.

That might change now that Alberto Aquilani has been sacrificed to raise some funds - without being missed by many - even if none have been used so far despite a host of players being linked.

As things stand, Roma start the season with effectively the same men as last season with the hope that at least fortune favours them a bit more. Indeed injuries ravaged their squad which led to questions being asked about the competence of their medical squad.

With a florid youth system, Roma can look within to bbolster their squad but that is hardly likely to allow them challenge for the league.

Manager: Luciano Spalletti has found out the hard way that people quickly turn on you when results aren't going your way as he ended the season being booed by his own fans. Which, of course, is extremely short sighted as he is the one has got them to play such good football in recent years.

Key Man: There is no doubt that Francesco Totti (pictured) is Roma's main man. Forget the technical skills that he adds to the team, his most important quality is the belief that other players seem to get when they're playing with him.

One to Look Out For: After a couple of years loaned out, Stefano Okaka might finally get an opportunity to prove his worth in Rome. Finding space in their forward line, however, won’t be an easy task.

Serie A Preview 2009/10: Parma

2009-08-21T23:14:00.000-07:00

Main Transfers: Davide Lanzafame (Bari), Christian Panucci (Roma), Valeri Bojinov (Manchester City), Jonathan Biabiany (Modena), Daniele Galoppa (Siena), Antonio Mirante (Sampdoria)

Outlook: Gone are the days when Parma were one of the heavyweights of Italian football and now just being back in the Serie A should be reason enough for them to be happy. Not that they can bank on that given that they look to be in for a tough season with a squad that is full of veterans and inexperience youngsters.

The return to Italy, and to Parma, of Valeri Bojinov is intriguing because he looked set to become quite a player before injury wiped off the past two seasons of his career whilst Christian Panucci will be out to prove that Roma were wrong to get rid of him but you have to wonder whether it is too little for them to stay up.

Manager: Having seen his career go down in ruins after a number of negative experiences at Palermo (where he kept being sacked and then re-hired), Francesco Guidolin chose Parma as the place to restore his credibility and did so to a certain degree by taking them up. Getting them to stay there will be a big challenge but Guidolin is expected to try and do so by going with the flow of much of the Serie A and switch to a system that includes the tridente (i.e. three strikers)

Key Player: After two seasons at Siena, midfielder Daniele Galoppa was probably looking for a move to a bigger side then Parma, especially as he was constantly linked with Inter and he made his Italy debut (along with half of the Serie A) in a mid-summer friendly with Northern Ireland. It is difficult to determine whether this is a move forwards or backwards for him but what is certain is that Parma will need his surging runs from midfield.

One to Look Out For: Constantly named as a future Italian international, striker Alberto Paloschi (pictured) didn’t really excel in the Serie B but still scored eleven goals which is quite impressive for someone so young. Indeed, that has served to further raised expectations and the nineteen year old should be a regular starter for Parma as he tries to convince Milan that he is good enough to return home.

Serie A Preview 2009/10: Palermo

2009-08-20T02:10:00.000-07:00

Main Transfers: Rubinho (Genoa), Javier Pastore (Huracan), Nicolas Bertolo (Banfield), Dorin Goian (Steua Bucharest)

Outlook: Walter Zenga has promised that his side will challenge for the league title but no one seems to believe him. With good reason because, whilst the squad has some excellent players, it is still some way off having the quality that is

needed to come good on Zenga’s words.

Much of their transfer work has focused on South America where they hope to have brought in two players – Javier Pastore and Nicolas Bertolo - who still need to develop and grow but who undoubtedly have talent. Romanian defender Dorin Goian, who Zenga knows from his days of coaching in Romania, will strengthen the defence although exactly why Palermo opted to exchange Marco Amelia for Rubinho remains a mystery.

If they avoid the usual controversies and Zenga is allowed to work in piece, then the feeling is that Palermo could do pretty well this season. Yet, with Maurizio Zamparini in charge, the prospects of a quite season are pretty remote.

Manager: Having started at Catania as a laughing stock, Walter Zenga quickly shut people up and last season almost led Catania to a European spot. However, after he publicly criticised the club’s fans for their failure to support the side when results had started to peter out at the end of the season, it was clear that his time there was over. No one expected him to be out of a job for long but, similarly, no one would have imagined him joining Catania’s fierce rivals Palermo. It is a bold move by him and he knows that very few managers have thrived under Zamparini.

Key Player: Capable of playing some exhilarating football, Fabrizio Miccoli (pictured) is Palermo’s star player and the man that they look to when things aren’t going to plan. Having made Giuseppe Mascara the fulcrum of his Catania side, Zenga will do likewise with Miccoli who should thrive under the former Italy goalkeeper’s guidance.

One to Look Out For: Initially he had the look of someone thrown into the deep end and unable to cope but as games wore on, Danish defender Simon Kjaer started becoming more confident. Strong but good with the ball at his feet, he is a player who is maturing rapidly and for whom this will be a big season.

Serie A Preview 2009/10: Napoli

2009-08-20T02:06:00.000-07:00

Main Transfers: Hugo Compagnaro (Sampdoria), Morgan de Sanctis (Galatasaray), Fabio Quagliarella (Udinese), Luca Cigarini (Atalanta), Juan Zuniga (Siena), Erwin Hoffer (Rapid Vienna)

Outlook: Having started last season in fine form, Napoli lost their way midway through the season and a run of terrible results cost Eddy

Reya his job. It was a sad end for a man who had brought the club up yet these slumps in form where becoming all too frequent for them to be ignored.

Napoli fans are among the most passionate and dedicated in Italy, yet they are also among the most demanding. It is why Napoli are so good at home but they must learn to do just as well when they’re away.

From the looks of things, they can well achieve this. During the summer, Napoli have spent wisely in order to keep on improving the squad. Goalkeeper Morgan de Sanctis returns to Italy and will offer greater solidity at the back whilst Fabio Quagliarella (pictured), their biggest capture of the summer, can score the goals that often went missing last year.

Manager: After the thankless spell as Italy manager, Roberto Donadoni has taken on the equally tricky job of reviving Napoli. In the few weeks during which he was in charge last season he didn’t really have too much success but that was put down to him sill finding his feet. Now however, there will be no excuses and with a well balanced side he will be expected to challenge for a Champions League spot.

Key Player: It is quite surprising that no club has really tested Napoli’s willingness to hang on the Marek Hamsik. The Slovakk has everything that is expected of a modern midfielder: he work hard, can score goals, has good passing and can read the game extremely well. He is at the heart of all that happens in Napoli and a player who could really become one of the best.

One to Look Out For: Brought in last January, Jesus Datolo didn’t make that much of an impact largely because he had misfortune to come in when the whole side was struggling. The new season, however, should see a change in that and Datolo, with his passing range and willingness to run hard, should help fuel Napoli’s challenge.

Serie A Preview 2009/10: AC Milan

2009-08-20T02:03:00.000-07:00

Main Transfers: Oguchi Onyewu (Standard Liege), Thiago Silva (Fluminese), Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Real Madrid), Flavio Roma (AS Monaco)

Outlook: Much of the blame for last season’s failing has been thrown (primarily by Silvio Berlusconi) on Carlo Ancelotti’s shoulders but the reality the squad was woefully short on quality. The sale of Kaka hardly improves matter and it could have been much worse had Berlusconi gotten his way and sold Andrea Pirlo and Alexandre Pato to further settle the club’s debt.

The signs are that Berlusconi no longer sees the club as a viable political asset and as a result doesn’t want to spend any more money on it. As a result, they have been scrounging around for bargains – hence the arrivals of veteran goalkeeper Flavio Roma on a free and Klaas Jan Huntelaar who Real Madrid were desperate to get rid – whilst at the same time trying to dress them up as fantastic deals.

Admittedly, the side looks slightly better with a solid central defensive partnership of Thiago Silva and Alessandro Nesta whilst Huntelaar should offer at least an alternative to Pippo Inzaghi. Yet there are still too many veteran players who are being expected to play regularly when clearly they can no longer handle so many games. The sum of all this is a side that should make it to a Champions League spot but can’t really aim for anything more than that.

Manager: Another club to be inspired by Barcellona’s promotion of Pep Guardiola, AC Milan have turned to Leonardo to replace Carlo Ancelotti. For all the positive messages that this sends out, it is quite a risky move particularly for Leonardo himself who had built quite a reputation as a talent spotter having brought both Pato and Thiago Silva to the club.

Key Player: Silvio Berlusconi has repeatedly expressed the belief that Milan’s success lies in the correct use of Ronaldinho (pictured). But that’s Berlusconi. In truth Leonardo will need Alexandre Pato to fill the void left by Kaka.

One to Look Out For: He’s been at the club for the past six months but only now has Thiago Silva been given clearance to play for Milan. The player was recommended by Leonardo himself and Milan had to fend off quite a number of clubs to get him so his reputation is quite good. Yet the pressure will be on at Milan who can’t really afford for him not to be good.

Serie A Preview 2009/10: Livorno

2009-08-20T02:01:00.000-07:00

Main Transfers: Cristiano Lucarelli (Parma), Dario Knezevic (Juventus), Marcos Diniz (Crotone), Mirko Pieri (Sampdoria), Cristian Raimondi (Vicenza)

Outlook: Having started the season as

favourites for promotion, predictions that looked set to be confirmed at the half-way stage where they were top of the Serie B, Livorno ultimately limped over the finishing line and got their return to the top flight only through the play-offs.

Much of the loss in form was down to the in-fighting at the centre of which there was, as usual, owner Aldo Spinelli. The man who famously sacked Roberto Donadoni on national television, got into a spat with manager Leonardo Acori because of his failure to get the results expected and, with a day to go to the end of the season, decided to sack Acori and replace him with assistant Gennaro Ruotolo.

He eventually got them through the play-offs which got him the job permanently although, going by his predecessors’ experiences, it is not a role with which he should get overly affectionate.

For sure, he is expected to guide the team to safety which won’t be an easy task to achieve. Although there is enough quality in the first team, the squad is weak and injuries to any one of their key players could have a devastating effect. Spinelli’s plan to keep the fans happy with the return of local hero Cristiano Lucarelli seems to have worked so at least there is none of the negativity surrounding the club that there was throughout the latter half of last season.

Manager: Asked to take over the club with one day of the season to go, Gennaro Ruotolo actually did a fine job in getting Livorno promoted, beating Brescia 5-2 on aggregate in the final. His friendship with owner Spinelli – whom he has known since he was a player at Genoa, the club formerly owned by Spinelli – should get him a little bit more slack then has been afforded to other manages. Yet whether he can actually hack it in the Serie A – after all, this is his first managerial job – remains to be seen.

Key Player: Over the past decade Livorno have been blessed with some fine strikers, particularly Igor Protti and Cristiano Lucarelli. The latter has returned to the club this summer but he is no longer the main man as that honour now falls to Francesco Tavano (pictured) who finished as the Serie B’s top scorer with twenty four goals and once again looks to be the player for whom Valencia paid €10 million in 2006.

One to Look Out For: Whilst Tavano is the man who scored the goals and makes the headlines, the real brains of the side is Alessandro Diamanti. Having been spotted by Livorno playing in the C2 for Prato (he was recommended to the club by defender Fabio Galante), Diamanti took little time to find his feet in the top flight and was perhaps the only Livorno player to emerge from that campaign with any credit. The season spent in the Serie B served simply to reinforce his reputation as he was one of the best players in the division. Whatever happens to Livorno next season, it is highly unlikely that he will be returning to a lower league any time soon.

Serie A Preview 2009/10: Lazio

2009-08-20T01:59:00.000-07:00

Main Transfers: Eliseu dos Santos (Malaga), Julio Cruz (Inter), Albano Bizzarri (Catania)

Outlook: Last season’s Coppa Italia win and the more recent Super Cup success have strengthened Claudio Lotito’s position and clearly he now feels justified into acting as he deems best. For the Super Cup, contract

rebels Goran Pandev, Christian Ledesma and Lorenzo de Silvestri were left out of the squad with Lotito criticising their ‘immoral behaviour’ and their decision not to commit to Lazio’s ‘project’.

Whilst his stand is undoubtedly a welcome change, the fact is that Lazio can ill-afford to mess around with players given the limited squad that they have available (not to mention that it is probably a ploy by Lotito to smoke out those clubs who want to buy those players). Julio Cruz will add power and experience up front whilst the hope is that Bizzarri will be the one to add some stability at the back for Lazio. Yet, while these additions improve Lazio, they are still some way off really being as good as Lotito thinks they are.

Manager: The decision not to renew Delio Rossi’s contract was a long drawn out but at least he bowed out in the perfect manner with the Coppa Italia win. To replace him, Lazio have gone for Davide Ballardini a man who has achieved good results at Cagliari and Palermo. Perhaps more importantly, he has shown that he can handle meddling owners. That is, more than anything, the skill that he will have to rely on most of all.

Key Player: Holding on to Mauro Zarate (pictured) was essential for Lazio and for Lotito who can now point at him as exemplifying his ambition. And indeed Zarate has been a phenomenal success for Lazio and a player whose talents are somewhat mystifyingly constantly overlooked.

One to Look Out For: When Vahron Behrami decided to move to West Ham, Lazio replaced him with fellow Swiss Stephan Lichtsteiner and he has proven to be just as good, if not better, then Behrami. An offensive minded right-back, this season should be the one where his confirms his position as being one of the best in his division if not Europe.

Serie A Preview 2009/10: Juventus

2009-08-19T00:32:00.000-07:00

Main Transfers: Diego (Werder Bremen), Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid), Felipe Melo (Fiorentina), Martin Caceres (Barcellona)

Outlook: This is the season when Juventus really start challenging for the title. Or, at least, that is what everyone seems to be saying because whether that really comes into being remains to be seen. On paper, Juventus have tried to address all the problems that they had. Defence has been boosted by the return of Cannavaro and Caceres, midfield with Melo and up-front Diego should take some of the pressure off Alessandro del Piero. All of

which makes Juventus seem like a better side than the one that struggled to come second last season. Whether it is enough to topple Inter, however, remains to be seen.

Manager: Juventus is another side that has caught the bug from Barcellona and have given the job to a former player with no real job experience. Ciro Ferrara came at the tail-end of last season after Claudio Ranieri was sacked and evidently did enough to convince the Juventus board.

Key Player: The progress that Momo Sissoko has made whilst at Juventus is nothing short of amazing. Liverpool fans knew that he was a good player but he has matured even further, eliminating the inconsistencies that had hindered his game before. It is no coincidence that Juventus’ slump in form last season came when he was out injured.

One to Look Out For: In reality, Sebastiano Giovinco probably needs to go elsewhere to really fulfil his talent because at Juventus he will only be considered as a luxury team player. Or at least that will be the view this season where he has to get past not only Alex del Piero to get a game but also Diego.

Serie A Preview 2009/10: Inter

2009-08-19T00:30:00.000-07:00

Main Transfers: Samuel Eto’o (Barcellona), Diego Milito (Genoa), Thiago Motta (Genoa), Kerlon (Chievo Verona), Lucio (Bayern Munich), Marko Arnautovic (FC Twente)

Outlook: Another season brings with it hope of another scudetto win but, more importantly, the expectation of further progress in the Champions League. Whether that belief is founded or not remains to be seen particularly because the departure of Zlatan Ibrahimovic – unloved as he

undeniably was – will hit Inter. Indeed, whilst Inter have brought in experienced players who should guarantee that their local dominance is extended, they still seem to lack the quality – particularly in midfield - needed to make real progress in Europe. To overcome this, Mourinho might even turn to a 4-3-3- formation featuring Balotelli, Eto’o and Milito in attack which should at least make his side more entertaining to watch then it was last season.

Manager: His bullish character hasn’t gone down as well in Italy as it had in England, and there are many who are eagerly awaiting to see Jose Mourinho fail. He, more than anyone else, knows of the need to do well in the Champions League to banish talk of Roberto Mancini whilst at the same time fend off the strongest Juventus side that there has been for four years. To do so, Mourinho might even turn to a 4-3-3- formation featuring

Key Player: Now that Ibrahimovic is gone, the pressure falls on new signing Diego Milito. Adored by the Genoa fans, the decision to leave was a difficult one to make for him but ultimately the desire to win something of note got the better of him.

One to Look Out For: Perhaps Mourinho’s biggest success last season was that of putting his faith to teenage Italian right-back Davide Santon who promptly rewarded him with a series of displays that were so good that rumours of Maicon’s possible departure to Real Madrid weren’t seen as such a bad thing.

Serie A Preview 2009/10: Genoa

2009-08-19T00:28:00.000-07:00

Main Transfers: Hernan Crespo (Inter), Sergio Floccari (Atalanta), Marco Amelia (Palermo), Nenad Tomovic (Red Star Belgrade), Francesco Bolzoni (Inter), Housseine Kharja (Siena), Magnus Troest (Parma), Emiliano Moretti (Valencia), Rodrigo Palacio (Boca Junior), Andrea Esposito (Lecce), Alberto Zapater (Real Zaragoza)

Outlook: For the second season running, Genoa found themselves having to replace one of the Serie A’s top scorers. Twelve months ago it was Marco Boriello who left for Milan whilst this time round it was Diego Milito who, along with Thiago Motta, made the move to Inter. Yet Genoa have used the money from those sales wisely and have bolstered their squad all over the pitch. The attack has been completely re-done and the trio made up of Sergio Floccari, Hernan Crespo and

Rodrigo Palacio should guarantee a fair degree of goals. Whilst not being a like for like player, Housseine Kharja has done extremely well at Siena and should continue to do likewise at Genoa.

Their biggest coup, however, has been that of swapping goalkeeper Rubinho with Italian international Marco Amelia (pictured). He will add solidity to a side that, due to its attacking instincts, suffers on that front. The problem with so many new players is that they might take long to really get going. If they do, however, there is every possibility that they will succeed where they failed last year and make it to the Champions League.

Manager: It may sound strange but two years ago Genoa were on the verge of sacking manager Giampiero Gasperini, following a barren run in the Serie A. Fortunately for them, they stuck by him and were rewarded last season when the adventurous 3-4-3 tactic that he prefers really started to kick in. Now all the doubts that there were about him have been swept away and Genoa are doing their utmost to ensure that none of the bigger clubs ensnare him.

Key Player: The man brought in to replace Diego Milito, Sergio Floccari is not in the same goalscoring category but, to compensate, he is perhaps both more technical and more intelligent in the way he plays. For the man who came into top flight football a the age of 25, this is his final shot at the big time.

One to Look Out For: The first player to be brought in by sporting director Rino Foschi, Greek midfielder Sokratis Papastathopulous, was immediately tipped for greatness. With twenty one outings last season, he is bound to play much often this time round.

Serie A Preview 2009/10: Fiorentina

2009-08-19T00:25:00.000-07:00

Main Transfers: Christiano Zanetti (Juventus), Cesare Natali (Torino), Marco Marchionni (Juventus), Jose Castillo (Lecce)

Outlook: The priority for Fiorentina was that of hanging on to their best players and, in order to do so, Felipe Melo was sacrificed with the Brazilian midfielder bringing in a hefty amount from Juventus. In return they got winger Marco

Marchionni as manager Cesare Prandelli attempts to re-do the trick he performed last year with Alberto Gilardino and revitalise the career of a player who had done so well under him at Parma. Christiano Zanetti is the other major arrival and his experience in the centre of the park will undoubtedly help Fiorentina’s young midfield. Otherwise, however, everything has stayed practically the same and it is difficult to judge whether Fiorentina can progress during the coming season. What does seem certain, however, is that their squad is too thin to handle the demands of playing in the Serie A as well as the Champions League so something will have to give.

Manager: The highly rated Cesare Prandelli stays on for another year despite interest from bigger clubs and this decision will have come as a huge relief for the Viola since much of their recent improvement is down to him.

Key Player: AC Milan couldn’t wait to get rid of Alberto Gilardino (pictured) yet, under Prandelli’s knowing care, the striker quickly re-discovered his form and finished among the league’s top scorers. Another similar season will be expected of him if they are to hit similar peaks.

One to Look Out For: Brought last summer from Partizan Belgrade, Stevan Jovetic was hailed as a special talent and quickly set about proving such billing. Even so, he remains one of Serie A’s best kept secrets, something that is bound to change as Fiorentina take on Europe this season.

Serie A Preview 2009/10: Chievo Verona

2009-08-19T00:23:00.000-07:00

Main Transfers: Pablo Granoche (Triestina), Diego Oliveira (Cittadella), Luca Ariatti (Lecce).

Outlook: Chievo struggled to stay in the division last season and nothing has happened during the summer to change that outlook for the coming months. A lot will depend on Sergio Pellisier and Erjon Bogdani who will have to score the goals that will keep Chievo in the division. Those two along with the experience running through the side will be crucial.

Manager: Mimmo Di Carlo (pictured) came to Chievo midway through the season and turned the club around leading them to what ultimately was a fairly comfortable position. That restored the reputation that had been somewhat sullied by a disastrous experience at Parma and turned him into one of the more highly rated managers around.

Key Player: Sergio Pellisier scored thirteen goals last season – most of them spectacular – and was vital for Chievo. Another player who made his debut in an experimental national side that took on Northern Ireland earlier this year, Pellisier probably deserves to play at a higher stage but, at 30, that is unlikely to happen now.

One to Look Out For: Sebastian Frey’s younger brother Nicolas has done things the hard way by moving to Italy in 2004 to play for C2 side Legnano. There he was spotted by Modena and he made the step up to the Serie B with ease. Last summer he made the move to Chievo and was used sparingly but that is likely to change this season as he makes the right-back slot his own.

Serie A Preview 2009/10: Catania

2009-08-18T01:22:00.000-07:00

Main Transfers: Gennaro Delvecchio (Sampdoria), Andrea Campagnolo (Reggina),
Pablo Barrientos (FC Moscow), Mariano Andujar (Estudiantes), Adrian Ricchiuti (Rimini)

Outlook: Having troubled the upper reaches of the Serie A for most of the season, Walter Zenga was justified in being irritated after fans started criticising the team after a late dip in form and announced that he was about to leave a couple of days before the end of the season. To replace him

Catania turned to the Gianluca Atzori, a man with only one season of management behind him. It looks a risky choice but, then again, Catania know that they have to take a gamble now and then if they are to keep progressing. The same applies to their transfers where sporting director Pietro Lo Monaco has once again turned to the South American market that has offered such rich dividends in the past. A look through the squad shows that there is enough quality there for another good season but Atzori is too much of an unknown quantity to really make judgements.

Manager: One season at Ravenna, whom he took to the play-offs of the Lega Pro Prima Divisione (the equivalent of League One) is the only reference in Gianluca Atzori’s calling card so a job in the Serie A seems like quite a huge jump. That said, at Ravenna he impressed for imposing an attacking brand of football – his favourite tactic is the 4-3-3 – and such a style should fit in nicely with the talent available in Catania’s squad.

Key Player: It is astonishing that a player of Giuseppe Mascara’s (pictured) talents only made his Serie A debut three years ago when he was already twenty-five years old. A penchant for spectacular goals and a quite brilliant creative instinct mark him out as one of the finest players in the Italian top flight, one that should be playing at a much larger stage than that which Catania offers him.

One to Look Out For: At 31, Argentine attacking midfielder Adrian Ricchiuti is far from a fresh faced youngster yet this is his first season in the Serie A after a career spent kicking about in the Italian lower leagues. At Rimini he showed an abundance of talent and, like Mascara, will be eager to grab this late opportunity of playing in the top flight to prove his worth.

Serie A Preview 2009/10: Cagliari

2009-08-18T01:16:00.000-07:00

Main Transfers: Nene’ (Nacional Madeira), Lino Marzoratti (Empoli), Mario Brkljaca ( Hajduk Split), Simone Barone (Torino)

Outlook: Not much has changed at Cagliari following that magical run of last season where they managed to finish in the top half of the league table. One of the few departures that there has been, that of Roberto Acquafresca, will hit them hard however especially as his replacement, Nene’, doesn’t particularly inspire confidence and was signed by owner Massimo Cellino mainly because they shared the same birth date. Their best hope is that Roberto Matri will take this opportunity to excel having been so overshadowed in previous years.

Manager: His first season in the Serie A was a resounding success for Massimiliano Allegri (pictured) who not only managed to keep Cagliari up but also did so in a fair degree of style. That Cagliari managed to keep him at the club was undeniably a huge boost although the fact that the big clubs turned to former players to fill their managerial vacancies undeniably helped.

Key Player: After just one season in the Serie A, Federico Marchetti has shown that he has the talent and ability to go to the top. This was confirmed by Marcello Lippi who gave him his first start for Italy earlier this summer and another year in the Sardinian capital should help him continue to mature.

One to Look Out For: Just like Marchetti, young central defender Lino Marzoratti makes the step up from the Serie B looking to take his career to another level.

Serie A Preview 2009/10: Bologna

2009-08-18T01:13:00.000-07:00

Main Transfers: Roberto Guana (Palermo), Massimo Coda (Cremonese), Andrea Raggi (Sampdoria), Emiliano Viviano (Brescia), Giacomo Tedesco (Reggina), Luca Viggiani (Reggina).

Outlook: The dream of being sold to Albanian multi millionaire Rezart Taci linkered throughout the summer for Bologna but ultimately nothing came out of it. Having just about managed to hang on to the Serie A last season, they’ve gone about revolutionising the whole squad and midfield, particular, will be completely new. As with last season, there seems to be enough talent around to stay in this division but much will depend on how they manage to gel.

Manager: As has happened so many times during his career, Giorgio Papadopoulo was called by Bologna late during last season to keep them in the Serie A, something that he duly managed to do.

His reward has been an extended contract where he will hope that finally, he can prove that he can make his mark even at this level.

Key Player: Hanging on to Marco di Vaio (pictured) was crucial after the striker scored 24 times last season. It will be harder for him to repeat such a season but with him in the side Bologna are much more confident.

One to Look Out For: One of the brightest young goalkeepers around, Emiliano Viviano risked going stale at Brescia so the move to a Serie A side, even one that is expected to struggle, was necessary for him to keep up his progression.

Serie A Preview 2009/10: Bari

2009-08-18T01:11:00.000-07:00

Main Transfers: Alvarez Reyes (Pisa), Antonio Langella (Chievo Verona), Rey Volpato (Piacenza), Riccardo Allegretti (Triestina), Riccardo Meggiorini (Cittadella), Daniele Padelli (Avellino), Vladimir Koman (Avellino), Giuseppe Greco (Pisa), Vincenzo Pepe (Avellino), Ferdinando Sforzini (Udinese).

Outlook: Having steamrollered over the Serie B, there were high hopes for Bari after their return to the top flight especially when they managed to hang on to manager Antonio Conte. Then, suddenly Conte decided to resign citing differences with the club’s owners and their whole pre-season was thrown into disarray. The bulk of the squad remains the same as last season and most of the buys have been from the Serie B. Indeed, Bari have apparently ransacked Avellino and Pisa – both clubs who went bust following their relegation from the Serie B – for a total of five players. Whilst these have added to the quantity, the quality remains lacking so a relegation dog-fight lies in store.

Manager: Having re-launched his career at Pisa, whom he took to a surprising play-off spot two season back, Giampiero Ventura (pictured) now has landed an unexpect

ed return to the Serie A. His brand of attacking football will be welcome but the quality available will test him.

Key Player: A goal-scoring full-back, Alessandro Parisi is a member of that rare breed of footballers who tend to be loyal to their clubs. Indeed, having done extremely well at Messina when they made it to the Serie A – he even won an Italy cap – Parisi opted to stay in Sicily rather than move to a bigger club. Sadly it proved to be the wrong decision as Messina eventually went under and Parisi could only land a move to Bari when that happened. Now that he’s returned to the Serie A, however, he’ll be eager to show those who forgot about him what they missed.

One to Look Out For: A product of Inter’s youth system, Riccardo Meggorini has played most of his senior football at Cittadella where he developed into a clinical striker, Meggorini now gets his chance at the top flight.

Serie A Preview 2009/10: Atalanta

2009-08-18T01:08:00.000-07:00

Main Transfers: Nicola Madonna (AlbinoLeffe), Simone Tiribocchi (Lecce), Robert Acquafresca (Genoa), Edgar Barreto (Reggiana), Fabio Caserta (Lecce)

Outlook: It has been a positive summer for Atalanta who have used the money they received from the sale of Sergio Floccari wisely. Indeed, they enter the new season with a better squad then the one that did so well last year so a place in a European competition is a genuine aim. Much, however, depends on how the players take to new manager Angelo Gregucci whose inexp

erience at the top flight make him a considerable gamble.

Manager: A surprise appointment, the highlight of Angelo Gregucci’s CV is that he was Roberto Mancini’s assistant at Fiorentina. Otherwise, his track record at Venezia, Salernitana and Vicenza show very little of note whilst his only previous job in the Serie A (Lecce) ended after just five games.

Key Player: The people of Bergamo worship Christiano Doni (pictured) and with good reason. His perfect timing make him a significant goal threat but, apart from that, he has that rare talent of making those who play around him seem better than they are.

One to Look Out For: This is a big season for Robert Acquafresca who, after two impressive seasons at Cagliari, is looking to make the definitive breakthrough at a club re-known for launching young talent.

Pisa Take A Tumble Once More

2009-07-27T04:47:00.001-07:00

For a city that has been made famous by its gravity defying leaning tower, there's a bit of irony in Pisa AC's penchant for tragic and spectacular crashes. Even so, it will be a long time before anyone does so in more spectacular fashion then they did last season which, to further boost the ironical undercurrent, also happened to be the year when the club was celebrating its centenary.

Having kicked off in the hope of winning a place in the play-offs, Pisa opened up with two defeats and their season never really took off. There were a couple of famous victories - those against Parma and local rivals Livorno stand out - but they weren't enough to push the clubs in the top six. Nor was it good enough to save manager Giampiero Ventura's job as the frustration about the failure to press-on saw him being sacked.

In his place came Bruno Giordano. Bad move. Pisa had been floating in around in the middle of the table before his arrival but much of that had been down to Ventura's tactical nous and his ability to motivate players. Without him, they went into free-fall and two days from the end of the season they slipped to fourth which would have meant a play-out game to retain their place in the league. But that wasn't the end of the story as a 1-0 home defeat on the final day of the season against Brescia - when Pisa were a man up - coupled with results elsewhere saw them slip even further. On the 94th minute of the final day of the season they were in a direct relegation spot, the first time that they'd been in that position all year.

Then came even worse news. A few days after this bitter defeat, president Luca Pomponi announced that he wasn't willing to remain in charge and put the club up for sale. With a guarantee of €2.75 million needed for any club to start the season, and with Pomponi having only some €1.1 available it was time to panic. Players started being sold off and season tickets were put up on sale (with the promise of a refund should the club go down) in order to make up for the deficit.

It wasn't to be. In early June, the Covisoc barred Pisa from taking part in the Lega Pro Prima Divisione (the equivalent of League One: the Italian lower leagues went through a Football League style re-branding last year) not only because of the absence of the necessary guarantees but also because of a loss of some €5 million and debts that totalled in excess of €12 million. A few days later, the club was wound down.

Thus history had repeated itself. Once again, matters had spiralled out of control after relegation to the third tier of Italian football, just as had happened fifteen years earlier. Back then, AC Pisa was hastily re-formed with the famous club having to play village teams in the local regional league. Within two years, the re-named Pisa Calcio 1995 won promotion to the C2 (fourth league) but a return to the Serie B would have to wait a further thirteen years. Only for everything to crumble once again in the space of two seasons.

It wasn't always this way. Throughout the eighties, Pisa were famous for being a yo-yo club: between 1982 and 1991 they won four promotions from the Serie B, which is another way of saying that they were relegated just as many times from the Serie A.

At the heart of everything at the time was their iconic president Romeo Anconetani. A boisterous and loud man, he built a reputation of being a 'mangia allenatori' (someone who eats up managers) for the ease with which he got rid of his managers. Yet he was also an excellent motivator and an even better talent spotter. He was the one who brought Carlos Dunga and Jose Antonio Chamot to Italy; down to him the discovery of players like Roberto Muzzi and Michele Padovano. It was the ability to dig up such good, if not exceptional players, that enabled Pisa to battle their way back after every drop.

Two seasons ago, upon their return to the Serie B, it looked as if the good times were about to return. With the experienced Ventura back in charge and an adventourous 3-4-3 formation in which the unknown Argentine striker Javier Ignacio Castillo was the revelation, Pisa made their way to the top of the league only to falter towards the end of the season where a play-off defeat to Lecce put paid to their hopes of a return to the top-flight.

Ultimately, it could be argued that this success came too soon. It raised expectations to a level where the club couldn't support them but, in a bid to keep up, over extended themselves.

So what's next for Pisa? The beauty of Italian football in such cases is that all sporting facilities are owned by the local government meaning that the city's football club will always have somewhere to play in. Already, a new club has been formed and will take part in the Serie D which, roughly, is the equivalent of English non-league. The aim will be that of finding a new owner to put up the necessary guarantees to push for professional football. In the hope that, once again, something positive emerges from the ashes of this latest fall.

Zenga Sets Himself Up For The Fall

2009-07-13T00:55:00.000-07:00

As press conferences go, Walter Zenga's first as Palermo manager was pretty entertaining, in a 'ha-ha' sort of way: if his initial "I have a squad brimming with important players and I'm aiming for the league title" made you smile then his follow-up "I'm convinced that between myself and Maurizio Zamparini (Palermo's owner) there will never be any problems of any kind" will certainly have cracked you up.

As a manager, Zenga has always been refreshingly honest; a likeable man conscious of his limitations but at the same time eager to prove those who doubt and deride him (of which there are many) wrong.

Yet suddenly here he is coming out with these brash comments that are bound to do him no favours and, if anything, will simply pile up the pressure on himself and his players. Could it be that he's auditioning for the Inter job that he so much desires by imitating that other well known stand-up comedian, Jose Mourinho?

He's certainly placing himself into a villain's role.

Late last month, Zenga was surprisingly announced as Palermo's new boss. That surprise wasn't exclusively down to the fact that his name hadn't featured among those rumoured to be in the running for the job but rather because of his previous employers: Palermo's Sicilian neighbours and bitter rivals Catania. Indeed the move fuelled more than a little bitterness at Catania who felt that the man whom they'd given the chance to kick-start his managerial career in Italy when everyone thought he was joke owed it to them not to move to their hated neighbours.

Yet, from Zenga's point of view, the argument is a bit different. Whilst Catania did take a gamble on him, he repaid them by first leading the club to an improbable escape from relegation and then through a fairly comfortable season. His dues had been paid. More so when fans started to vociferously criticise his teams towards the end of last season when results started to tail away.

It was a reaction that visibly stung Zenga who publicly voiced his frustration at such behaviour. It was at that point that his relationship with the fans broke and his days at the club became numbered.

Even so the move to Palermo was unexpected. Yet, at the same time, it is quite a step up for Zenga who at Catania had taken the team as high up as possible and now gets an opportunity to work with a better squad of players.

Not that this justifies his 'scudetto' claims. Asked about the scudetto, star striker Fabrizio Miccoli showed that he too can crack a joke by replying "sure, if we get Padre Pio (an Italian saint) in goal and Jesus upfront. I'm sure he'd bang a lot of goals!".

The truth is that Palermo have a couple of very good players - Marco Amelia and Miccoli himself in particular - and a decent squad that should be good enough to aim for a European spot. Anything above that, however, is daydreaming. But, evidently, that's what Zenga is doing. Especially if he believes that he won't have any problems with the notoriously brash Zamparini.

How to handle him will be Zenga's biggest challenge and motivation. For Zamparini is a man easily annoyed and Zenga can expect very little sympathy from him if his teams either dont' deliver the level of football he expects or the manager says something that he doesn't agree to. That other promising managers like Francesco Guidolin and Stefano Collantuono saw their career prospets crumble after coming into touch with Zamparini should have served as a warning to Zenga not to move to Palermo.

Instead, as with other warning signs, he's chosen to disregard it. Now he has to show whether he can really deliver somthing close to what he is promising. If not, then he can rest assured that he won't come out of this laughing.

Cellino Doing It His Own Way. Again.

2009-06-30T22:03:00.001-07:00

Massimo Cellino has always been a unique sort of club owner, one who delights in going against public opinion but who, it has to be admitted, does get a number of decisions right.

This past season must have been particularly pleasing for him as he shut up a lot of people. Cellino was portrayed as a madman when he decided not to offer a contract to Davide Ballardini, the man who had saved Cagliari from the drop against all odds, and instead plumped for Massimo Allegri who up till that point had only managed in the Serie C.

He even went against his own nature and granted Allegri time when Cagliari started the season in disastrous fashion by getting just one point in their opening seven games. And he was proven right because, as soon as the team settled and got more comfortable with Allegri’s tactics, they were transformed into one of the most entertaining sides in the Serie A.

That success has fuelled his taste for a gamble, which explains why he has decided to replace Roberto Acquafresca, a key player these past two seasons but who was recalled by Inter, with Nene from Portuguese side Nacional.

Yet even by his standards the reason behind his choice of the Brazilian are bizarre. “I heard his name and I liked it: it intrigued me. So I looked him up and noticed that we share the same birthdate. I thought to myself that this was a sign of fate and decided to sign him up.”

Who needs scouts, eh?

This compilation from last season shows that Cellino's views aside, Nene is not a bad player:

The Start of Something Special

2009-06-24T01:05:00.001-07:00

When people talk of the great Italian fantasisti of recent years – Roberto Baggio, Roberto Mancini, Gianfranco Zola, Alessandro del Piero, Francesco Totti – one name often tends to be overlooked. Giuseppe Giannini played for over fifteen years in the Serie A and almost fifty times for the national side yet, away from the streets of Rome, he seems to have been forgotten.

Probably, it is because er principe (the prince) never strayed away from AS Roma despite their relative lack of resources and inability to challenge. It is certainly why such a graceful and talented player ended his playing career with just one league title – won when he was still a fringe player back in 1982 – and three Coppa Italia successes to his name.

It could also be the reason why Giannini has struggled to make his mark in management. Where others have been able to rely on their name to kick-off their second career in football with a good job – Giannini’s contemporary Mancini, for instance, started off at Fiorentina – he has had to trawl the lower leagues, with all the pitfalls that this entails.

And Giannini has certainly come across many of those difficulties who was sacked by Foggia (after 6 months), Sambenedettese (7 months), Arges Pitesti (2 months) and Massese (7 months). Yet it is in the nature of Italian football that, despite the speed with which clubs decide to get rid of their managers and the frequency with which they do so, this doesn’t seem to have that much of an impact on the manager’s reputation.

So too it was for Giannini who, despite never having finished a full season at any one club, the offers still kept coming and the decision to leave Massese was quickly followed by an offer to take over at Gallipoli.

Here another tough season was expected for him. Few listed them among the favourites in the Southern section of the Prima Divisione (the Italian equivalent of League One) that contained heavyweights like Perugia and Pescara. After all, just ten seasons earlier this side had been playing in amateur football.

Yet there something seemed to click and, having gone to the top of the league by October, they never looked back. Eventually, main challengers Crotone fell away and Gallipoli won both the league title as well as direct promotion to the Serie B.

“Everyone played a significant role in this promotion,” Giannini said afterwards. “The players, the club, my staff and the fans. Yet I dedicate this win to myself: a joy after so many dark and unhappy moments that I’ve gone through in recent years. Destiny has repaid me. ".

And it could be about to repay him even more. Giannini has made little secret of his desire to manage Roma and, with Luciano Spalletti’s future still uncertain, that isn’t as preposterous a notion as one might think. After all, Giannini remains revered in Roma and, having been Francesco Totti’s idol, he would certainly curry the capitano’s favour.

Even if that doesn’t happen, Giannini has made his mark. People are talking about him as a genuine managerial prospect rather than, potentially, another player who failed to make the transition. As a player there had been suggestions that Giannini’s reluctance to move away from Rome was fuelled more by the comfort zone that playing there provided, that he wasn’t up to the challenge of really fighting it out to win titles.

It is a reputation that had stuck to Giannini. That he had often failed to reproduce the kind of form that he showed for Roma with the national team seemed to support such an implication. Now, at Gallipoli, he has finally shut such critics up. In the hope that it really is the start of something special.

From Unknown to Serie A: The Aly Cissokho Story

2009-06-18T22:21:00.000-07:00

At a time when players are changing clubs for sums in excess of ₤50 and ₤80 million, it is hardly surprising that little notice is given to a transfer that amount to just ₤12 million. Even more so when there are no British club involved.

Yet there is plenty that is noteworthy in Aly Cissokho’s move to AC Milan.

Two years ago, Cissokho made his debut at Geugnon in what was a desperate season for them. Anchored at bottom practically from the first day, they were relegated to the French Third Division having won just five games all season.

Eager to avoid playing at such a lowly level, Cissokho moved to Portuguese side Vitoria de Setubal. It was a good move for him, but only just. True, they played in the Portugues Primera Liga but that was about the only positive thing about them. A squad of limited ability coupled with financial problems that saw the players going some two months without being paid, there was never any doubt that they were going to struggle.

So it proved to be yet Cissokho did well enough to attract Portuguese giants Porto to make a move fore him in January. Initially it looked like a stop-gap move, a player signed purely to bolster the squad in case of emergency. Yet that wasn’t the case.

A series of injuries meant that a chance quickly came his way and suddenly Cissokho found himself playing in the Champions League against Manchester United. It was the ultimate test and Cissokho played exceptionally well. As he did for the rest of the season where he helped the side to the Portugues League and Cup double.

That would have been enough to signify a fairytale ending, yet there was more to come. Both Marseilles and Lyon had expressed interest in signing him before, out of nowhere, Milan came in and tabled a ₤12 million bid.

Even then there was a further twist as the medical revealed, out of all things, a problem with the Cissokho's wisdom teeth. A strange situation but apparently one that could have been indicative of posture problems. Nothing to it, however, as a second medical gave him the all clear to move.

Now all that Cissokho has to do is replace the living legend that is Paolo Maldini. A next to impossible task for many defenders yet, for the man who has made it all the way from Guegnon to the top, not even that will be too much to ask.

Ancelotti's Big Challenge

2009-06-10T01:23:00.000-07:00

There's no hiding from it now: the Premiership they won were nice but what Chelsea really want now is the Champions League. In truth, that has been well known for quite a while yet if any confirmation was needed it came with the appointment of Carlo Ancelotti as manager. For, despite winning an Italian league title, Ancelotti's biggest achievements at AC Milan were the two continental triumphs that he achieved over Juventus and Liverpool.

Despite that success, however, there seems to be a fair bit of scepticism about his abilities. Perhaps not from Chelsea fans - although I wouldn't exclude everyone - but certainly from a good portion of fans from rival clubs. There the feeling seems to be of relief that Hiddink didn't stay on.

Ancelotti, it seems, has been tainted by Milan's failures in recent years. They didn't make it to the Champions League last year whilst this season they were dumped out of the UEFA Cup that everyone (at least in Italy) had assumed they would .win.

If that's the case then it is a grossly unfair assesment of his abilities. The truth is that he was lumbered with an ageing squad - thirty-five year old Pippo Inzaghi and forty-one year old Paulo Maldini were still regulars last season - and an opinionated owner who wasn't interested in spending any money to rebuild the team. Making matters worse for Ancelotti, he had very little say in which players were bought.

So it was that last year they signed the error prone Philipe Senderos who was presented to Ancellotti as the solution for a defence. And, with a side crying for back-up in the centre of midfield, he was given the marque signings of Ronaldinho and David Beckham. At least, Beckham added something to the team and arguably it was his arrival that kick-started Milan's season in January. The truth is that the side overachieved in nailing a spot in the Champions League.

At Chelsea, he won't have such issues as he will have both the money to spend and a say in how it is used. Then again, that could be his biggest challenge given how unused he is to being in charge of such matters. It will certainly be interesting to see who he brings in although it wouldn't be that surprising if a couple of his Milan players were to follow him.

More so because he was an extremely popular man with his squad. Always eager to shield his players, whom he never criticised in public, he even put a brave face when Silvio Berlusconi chose to criticise his tactics during a chat with journalists. A talent, that of handling a rather meddlesome owner, that might come in handy at Chelsea.

Yet what Chelsea will be banking on is Ancelotti's tactical knowledge: that is his strenght, something that is far too often overlooked. It was Ancelotti, for instance, who had the intuition of withdrawing Andrea Pirlo making him the most effective playmaker in Europe. And it was Ancelotti who built the wonderful Milan side of 2005, a team that could play beautiful attractive football. Sadly, and this seems to be a repetitive trait for Ancelotti, all that was forgotten when they lost the final to Liverpool.

Indeed, the view of Ancelotti in Italy is that he is a good man. Too good, in fact, to win. A label that was assigned to him when he was at Juventus where and which he has never been able to really shake off since.

At Chelsea, he has cut those links with the past and will be looking to re-invent himself. He will never be the outspoken and brash manager that Jose Mourinho was, but, if he manages to win the Champions League for them, then nobody will really mind.

You're Not Local

2008-09-30T14:03:00.000-07:00

The funniest story that I've heard this week is that a group of Japanese tourists wanted to watch Roma play last Sunday but were unable to do so. The reason: as Atalanta fans were banned from watching the game the order was that tickets could only be sold to people coming from the Lazio region.

This was interpreted as an exclusion for the rest of the world so these poor souls couldn't buy a ticket (at least, not from official sources), perhaps in case of some Japan based Atalanta ultra coming over to cause havoc.

Remember the Name

2008-09-20T23:43:00.000-07:00

Juan Emanuel Culio is a name that will long be remembered in Rome: cursed by the red half, lauded by the blue.

It is also a name that few in Europe – and not many more back home in Argentina - had heard of before his two goals that kicked off the latest round of talks about Roma’s crisis and, more importantly, gave CFR Cluj an unexpected dream start to their Champions League adventure.

Culio’s story is an intricate one and full of hardships but, with those two goals, a happy ending seems in sight.

Born in the city of Mercedes, some 100km away from Buenos Aires, there was little hope of the talented striker nicknamed ‘El Zurdo’ – the right footed one – catching the attention one of the capital’s big clubs. So, at the age of 13, he started working as a builder in a local yard earning the equivalent of 60 Euros each month. And that, he thought, was that.

Then, as with any self respecting fairy tale, everything changed overnight. One evening, as Culio was enjoying a kick-about with his friends, a gentleman approached asking him whether he played for anyone. It was the president of Third Division side CS y Deportivo Flandria and soon afterwards Culio signed his first professional contract at 19. That was 2002 and two years later he was in the First Division first with Almagro and then Racing Club.

He stayed in the Argentine top flight until 2007 when he moved in search of better luck to Chile, playing for Deportes la Serena. It didn’t last long and within months he was on the move once more, this time to Romania and the newly promoted Cluj.

Even there, Culio was by no means a star. In fact, he was a squad player until Maurizio Trombetta’s elevation to manager two weeks ago and, in thirty two games had scored just once. Then came those two at the Olimpico, with Culio’s satisfaction doubled by the knowledge of him, an Argentine, felling a team with such a Brazilian flavouring.

Those same two goals look to have earned Culio a call up to the Romanian national team and transformed him into a star. His wish is to play either in Italy or in Spain and that may yet be granted. One thing is for certain, wherever he goes next, it won’t be as an unknown.

Football’s Real Disease

2008-09-07T23:57:00.000-07:00

When a group of Napoli fans laid waste to a train on their way to Rome, it kicked off once again the debate about violence and Italian football. With it came the usual wailing and moralizing on why more needed to be done to fight football’s disease. Futile talk that will almost inevitably lead to nothing.

Stefano Borgonovo is faced an altogether different battle. The man whose muscles wore out defenders allowing a young Roberto Baggio to shine for Fiorentina and who scored the winner against Bayern Munich that put AC Milan in the Champions Cup final in 1990 is still 44 years old yet it would be hard to tell that by looking at him.

Confined to a bed and unable to talk, his only means of communication is through an electronic device. It is a shocking sight but a common one for those who are struck with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a neurological disorder characterized by the slow wasting away of the motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord which is also known as Gehrig’s disease.

That Borgonovo was ill had been rumoured for quite some time yet few were aware of the extent of his condition. That was revealed during an interview on Sky Italia to announce a friendly between Fiorentina and AC Milan on the 8th of October with the aim of raising funds for Borgonovo’s own foundation that will in turn pass them over to researchers working on a cure for the disease.

Most of the talking was done by Stefano’s wife Chantal and who has been with him ever since the two met when they were fifteen years old. “At first I thought that it was a nervous tick, then a neurologic professor told us of the reality,” she said, recalling when the first symptoms of the disease were emerging back in October of 2005.

“Everyone knew that something was up but at first we didn’t want to talk about it we were in total denial. His hands, his arms, his legs, he used to lose something each day, he was in free fall yet we tried to live as if nothing was up.”

Eventually, there was no hiding so now Stefano has decided to make his disease public so as to give life to this friendly wit the aim of “using Stefano’s popularity to talk about ALS, to help those who aren’t as well off as us, to raise funds for researches and, who knows, perhaps one day finding a cure.”

Yet, Borgonovo isn’t the only former footballer who has been struck by this desease: in a judicial inquest handled by the Turin judge Raffaele Guariniello, it has already killed 39 players.

The links between ALS and sport are very real as the research of Dr. Gabriele Mora, from the Salvatore Maugeri Foundation and that of Professor Adriano Chiò of the department of Neuroscience in Turin has shown: "We did our research on 7,325 Italian footballers. Statistically when you have such a small sample the incidence of ALS should be around 0.5 to 0.7 percent meaning that, at best, we should have found one person with the disease. Instead we found eight. Too many.”

Dr Mora warns that "I don’t feel comfortable in defining ALS as a football disease. However, the ball allied with other factors could be enough to kick it off”

What factors? “Genetic, repetitive traumas to the legs, intensive physical activity, being in contact with pesticides used to maintain pitches, the abuse of pain killing medicine. .."

Another interesting detail uncovered by Chio’ and Mora’s research has been the role of those struck with the disease: midfielders are the most at risk. "Midfielders run more than others, they get hit by countless tackles and they have the tendency of over-pushing themselves. It isn’t a coincidence that no goalkeepers have ever had this disease and that there are no known cases in basketball and cycling.” ASL, on the other hand, is common in American Football and “we’re now looking into rugby,” Mora concluded.

For Borgnovo and his family, including five year old daughter Gaia, that is of little comfort. “I’m angry with (Gianluca) Pessotto who has written a book to tell how he wanted to die whilst I’m here wanting to live.”

“He’s a fighter,” says Chantal. “He has always been. Hard? It is worse than hard. Yet I’m convinced that it isn’t over for us. We live day by day. Our future isn’t written yet.” Do they feel that Borgonovo could be the first to recover from the disease? “Yes” he says.

Serie A Preview: Napoli

2008-08-30T00:16:00.000-07:00

They made their return to the Serie A in brilliant fashion thanks largely to the inspired signings of Ezequeil Lavezzi and Marek Hamsik. This summer Napoli went for a similar strategy making few transfers but those who have come in really count.

General director Pierpaolo Marino first went back to Argentina to bring in German Denis to partner Lavezzi up front and then raided Sampdoria for their right sided midfielder Christian Maggio.

Otherwise, Napoli have only brought in a couple of players to bulken up a squad that admittedly looks rather lightweight. Last season Napoli struggled when Marcelo Zalayeta suffered an injury and it could be a problem again this season if they were to suffer any similar injuries.

Key Man: Clubs had long been admiring the talents of Slovakian midfielder Marek Hamsik but it was only Napoli who made a bid big enough to convince Brescia into letting go. Their faith in him proved to be more than justified with Hamsik taking the Serie A by storm last season. With added maturity and consistency, he is bound to become even better.

Best bit of business: Antonio Cassano was Sampdoria’s undoubted star last season, but Christian Maggio caught the eye just as much with his hard work and excellent timing. Napoli certainly took note, focusing on him most of their resources during the summer.

Keep an eye out for…Andrea Russotto. As a sixteen year old at Lazio, Russotto made news by opting to move to Switzerland rather than change agents to join GEA as he was being pressured to do by the club. As a result, the talented player had fallen off the radar even though he’s spent the past two seasons at Treviso. Napoli have taken a gamble on him, taking Russotto on loan for the season, but he looks set to be another of Marino’s finds.

Serie A Preview: Inter

2008-08-29T23:20:00.000-07:00

He’s only been here a matter of weeks but already Mourinho is making himself new enemies. Predictably, the first target was Juventus’ Claudio Ranieri, also Mourinho predecessor at Chelsea, with a tit-for-tat squabble over each other’s winning mentality.

Mourinho’s criticism of Ranieri will obviously win him points with the Inter fans not that anyone needed any convincing of his abilities. Few however, seem to appreciate that what Mourinho does best is making his players comfortable enough to play their best football. His bluster is simply one of the ways he ensures that comes about.

Already, his work is making an impact. Dejan Stankovic, who Inter wanted to get rid of for much of the summer, is making a mockery of their desire to buy Frank Lampard such have been his early season performances in midfield. If Mourinho manages to repeat this trick with Adriano, then surely it would be enough for him to justify his hefty wage packet.

Of course, that is an exaggeration. Inter still want to win the title but what they’re really desperate for is the Champions League. Just as it was at Chelsea, it will be on delivering on that objective that Mourinho will be judged.

Key Man: That Roberto Mancini was on the way out was evidenced by Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s continuous disregard and disrespect towards his manager at the tail end of last season. The Swede will find that Mourinho is much less malleable yet the Portuguese manager will be aware that if he wants to win he need Ibrahimovic to be at his best.

Best Bit of Business: He’s not a player that Inter really needed but Mancini’s transfer from Roma will, if anything, ensure that their creativity isn’t reliant on Ibrahimovic’s form and

Keep an eye out for…Mario Balotelli. Ok, so he’s not exactly a player of whom little is known but the young striker really deserved to be tagged as a phenomenal prospect. For one so young he displays incredible maturity and composure, and Mourinho is bound to put much faith in him.

Serie A Preview: Roma

2008-08-29T23:13:00.000-07:00

The death of Franco Sensi put a downer on Roma’s season but probably cemented the Sensi family’s place in the hearts of the fans. And, having been tempted by the dollars of George Soros, they have decided to stay on and it does seem as the best decision for the club.

They may not have the sort of money to throw about as they did when Franco first took charge but under the guidance of his daughter Rosella, they have still remained one of the main challengers for the title thanks to long-term planning and belief in what they are doing.

This includes going for players who others have discarded. John Arne Riise’s departure from Anfield was welcomed by many whilst it is doubtful whether anyone at Real Madrid will realize that Julio Baptista has gone. Both players, however, have the quality and experience to keep Roma at the top.

Otherwise the squad is strong enough to take off from last season and the departure of Matteo Ferrari has been more than made up for by the arrival of Simone Loria. The late transfer of Jeremy Menez will also add options in a midfield shorn of Ludovic Giuly who did reasonably well last year.

The doubt at the back of everyone’s mind,however, is whether that will be enough to keep Roma as Inter’s main rivals or whether they’ve been overtaken by Fiorentina and Juventus.

Key Man For all of the progress made by Danile De Rossi and Alberto Aquilani, Roma are still highly dependent of Francesco Totti. Last season they briefly managed to get by without him but, had he been available for the finish, they would probably have won the Serie A.

Best bit of Business: Whilst Milan went for Ronaldinho, Roma opted for another Brazilian discarded by a major Spanish side: Julio Baptista. The big striker’s reputation has been hit after average seasons at Real and Arsenal but for evidence of his talent one only has to look at how he played in last year’s Copa America.

Keep an eye out for…Stefano Okaka. The Italian U19 international striker may still go on loan but the feeling at Roma is that he should be retained because he is already good enough to play in the Serie A.

Serie A Preview: Juventus

2008-08-29T23:09:00.000-07:00

This will be the key season for Claudio Ranieri. Having seen his side strengthened with the arrival of some big-name players the aim is to win the title. Even though you won’t find anyone connected with Juventus admitting it, last year’s talk of being a ‘ neo-promossa’ (newly promoted) with the implication that even staying up was a success simply won’t wash.

Ranieri might be disappointed at the refusal to pay that little bit more in order to sign Xabi Alonso, a player he had personally requested, yet otherwise there is nothing to be dissatisfied about.

The arrival of Amauri probably is the key buy especially given the way with which the Brazilian striker tormented Juventus during last season’s away game with Palermo. He will take some of the pressure for scoring goals off David Trezeguet’s back whilst at the same time ensure that it isn’t simply down to Alex Del Piero to create chances.

Slightly more of a gamble is the arrival of the Danish midfielder Christian Poulsen to add steel to their midfield. There are still a lot of people who are unconvinced about his abilities – hardly surprising given that he was basically fourth choice after Matthieu Flamini, Dejan Stankovic and Xabi Alonso – but Poulsen has all the characteristics of a player who can be a success.

Away from the big names, Juventus have also ensured that their future is catered for with the return home of Claudio Marchisio, Sebastian Giovinco and Paolo De Ceglie. All will feature prominently but their best will surely come in future years.

Key Man: Now more than ever, it is Alex Del Piero. Written off a number of times during his career – none more so two seasons ago when he was one of the first to agree to playing in the Serie B – the capitano has bounced back each time. Last season was a fantastic one for him, one that led to public pressure on Roberto Donadoni to choose him for Italy.

Best bit of Business. Ever since Palermo reluctantly agreed that Amauri would be allowed to leave, Juventus were the favourites to sign him. A word of caution, however: this move is very much similar to that of David Suazo last season, the striker who was supposed to make the step up after moving to Inter from Cagliari. That move didn’t work out so placing to much pressure on Amauri might not be the wisest of choices.

Keep an eye out for…Sebastian Giovinco. Despite Empoli’s self inflicted problems last season, Giovinco shone for them proving not only his talent – of which there had never been any doubt – but also his ability to handle the physical challenge of the Serie A. Juventus had little worries in taking him on, seeing in Giovinco the man to eventually take over from Del Piero.

Serie A Preview: Fiorentina

2008-08-29T23:06:00.000-07:00

Claudio Prandelli is not a man known for his angry outbursts so when he did go public with his dismay over the potential transfer of Adrian Mutu to Roma, it was enough for the club’s owners to re-think and pull back.

It was understandable, too. Slowly and patiently, Fiorentina have built a squad capable of really challenging for the title. Not simply a good starting eleven but a real and proper squad of twenty five players each and every one capable of slotting easily into a side going for the top prize. And they’ve done so without going overboard with their spending.

Yet every side has its stars around whom play is centred and to whom they turn when things are getting tough. For Fiorentina, Mutu is one such player so selling him would have sent them out of balance.

The prospect was particularly galling for Prandelli having finally managed to re-partner Mutu with Alberto Gilardino who he had managed with so much success at Parma. Fiorentina’s determination to get Gilardino, who Milan were so determined to get rid of, underlines their manager’s belief in his abilities and rightly so given what he had managed to do in a struggling side.

It was still a somewhat surprising transfer, certainly compared to the arrivals of Jaun Vargas and Luciano Zauri who will give their defence much more power whilst there is much hope around the arrival of Felipe Melo from Almeria even though Fiorentina have also brought in Almiron just in case the Brazilian’s move doesn’t work out.

Key Player: Adrian Mutu had a frustrating summer with Romania in the European Championships and his eagerness to join Roma – perhaps to raise some cash with which to pay off Chelsea – wasn’t much appreciated by the fans. Yet they realize that he remains their most talented and experienced player against whom holding a grudge would be completely futile.

Best Bit of Business: The arrival of Stevan Jovetic was heralded by Fiorentina as a major signing even though he is just eighteen years old and will have to wait a while till he gets a chance to play. Having seen the player in action, however, it is easy to comprehend their enthusiasm such is his talent. He’s ready to play in the Serie A and, given Fiorentina’s track record in bringing players through, will undoubtedly go on to be a star.

Keep an eye out for…Zdravko Kuzmanovic. An unheralded player when he signed for Fiorentina last summer, the Swiss born Serb went on to have an excellent debut season for the Viola. Hard working but with great ability on the ball, he is the ideal player for Prandelli’s system with the plus point of having the potential to get much better given his age of just twenty.

Serie A Preview: Udinese

2008-08-29T00:22:00.000-07:00

The well remunerated sales of Gyan Asamoah to Rennes and Andrea Dossena to Liverpool have been sufficient to fend off the much feared sale of their star players. This means that for the first time in a long while Udinese can go into a season with confidence that they can build on a side that promised so much last year.

Not that they haven’t been tempted. Arsenal were only one of a host of clubs to show an interest in Gokhlan Inler whilst defender Christian Zapata already has already caught the attention of some of Europe’s biggest teams.

Yet, as long as the bank balance is healthy enough and the offers not big enough, then Udinese were more than happy to resist. As in Udinese tradition, to that squad they’ve added a host of semi-unknowns from around the globe. The gigantic Swiss defender Alain Nef has been brought from Piacenza, striker Alexis Sanchez from River Plate and Serbian midfielder Dusan Basta from Red Star Belgrade.

Neither one of those three is likely to start the season as a regular in the excellent Pasquale Marino’s starting eleven. One player who should, however, is the twenty two year old Argentine Fernando Tissone who Udinese got from Atalanta and who will be replacing Dossena. With the Italian youth international Marco Motta slotting in at right-back after arriving from Torino and Luigi Sala offering back up as well as experience, it is starting to look that Udinese have the strength and depth to cause a few upsets.

Key Man: Hype would point at either Fabio Quagliarella or Antonio Di Natale but the man that Udinese would really struggle to do without is Gokhan Inler. Last season the little known Swiss midfielder easily slotted into the gap left by the departing Sulley Muntari where his tactical diligence and technical ability promptly shone through.

Best bit of business: In co-ownership with Atalanta, both clubs were desperate to sign the other’s half of Fernando Tissone yet it was Udinese who won out when the two clubs bid in a silent auction. The Argentine had impressed with the Bergamo club last season and Udinese had long since earmarked him as the potential replacement for Dossena.

Keep an eye out for… Alexis Sanchez. In a revealing story of how Udinese manage to find so many exceptional players, Sanchez was spotted playing for Chilean side Cobreloa back in 2005 when he was just seventeen. Udinese promptly signed him up and then loaned him out first to Colo Colo and then to River Plate. He did well enough with both to confirm that he was good enough to play in Europe so this summer he made his way to Italy despite River’s best attempts to retain him. So, when in twelve months’ time Udinese opt to sell either one of Quagliarella or Di Natale, there will be a ready made replacement waiting.

Serie A Preview: AC Milan

2008-08-29T00:11:00.000-07:00

After the debacle that was last season’s fifth place finish this was supposed to be the summer in which Milan finally started to re-build. Lessons learned, was the message coming out of Milanello, and our problems will be seen to.

A couple of months later and, whilst there has been an influx of new players, it is difficult to conclude that whatever problems there were have been solved. Take Philippe Senderos: presented to the Italian media as the solution to Milan’s defensive problems, he is nowhere near that. The truth is that Senderos has failed to develop after a positive first season with Arsenal and his lack of mobility was being ruthlessly exploited in the Premiership.

Much more complex is the move that led to Ronaldinho. Initially it looked like the usual ruse by Berlusconi in an attempt to boost popularity ahead of the upcoming election. That feeling was re-inforced by Milan’s sudden pull out from the deal once Berlusconi got elected. It was only when Barcellona had substantially lowered their demands that Milan went back in.

Whether they really need Ronaldinho or if it was simply a marketing ploy remains to be seen. Ronaldinho remains a very good player but the rush with which Barcellona wanted to get rid of him suggest that perhaps his reputation exceeds his real value.

Another gamble, for that is what most of Milan’s signings amount to, is the return of Andrii Shevchenko. Effectively this is the least risky of all: in Milan he will find a coach and a team that knows how to play to his strengths rather than one unwilling to see how best to integrate him. And, if any motivation was needed, the possibility of beating Jose Mourinho should surely see to that.

Despite all this, the summer had gotten off to a great start with the arrival of Matthie Flamini from Arsenal. Then Milan seemed to get lost in their desire to sign a striker to really look at other problem areas. Defensively, for instance, they are still vulnerable whilst the reliance on Zeljko Kalac a disaster in waiting.

At least in that area they’ve seen the return of Christian Abbiati. Whether the man who enjoyed an average season in Spain with Atletico Madrid and of whom Milan have continuously tried to get rid of in the past can prove to be better than the Australian is, however, the subject of a huge debate.

Key Man: There is a reason why Milan have rejected off-hand all the offers that have been put through for Kaka and that is that he remains arguably the finest player in the world. With Ronaldinho alongside him, Milan fans should be in for quite some spectacular football.

Best bit of business. There might still be question marks over how he will adapt to live away from the lose comfort of the Emirates and an understanding manager like Arsene Wenger but Matthieu Flamini remains the least risky out of all the new arrivals.

Keep an eye out for…Pato. Perhaps the most deserving mention would have been that of Alberto Paloschi but with the young striker now apparently on his way away from Milan, the next choice is Alessandro Pato.

Serie A Preview: Sampdoria

2008-08-29T00:06:00.000-07:00

Having found the perfect manager in Walter Mazzari and fully recovered the talent of Antonio Cassano, Sampdoria have built the ideal platform on which to build and hopefully return to something nearing their former glory.

Their need to keep check of their finances occasionally means that some difficult sacrifices have to be made such as the transfer of Christian Maggio but if this ensures that they can keep the rest of the squad together than it is well worth it. After all, that was also Sampdoria’s policy during the great days of Paolo Mantovani.

To compensate for Maggio’s departure Sampdoria have gone for the Lithuanian Marius Stankevicius who has matured after years at Brescia in the Serie B whilst Daniele Dessena is bound to flourish having finally been libered from playing for a club that is continuously struggling against relegation.

Apart from Maggio, the players who have left – Volpi and Montella in particular - did so because their age suggested that they were past their best. Neither one of the two is expected to be missed too much but a replacement for the erratic goalkeeper Luca Castellazzi, however, would have been beneficial.

Key Man: How is it possible to look beyond Antonio Cassano? He may be a head-case, his theatrics annoying and his antics frustrating but there’s no player in the Serie A who can match his ability to thrill.

Best bit of business. If there was an area where Sampdoria struggled last season, it was that of scoring goals. The Uruguayan striker Bruno Fornaroli has been brought in to solve that issue having done wonders for Nacional.

Keep an eye out for…Andrea Poli. The midfielder is just one of Sampdoria’s highly rated primavera team that won the league next season and on whom Mazzari is expected to start turning with increasing regularity this season.

Serie B Preview: Mantova

2008-08-27T05:33:00.000-07:00

Mantova fell well short of their stated ambition of making it to the Serie A but that hasn’t deterred their rock and roll president Fabrizio Lori (pictured).

His desire to see the team win through attractive football has seen Mantova to shell out in order to buy midfielder Tomas Locatelli. This despite last season’s failed experiment of Stefano Fiore who found it too difficult to adapt to the pace of the Serie B. Another experiment that didn’t impress was that which put Giuseppe Brucato in charge and he has apparently done enough to see him in charge even in the new season despite rumours of the possible return of Mimmo Di Carlo..

Their forward line certainly seems to be up to the task with the experienced duo of Denis Godeas and ‘Re’ Giorgio Corona. Allied with a group of talented individuals and the support of one of the Serie B’s most loyal set of supporters, perhaps this could be the year when Mantova’s dreams come true.

Key Man: Denis Godeas
Best Bit of Business: Tomas Locatelli from Siena
Key an Eye out for…Gaetano Caridi

Serie B Preview: Ascoli

2008-08-27T05:30:00.000-07:00

Twice in recent years they’ve announced the start of a long term strategy and on both occasions their hopes ended in disappointment. With hindsight, letting go of Attilio Tesser after their relegation from the Serie A was a mistake and, whilst initially Ivo Iaconi had done well, in the long term he wasn’t too convincing.

So the club have turned to a new man – Nello di Costanzo – and the heralding of a new, patient strategy with long term goals. Di Costanzo has a good record in the lower leagues and his sole experience in the Serie B was promising even though it ultimately ended in disappointment with the financial meltdown of Messina.

During the summer, Ascoli lost Massimo Bernacci to Bologna but managed to include Christian Bucchi in the deal. Few strikers have Bucchi’s track record in this division and he’s the closest you’ll get to a sure fire bet. Otherwise, the side remains unchanged from last season meaning the inclusion of a certain Massimo Taibi (pictured) as regular goalkeeper with Roberto Benigni (no, not that one) as president.

Key Man: Simone Pesce
Best Bit of Business: Cristian Bucchi from Bologna
Key an Eye out for…in demand midfielder Stefano Guberti

Serie B Preview: Rimini

2008-08-27T05:28:00.000-07:00

It is an end of an era for Rimini after manager Leo Acori – the man who took them from the Serie C2 to the Serie B in the space of six season – decided that he had taken the club as far as he could. Wisely, Rimini have gone for continuity and have handed the job to Acori’s long time assistant Elvio Selighini.

They are also quietly optimistic about the coming season having improved on the side that just missed out on the play-offs last season. Most of their play will go through the talented Argentine midfielder Adrian Richiuti (pictured) whilst striker Daniele Vantaggiato is developing into a good striker.

In the summer, they brought in goalkeeper Federico Agliardi confident that he will be able to re-discover his best form after a traumatic experience at Palermo whilst the twenty year old Marco Mancosu, a loanee from Cagliari, will add width to midfield.

Key Man: Adrian Richiuti
Best Bit of Business: Federico Agliardi from Palermo
Key an Eye out for…midfielder Marco Mancosu

Serie B Preview: Pisa

2008-08-27T05:27:00.000-07:00

No one expected Pisa to do as well as they did last season when they made it to the play-offs and this coming season is likely to be met by similar expectations. Their hopes have been hit by the dismantling of last season’s impressive forward line with Alessandro Cerci and Vitali Kutuzov both returning to Roma and Parma respectively whilst Javier Ignazio Castillo has been sold to Lecce.

At least they’ve retained manager Giampiero Ventura, something that was in doubt for quite a while as the club’s ownership changed hands. Ultimately that was sorted when Luca Pomponi took over from Leo Covarelli, the man who had financed Pisa’s rise to the Serie B but who eventually decided that his money was better spent financing his hometown club of Perugia.

All that hasn’t helped the club’s preparations and as yet their only significant arrival is the experienced full-back Alessandro Birindelli. Ventura will have to alter his tactical approach given that his forward line is much less talented than it was last season. They should still enjoy a quite enough season but hopes of repeating, let alone improving, on last year’s success are rather far fetched.

Key Man: Gael Genevier
Best Bit of Business: Alessandro Birindelli from Juventus
Key an Eye out for…on-loan midfielder Ivan Radovanovic

Serie A Preview: Atalanta

2008-08-27T00:20:00.000-07:00

After a fairly quite campaign in which they once again exceeded all expectations, Atalanta had quite a summer with the fans protesting against the transfer of Cristian Vieri (pictured) from Fiorentina.

Apart from signing Vieri, Atalanta have done very well in signing the promising Luca Cigarini from Parma – it makes a change from seeing your own best young players continuously sold off – as well as taking Alessio Cerci on loan from Roma.

Otherwise, their only other highlight has been trying to fend off clubs wanting to take Sergio Floccari with the striker who came to the fore last season heavily interesting both Genoa and Palermo. As always with Atalanta, a substantial bid by any one of those two will see the striker go.

Last season was a significant one for Gigi Del Neri who finally managed to put together his reputation that had been shredded by a series of unlucky job choices. With a squad that seems stronger than last season and Atalanta’s perennial ability to produce talented young players, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them pushing on for a place in Europe.

Key Man: With Atalanta, there is only one option: Cristian Doni. The midfielder probably should have done more with his talent but try saying that in Bergamo where he is a living legend and with reason. Goalscorer, goal creator, team captain and a player who gives his all, he has been Atalanta’s outstanding player of the past decade.

Best bit of business: He was expected to join Juventus but for some that deal fizzled out. So instead Luca Cigarini has joined Atalanta hopeful of building on his fine showings for Parma last season.

Keep an eye out for… Michele Marconi. The latest to emerge from Atalanta’s youth scheme, Marconi made his debut towards the end of last season and Del Neri clearly has a lot of faith in him. The nineteen year old scored his first goal in the Coppa Italia first round win over Modena and with Vieri’s injury and Floccari’s possible departure, he could be getting his chance earlier than expected.

Serie A Preview: Genoa

2008-08-27T00:17:00.000-07:00

After a decent first season back in the Seria A where they finished in mid-table, Genoa have opted for revolution rather than evolution. They’ve been one of the most active sides in the transfer market and at least six of next season’s starting eleven are set to be filled by new arrivals.

Genoa have opted to stick by manager Gianpiero Gasperini who did better than expected last season despite a couple of worrying patches. Surprisingly, they were the ones who won out the auction for former Roma defender Matteo Ferrari whilst the additions of Giandomenico Mesto from Reggina and Raffaele Palladino from Juventus are both intelligent signings. That trend should continue after the arrival of the wily Rino Foschi (pictured) from Palermo to take over the role of general manager.

Lucho Figueroa is worshiped among the fans yet he is no Marco Boriello whose presence will be greatly missed unless Genoa make a move in the last days of the transfer window.

Key Man: One of the revelations of last season Omar Milanetto’s vision in midfield remain fundamental for Genoa, with the midfielder giving balance to a side that is often too focused on the attack.

Best bit of business: There’s too much unjustified hype around Matteo Ferrari to make him anything more than a decent signing. Not the same can be said of Raffaele Palladino who found it next to impossible to break through at Juventus but who has the talent to make his former club regret letting him go.

Keep an eye out for… Sokratis Papastathopoulos. Rino Foschi’s first buy since taking over as general manager at Genoa, the young defender is already a Greek international and if someone like Foschi swears by his talent, then he must have something to him.

Serie A Preview: Palermo

2008-08-27T00:14:00.000-07:00

A disappointing season was made bearable thanks to Amauri’s return to full fitness in the second half of the season. Most of Palermo’s problems were of their own making. Having placed faith in Stefano Colantuono, it didn’t take long for president Maurizio Zamparini to change his mind opting instead to bring back Francesco Guidolin.

That move didn’t turn out too well either so it was soon back to Colantuono who remains in charge this season despite not fully convincing in his second stint. An early defeat in the Coppa Italia won't have increased his chances of surviving for much longer.

Unlike Colantuono, striker Amauri isn’t there since, was widely expected, the Brazilian striker moved to Juventus. With the money they got for him, Palermo have almost completely rebuilt their side and could start the season with just two players from last season.

In fact, rather than Amauri Palermo’s biggest loss in the summer was that of general manager Rino Foshi who opted to return to Genoa. Foschi is one of the shrewdest operators around and his final transfer campaign for Palermo bears that out. In have come the Italian national team goalkeeper Marco Amelia, the promising defensive trio of Andrea Raggi (Empoli), Cesare Bovo (Genoa) and Moris Carrozieri (Atalanta), as well as the highly rated duo from Juventus Davide Lanzafame and Antonio Nocerino.

Palermo still lack a suitable replacement for Amauri as the Brazilian TUlio De Melo hasn’t convinced, but they’ve got a basis of a side that could develop along the lines of Prandelli’s Fiorentina.

Key Man: Palermo made a mistake in getting rid of Eugenio Corini who wasn’t ever really replaced. The arrival of Fabio Liverani looks set to make up for that shortcoming.

Best bit of business: Palermo were determined to include Davide Lanzafame (pictured) in the Amauri deal and, after the player’s initial fears had been allayed, they got their man. Lanzafame was sensational for Bari last season and Palermo’s insistence is more than justified

Keep an eye out for…Simon Kjaer. Having spotted Kjaer at the Viareggio Tournament, Palermo moved quickly for the young Danish defender before others could be alerted of his talent. A typical Rino Foschi buy, he should soon be pushing for inclusion in the side.

Serie A Preview: Lazio

2008-08-27T00:11:00.000-07:00

It is easy to write off Lazio and their frugal president Claudio Lotito but for all their lack of activity, it seems that they have put together quite a useful squad.

Lotito never fails to irritate yet his steadfast stand against paying too much for players – both in transfers and in wages – is to be admired especially in a league where everyone seems to be doing the opposite. This has cost him Valon Behrami, who opted to move to West Ham, and could see Lazio lose out on Cristian Ledesma who is threatening to follow a similar path at the end of the season.

This doesn’t help foster stability, and neither does the fans’ continuing criticism of Lotito, yet regardless of all this manager Delio Rossi has done quite well in the past. This could be Rossi’s final season in charge but he’s been handed the most complete squad for quite some time so has the perfect opportunity to go out with a bang.

At long last, Lazio have solved their chronic problem in goal by brining in the Argentine Juan Pablo Carrizo who is already looking like a solid choice whilst Behrami has been replaced by his Swiss team-mate Stephan Lichtsteiner. With Matuzalem offering more fluidity in midfield and Mauro Zarate a viable alternative to Tommaso Rocchi and Goran Pandev, Lazio have strengthened in every department.

Key Man: Much of Lazio’s fortunes over the past couple of years have depended on Goran Pandev and his partner up front Tommaso Rocchi and, for all the new additions, not much has changed in that respect this season.

Best bit of business: But for a farcical problem with his passport, Juan Pablo Carrizo would have been a Lazio player last season. However, a further season at River Plate under Diego Simeone – who is already being mentioned as the long term successor of Delio Rossi – and a title win has helped his development.

Keep an eye out for…Lorenzo De Silvestri. After the hype of the previous season, De Silvestri seemed to lose his way last year but the young central defender remains a huge talent with comparisons to Alessandro Nesta more than justified.

Serie B Preview: Brescia

2008-08-26T03:38:00.000-07:00

Brescia made a real hash of things last season when a side that was too talented not to go up lost their way and only made it to the semi-final of the play-offs.

Thankfully, financially Brescia are in a healthy position and as a result the only major departure has been right-back Marius Stankevicius. Otherwise they’ve sensibly held on to the host of promising players that they’ve managed to attract to the club thanks also to the efforts of their former general manager Gianluca Nani.

Nani has since gone, taking up a similar role at West Ham, but somewhat surprisingly manager Serse Cosmi has been retained. The former Perugia coach, however, knows that he can make no mistakes this time round and is boosted by the arrival of Domenico Morfeo.

Now in his thirties, Morfeo hasn’t achieved anything as much as he should have during his career thanks to a combination of a series of injuries and a difficult character. At Brescia, he is likely to play in a different role to the one that he is used to: rather than up-front he is likely to be used in a midfield position and asked to dictate play as a sort o mini-Andrea Pirlo.

Apart from Morfeo, Brescia will also be looking at striker Andrea Caracciolo who last January returned to the club where he came to prominence after bitterly disappointing experiences at Palermo and Sampdoria. If Caracciolo and Davide Possanzini can hit it off up front, then Brescia shouldn’t find too many problems in winning promotion.

Key Man: Andrea Caracciolo
Best Bit of Business: Domenico Morfeo from Parma
Key an Eye out for…German youth international midfielder Savio Nsereko

Serie A Preview: Siena

2008-08-26T00:50:00.000-07:00

The surprising departure of manager Massimo Beretta means that it is back to the drawing board for Siena. They’ve turned to Marco Giampaolo who has hardly had the best of times lately but who is promising to build on Beretta’s work.

His job is made easier by the fact that Siena haven’t sold too many of the players who helped keep them in the Serie A last year. Those who did go – Alex Manninger and Simone Loria – were key men and it will take time to see how their replacements will do.

In goal Siena will have the promising Gianluca Curci (pictured), one of the three players taken on loan from Roma, who has to prove his worth having found his path in Rome blocked by the excellent Doni. Up front they can no longer turn to club legend Enrico Chiesa (the thirty eight year old will play out his career at non-league Figline) but the arrival of Emanuele Calaio from Napoli will add solidity whilst Abdel Ghezzal was the standout player in the Serie C last term and well worth a gamble.

Key Man: He may not get too many headlines but every team needs a player with Simone Vergassola’s assurance and consistency. The thirty four year old will once again anchor Siena’s midfield.

Best bit of business: The hero of Napoli’s rise through the leagues, Emanuele Calaio was given short shrift once they got to the Serie A. The move to Siena will help revitalize a career that had stalled and provide the former youth international with the opportunity to shine.

Keep an eye out for…Fernando Forrestieri. Born in Argentina of Italian parents, the eighteen year old is slowly making a name for himself and with seventeen games last season for Siena, he is already looking as something more than simply a promising player.

Serie A Preview: Torino

2008-08-26T00:48:00.000-07:00

Last season was a huge let down for Torino who started out with the stated ambition of qualifying for Europe but ended with an unseemly scrap to avoid relegation.

That was achieved largely through the appointment of Gianni De Biasi (pictured) in his third stint at the club and who has, finally, seemingly won owner Umberto Cairo’s approval. In the past, Torino’s main failing has been the transfer market opting to over spend either on players that they don’t need or else others who simply aren’t good enough.

There are indications that this season won’t be too different. Having already secured Nicola Amoruso from Reggina they pressed ahead in moving for their long term target Rolando Bianchi. The Manchester City striker had already turned Torino down last January, opting instead to move on loan to Lazio, and his every touch was jeered by the Torino fans when the two sides met in the league.

With Alessandro Rosina at the club, not to mention Davide Di Michele, Nicola Ventola, Roberto Stellone and Elvis Abruscato, it is already looking over crowded up front.

Not the same can be said of the rest of the side with defence and midfield looking rather bare both in quality and in depth. The reliance on the ageing Eugenio Corini to build up their play also looks like a risky proposition.

Key Man: His high opinion of himself doesn’t do him any favours but goalkeeper Matteo Sereni finally came into his own last season emerging as one of the best in the league.

Best bit of business: Forget Bianchi, Torino’s best buy is his former Reggina striking partner Nicola Amoruso. His past at Juventus won’t be easily forgotten by the fans yet his experience, goals and selfless play will be fundamental.

Keep an eye out for…Ignazio Abete. Although only twenty one, Abete already has three full seasons behind him – at Napoli, Modena and Empoli on loan – and Torino fought hard to take him off AC Milan.

Serie A Preview: Reggina

2008-08-26T00:43:00.000-07:00

A side that has turned Serie A survival into an art form, Reggina are in for their fourth struggle against relegation in a row. Two years ago, their feat in staying up truly bordered on the miraculous when they managed to turn around a fifteen point penalty to finish fourteenth and then last year’s last gasp survival after a summer that had seen the heart of the side ripped out with the sale of Giacomo Tedesci, Rolando Bianchi, Pasquale Foggia and Alessandro Lucarelli as well as manager Walter Mazzari.

Finding the right man to replace Mazzari was always going to be a difficult task and Reggina tried out Massimo Ficcadenti and Renzo Ulivieri before ultimately settling for Nevio Orlandi in March. Not much was expected of Orlandi, previously coach at the club’s primavera but thanks to three consecutive 2-1 victories against fellow strugglers Catania, Parma and Empoli he managed to steer the club to safety.

As a reward, Orlandi has been retained for this season but his job hasn’t been made any easier. Nicola Amoruso, last season’s top scorer has been sold to Torino, with Bernardo Corradi brought in as a replacement, whilst Francesco Modesto has gone to Genoa.

The main plus point, however, is that otherwise the side hasn’t suffered too many changes and Orlandi can rely on the inspirational Franco Brienza and talismanic captain Francesco Cozza.

Key Man: Discarded by Palermo, Franco Brienza joined Reggina at the start of January and promptly helped kick them to life. One of the best players in the Serie A in the second half of the season, he is another of the outrageously talented forwards that seem to pop up in Southern Italy and to whom no one really pays that much attention.

Best bit of business: He might not score as many goals as Nicola Amoruso, but Reggina needed a player of Bernardo Corradi’s abilities whose main role will be a basic one of holding up the ball for Brienza and Cozza to work their magic.

Keep an eye out for…Carlos Carmona. Another summer arrival from the Chilean side O’Higgins, Carmona captained the Chilean U20 side that impressed so much at the most recent Toulon Tournament. A central midfielder of whom great things are expected, Reggina feel that they’ve found the player around whom to build their team.

Serie B Preview: AlbinoLeffe

2008-08-25T05:44:00.000-07:00

Defeat at the hands of Lecce in the play-off final brought to an end AlbinoLeffe’s dream of making it to the Serie A. In reality, however, much of the blame lied in the rash decision to sack manager Elio Giustinetti a month before the end of the season with the side in place for automatic promotion.

The wonderfully named Armando Madonna was chosen to guide the side for that final month and the club has shown faith in him for the coming campaign. Inevitably, they’ve failed to hold on to their best players with Marchetti moving to Cagliari and Marco Cellini on the verge of moving to Empoli.

As is their tradition, these have been replaced by little known players with most of their signings coming from the lower leagues as well as returning loan-ees such as Massimiliano Pesenti, scorer of 10 goals with Canavese, who has been identified as the long term replacement of Cellini.

Whilst such strategy has worked in the past the danger is that, deprived of Giustinetti’s leadership skills, the whole project crumbles and rather than fighting it out for promotion they end up struggling against relegation.

Key Man: Francesco Ruopolo (pictured)
Best Bit of Business: Simone Laner from Pro Sesto
Key an Eye out for…twenty one year old striker Massimiliano Pesenti

Serie B Preview: Livorno

2008-08-25T05:42:00.000-07:00

Having slowly sold off the club’s best players, Livorno’s relegation last term came as no surprise especially with an owner like Aldo Spinelli (pictured) who tried to replace them with other club’s cast-offs. A trick that worked once but failed dramatically last turn round.

Leonardo Acori is the man chosen to help the club pick itself up and try to get out of the Serie B. A determined and head-strong coach with an impeccable track record – he took Rimini from the Serie C2 to the Serie B in six seasons – it will be interesting to see how his relationship with the meddling Spinelli will turn out.

Goalkeeper Marco Amelia has finally gone with Palermo being his destination in a deal that has helped finance’s Livorno’s re-building job. Francesco Tavano, the Serie A’s top scorer from three seasons back, remains and up front he is partnered with Tomas Danilevicius, the talented Lithuanian striker who comes from a disappointing experience at Bologna.

Key Man: Francesco Tavano
Best Bit of Business: Tomas Danilevicius from Bologna
Keep an Eye out for…Danish midfielder Martin Bergvold

Serie B Preview: Empoli

2008-08-25T05:40:00.000-07:00

From the UEFA Cup to the Serie B in the space of a season, Empoli’s fall from grace has been dramatic. The club paid for its rash decision to get rid of Gigi Cagni midway through the season and, seeing how their form picked up once he returned, it is safe to assume that he could have helped steer them clear.

The task of taking them back up has been handed to Silvio Baldini (pictured) a manager whose reputation has been tarnished with a string of dismissals ever since leaving Empoli back in 2003.

Although last season’s best players in the form of Andrea Raggi has gone and Nicola Pozzi also on his way out, most of the squad has been retained and improved upon. Striker Francesco Lodi, scorer of twenty goals last term with Frosinone, is an excellent buy whilst at this level the talent of Ighli Vannucchi can make a huge difference.

Key Man: Ighli Vannucchi
Best Bit of Business: Francesco Lodi from Frosinone
Key an Eye out for…goalkeeper Davide Bassi

Serie B Preview: Parma

2008-08-25T05:37:00.000-07:00

Although the feeling that relegation could have been avoided had certain mistakes been avoided – particularly putting Hector Cuper in charge – it provides a good opportunity for Parma to rebuild.

As expected, Parma’s young midfield stars of Daniele Dessena and Luca Cigarini have been sold but although they will be missed, their departure has helped considerably improve the club’s financial position. Striker Cristiano Lucarelli (pictured) has promised to make up for last season’s lack of goals and for that has been rewarded with the signing of his brother Alessandro whose experience will be vital in defence.

Gigi Cagni’s appointment as manager is a very sensible one. At Empoli he had achieved minor miracles and deserved to be treated better. Handed a squad that could probably hold it’s own at a higher level, he knows that he must get promotion whilst at the same time laying the foundations for the future.

Key Man: Cristiano Lucarelli
Best Bit of Business: Leon from Genoa
Keep an Eye out for…defender Marco Rossi

Serie B Preview 2008/2009

2008-08-25T05:33:00.000-07:00

As Il Re Calcio is promising to look into all things related to Italian football, it isn't only the Serie A that will be getting our attention but also the lower leagues. And, in keeping with that position, we will also be previewing all of the sides making up the Serie B.

As with our Serie A previews, each day there will be four club previews based on their final league position last season starting from the top meaning that today we kick off by looking at the three relegated sides as well as AlbinoLeffe who finished fourth last year.

Serie A Preview: Cagliari

2008-08-25T01:28:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the club with football’s equivalent of a death-wish. Bereft of any sense of direction, motivation and ambition, Cagliari looked set for relegation when Davide Ballardini took over the club in December, by which stage they had already gone through Marco Giampaolo and Nedo Sonetti.

Rather than fulfilling what was being predicted for them, however, Ballardini managed to revitalize the side dragging them out of the relegation zone to what was ultimately a rather comfortable finish thanks to thirty two points won in the second half of the season. Such was their transformation under Ballardini that the reviled owner Massimo Cellini, who had been hinting at this desire to sell the club, announced that he had rediscovered his passion and wanted to remain in charge.

If that wasn’t bad enough, worse was to follow when Cagliari announced that they had failed to reach an agreement with Ballardini. All of which has tempered the mood at the Sant’ Elia where not even the news that striker Robert Acquafresca has been convinced to stay has been enough to raise too many hopes. Equally astonishing was the decision to let goalkeeper Marco Storari – so impressive after joining last January – move to Fiorentina.

Massimo Allegri, the man chosen to replace Ballardini, comes from a great season with Sassoulo whom he managed to lead to a historic promotion to the Serie B along with winning the Coppa Italia for the Serie C. In all probability, however, it would have been better to stay there for another season, not only to build up experience but, as many others have found out at there expense, Cellino isn’t one who lets his managers work in peace.

Key Man: When Cagliari accepted Inter’s offer for Davide Suazo it was at one condition: Robert Acquafresca (pictured) was to move in the opposite direction. It proved to be a wise choice with Acquafresca’s ten goals and fine performances in the latter part of the season being pivotal.

Best bit of business: The decision to let Storari leave for Fiorentina may have been strange, but at least Cagliari have seem to have identified a more than suitable replacement. Federico Marchetti was too good to stay in the Serie B with AlbinoLeffe and has all the makings of a top-class goalkeeper.

Keep an eye out for…Jeda. Having done so well in the Serie B with Rimini and Crotone, bigger clubs always seemed skeptical of his abilities, perhaps fearful that he wouldn’t be able to adapt to football at a higher level. Yet, upon joining Cagliari last January, the Brazilian striker immediately won over the fans with a fantastic goal against Parma. Now twenty-nine, he has the ability and trickery to create chances for Acquafresca and is ideally suited for Allegri’s offensive style of play.

Serie A Preview: Catania

2008-08-25T01:23:00.000-07:00

Their fans may make Catania one of the most reviled clubs in the Serie A but it is impossible not to like Walter Zenga (pictured). His appointment at Catania was widely ridiculed but he did a magnificent job in taking the pressure off the players and managed to keep the club up. Still people refuse to take him seriously, often focusing on his coloured past and love for all things Inter.

The latter led Zenga to come up with one of the best quotes this summer. Asked about his opinion on Inter’s new manager, he replied “what do I think of Mourinho? I don’t know: have you asked Mourinho what he thinks of Zenga?”

Behind his unassuming exterior, however, there is a hugely determined individual who wants to prove those who doubt him wrong. As expected, Catania lost Juan Vargas but they can always rely on the shrewd general director Pietro Lo Monaco to find a good deal in South America.

In that respect, they’ve gone for the Argentine duo Pablo Ledesma and Ezequiel Carboni to anchor their midfield, even though the latter made the trip via Red Bull Salzburg whilst Zenga’s contacts in Romania have led to the signing of Niculae Dica. It will be another long and hard struggle to avoid relegation, but if the new foreign players are as good as they promise to be then Catania may just about have enough to do so.

Key Man: Homegrown hero Giuseppe Mascara has taken a roundabout route to the Serie A, rather surprising given his talent. Capable of inventing chances from nothing, he is one of those players who, for some reason, no one gives to much attention to. A brilliant talent and a joy to watch.

Best bit of business: It isn’t often that managers in Italy get the players they want, at least away from the top clubs, but Zenga was determined to add Niculae Dica to his side. The striker is highly rated in Romania but his reputation so far had not extended beyond the confines of his country. Likened to Adrian Mutu, he could be Catania’s next big find.

Keep an eye out for…Michele Paolucci. Impressive at Ascoli two years back, Udinese opted against loaning him out again at the start of last season but then struggled to give him a game. Making his mark at Catania, where he will be spending the season on loan, should be easier and Paolucci has made the perfect start by scoring twice in the Coppa Italia win over Parma.

Serie A Preview: Chievo Verona

2008-08-25T01:19:00.000-07:00

Winning promotion for Chievo was nothing: winning over the Veronese fans has been their real battle ever since emerging from the lower leagues. Last season, with Hellas Verona struggling to avoid relegation for the Serie C1, what had previously been considered as unthinkable started to happen as people started to migrate to the more fashionable Chievo.

That they will offer the possibility to watch the likes of Juventus and Milan at the Bentegodi should act as a further catalyst as will their much more positive public image – Hellas are still seen as being dominated by a racist core of fans – and whilst they’re still the second club in the city, the gap is closing.

The squad that probably really was too good to be relegated two seasons ago was kept together and that laid the foundation for a fairly easy promotion from the Serie B. In true Chievo style, they’ve retained faith with those players making only minimal changes.

In the past that policy has paid off and, whilst expecting Chievo to qualify for Europe as they did under Del Neri might be too much, they should be good enough to avoid relegation.

One player who has gone (or so it seems) is the talented but disruptive Victor Obinna. The surprising arrival of Antonio Langella – who had only moved to Udinese at the start of the summer – means that technically the club is poorer but at least they’ve gotten rid of the Nigerian’s continuous whingeing.

Promotion also confirmed the talents of manager Beppe Iachini who had impressed at Vicenza and Piacenza. His inexperience at this level will count against him and his lack of the famous patentino – the necessary qualifications to be officially licensed manage in the Serie A – will count against him if things get difficult. But his job is fairly secure, despite a summer run-in with the club’s technical director, by virtue of Chievo’s eye on a long term strategy.

Key Man: Long gone the time when Arsenal were sniffing around but Sergio Pellissier is still a talented striker who makes those around him play better. Twenty-two goals in the Serie B last season provide additional proof of the Pellissier’s talent who was considered to be the most gifted striker at the club even when that comparison included Amauri.

Best Bit of Business: Having moved to Udinese at the start of the summer, apparently to replace the Liverpool bound Andrea Dossena, there is every reason to deem Antonio Langella’s subsequent move on loan to Chievo as a surprise. Good enough to play for Italy whilst at Cagliari, he enjoyed a great season at Atalanta last year and looked set to finally play for a side challenging for the top. For him, Chievo is a definite step backwards yet he’s a great choice to replace Obinna on the left hand side.

Look out for…Stefano Sorrentino. After three years spent in Greece (AEK Athens) and Spain (Recreativo Huelva), Sorrentino finally returns to Italy where he’s been asked to fill what has traditionally been Chievo’s weakest point.

Serie A Preview: Bologna

2008-08-25T01:15:00.000-07:00

Beware Americans trying to buy your club. Not a lesson that Bologna have learned from English football despite it often being held up as the example to follow but rather because of a summer long saga where the club was on the verge of being sold up to a consortium called Tag Partners.

After a number of delays it became clear that they didn’t have as much money as they were making out they had – or indeed if they had any available for this deal - so instead Alfredo Cazzola opted to sell the club to Renzo Menarini, already a significant shareholder.

The uncertainty didn’t help in building a team ready for the Serie A even though, unsurprisingly, they are likely to start the new season with eight new players in their starting eleven, a tacit acceptance that the side that made such a tough task of winning promotion last season wasn’t good enough for the Serie A. Not that the new look side has much better probabilities.

The admission that the three players brought from South America – Dyego Rocha Coelho, Diego Rodriguez and Miguel Angel Britos – were chosen from the various DVD sent to them by the players’ agents is hardly going to inspire confidence and the reliance of the veteran Francesco Antonioli in goal seems risky. Midfield, boosted by the arrivals of Gaby Mudingayi from Lazio and Sergio Volpi from Sampdoria seems solid enough but much depends on how long it takes for the new players to integrate and how good the likes of Britos and Coelho turn out to be.

Their form will also be the key for the future of boss Daniele Arrigoni (pictured). Bologna’s promotion helped salvage some of the reputation sullied by his chastening experiences at Torino, Cagliari and Livorno. Despite that promotion, however, not everyone is convinced by him and a bad start could see him go.

Key Man: For long a key element at Sampdoria, Sergio Volpi’s move to Bologna came as a surprise. His experience and leadership skills will be vital

Best Bit of Business: Although Massimo Marazzina is phenomenal at Serie B level, he’s struggled to make an impact in the top flight after breaking through at Chievo. It is why Bologna have turned to the experience of Marco Di Vaio as back-up even though he didn’t have the best of times at Genoa either.

Look out for…Marco Bernacci. Excellent at Cesena two seasons ago, he didn’t really find his feet at Mantova where he was supposed to lead the side to the Serie A. Signed by Ascoli last year, he re-discovered his form, scoring sixteen goals and convincing Bologna that he is now good enough to make the step up.

Serie A Preview: Lecce

2008-08-25T01:12:00.000-07:00

Having gotten rid of the experienced Giuseppe Papadopoulo who didn’t get along with the club’s managing director, Lecce could have done worse than Mario Berretta who has an enviable track record at Parma and Siena, whom he managed to keep in the Serie A.

Staying in the top flight is exactly what Lecce want of him despite the limited resources at the disposal of the play-off winners. Last season, Lecce had the best defence in the Serie B as well as a record number of home wins, both characteristics on which to build if they are t o avoid what, at this stage, looks like a real possibility.

Tellingly, however, it is in attack where they have focused their energies during the summer. With Elvis Abruscato returning to Torino, they went for two strikers proven at Serie B level: Daniele Cacia and Javier Ignacio Castillo. The latter is an interesting choice, having scored twenty one goals last season at Pisa after having worked his way up from amateur ranks. At thirty two, this is his big opportunity but the Argentine will have to play as he did in the first half of last season if he is to make an impact.

Key Man: The difference between promotion and an extended stay in the Serie B, Simone Tiribocchi (pictured) was undoubtedly one of the best players in the second division last year. Having scored some spectacular goals, he should start the season as first choice even though the recent arrival of Javier Castillo means that competition will be tough.

Best Bit of Business: Fabio Caserta’s decision to swap Catania for Palermo proved to be the wrong one as he struggled to find a way into the side. Lecce means a fresh start for him as he tries to rediscover the dominant performances in midfield that made him stand out two season ago.

Look out for…Daniele Cacia. Shut out at Fiorentina whom he joined last January, this talented striker now has the ideal opportunity to prove his worth after impressing so much at Piacenza.

Serie A Preview 2008/09

2008-08-25T01:06:00.000-07:00

Inter's victory over AS Roma in last night's Super Cup officially kicked off the Italian football season for 2008/09 and, starting from today, we're going to be looking at each team that will make up the Serie A.

Each day there will be four club previews based on their final league position last season starting from the bottom meaning that today we kick off by looking at the three promoted sides as well as Catania who finished fourth bottom last year.

Enjoy and keep the feedback rolling.

Benvenuti

2008-08-19T03:23:00.000-07:00

So, somehow you’ve arrived at Il Re Calcio and you’ve had a look around wondering what it is all about. That it deals with Italian football should, I hope, be quite evident. At the same time, it doesn’t exactly match up to the normal expectations from a football blog. Nor will it ever.

There will never be , for instance, match reports or transfer speculation both of which traditional football staples. Put simply, I have neither the time nor the energy to do either one with the regularity that such an exercise deserves. More than that, it is far more interesting to look at the stories that make up the texture of the Italian game, that bring it to life.

So far, Il Re Calcio has been updated fairly irregularly but that was the plan all along. As inspiration tickled me towards the end of last season, I thought it best not to pick up a job when glory was nearly in sight. From now on, posts should start appearing fairly regularly. This is the official launch or rather that’s the excuse for this introduction

Il Re Calcio, the title of this blog, means Football is King. It is taken from a chapter in the Italian translation of Vladimir Dimitrijevic’s collection of short stories about football called La Vita e’ un Pallone Rotondo – Life is a Round Ball (originally titled La Vie Est un Ballon Rond). I’ve never come across an English version of this book so here’s a translation of that chapter whose title has served as inspiration and which captures the essence of football. Hopefully, I’ve managed to do Dimitrijevic’s beautifully crafted prose and the underlying humour of the piece justice.

Football is the king of games. Why? Well, for me it is because – like dancing – it takes our bodies back to a stage that can be defined as the prehistory of our movements. In football, it is strictly forbidden – unless you play in goal, it has to be said – to use your hands or arms. In other words, that with which you normally do everything. Organs that help you achieve the maximum precision, efficiency and dexterity. You can only use your feet and legs – these undeveloped ancestors of hands and arms. So it is that, unable to go about things in the normal and natural way, you’re taking back to archaic habits. Forced into recalling a legacy with an animal instinct buried within you.

These strange limitations of your abilities don’t end here. Two of the twenty-two players are normally arbitrarily allowed to use their hands, meaning their body in its entirety. But this generous emancipation costs them dearly: they are penalized. They’re only allowed to exercise this privilege within a confined space. The other twenty players can use their hands as well but only outside the pitch, to bring the ball back into play. A sort of subtle and perverse balance that evenly spreads the obstacles, penalizing or determining the legality according to the whims of a singular form of justice. You can be offside just as much as a free kick – an honourable concept – can be assigned.

But most surprising is the ultimate aim of all of this. A space, once again: a rectangle. If possible three dimensional, given that height has its importance, but which can be done without. To draw up the goals, school children tend to use their books, they group together rocks or hammer stick into the ground. You have to take the ball from a limited space and put it in another, even smaller and clearly defined. It is essential for it to go over the line. You can be as virtuous as you like, possess all the advantages in style and strategy possible but if the ball does not go over the line then you don’t win.

In a way, football is like chess. In fact, even there you have queens and knaves, towers and horses that can transport you back to a Medieval age that is all but forgotten. But all that matters is the death of the king, the check mate. And the check mate in football is called goal. All the rest is foreplay, exhaltation, a show, just like the animal world. Just like the dances, with feathers puffed out, of birds, the colours of exotic fish and the knowingly sinuous movement of reptiles.

Nothing Super About Curtain Raiser

2008-08-04T00:38:00.001-07:00

As games go, it tends to be seen as a glorified pre-season friendly on par with the Trofeo Berlusconi (played out each year between Juventus and Milan) or one of the multitude of tin-pot trophies that are ritually handed out during August with the aim of giving the illusion that there is some sort of edge to games that ultimately mean nothing.

That the Italian Super Cup is an official game, the one that effectively kicks off the Italian season, often means very little and there have been plenty of occasions when it has been played out amid the general disinterest.

Never, however, has it been as demeaned as it has this season where first it was pimped about for potential foreign interest and then humiliated by the realization that nobody is interested.

“I’m all in favour of playing it abroad,” the Lega Calcio president Antonio Matarrese had opined in May. “There’s interest to take it overseas, and there are a number of proposals even from America. We’ve even had a proposal from China.”

Those proposals may indeed have been made, but the reality was that these were nothing more than initial feelers. Not even the normally football hungry administrators in Dubai, who were only willing to accept provided that the game was played out in January.

Matarrese presented this, in typical fashion, as some sort of revolutionary concept that would be the first step to the rehabilitation of Italian football. He conveniently overlooked that the Italian Super Cup has been played abroad three times: Washington (Milan-Torino 1993), New York (Juventus-Milan 2003) and even in Libya (Juventus-Parma 2002).

After the disappointment in last season’s European competition, this rejection serves as a further reminder of the falling standing of Italian football. The multitude of controversies, bankruptcies and crowd violence have sullied calcio’s reputation to such an extent that few outside Italian confines take it seriously any more.

In the typical blinkered vision of Italian football administrators – as those almost everywhere else, to be fair - all those problems are to be resolved not by tackling the underlying issues but by making cosmetic changes. From this season, the Serie C1 and Serie C2 will be no more. The competitions will still be held and the teams playing in them will be largely the same – once the task of sorting which clubs are financially in a position to start the season is completed – yet they will now be known as Prima Divisione and Seconda Divisione: First and Second Division.

It is a re-branding similar to the one that took place in England which, it has been decided, is the example to follow. So it is that there are name changes and plans for global expansion that mimic the plans for Game 39. There is however, one minor flaw: with nothing of real substance to back the proposals up there is no way in which they can work.

The administration of the Italian game is still a complex one that is hampered by gross inefficiency. The example of the Serie B’s television rights is typical. Up till Juventus’ and Fiorentina’s relegation in 2006, there had been an agreement with SportItalia, a digital terrestrial station. Returns weren’t anything significant but at least it meant some added revenue for the clubs.

With typical short sightedness, SportItalia was dumped on the eve of the new campaign in favour of Sky Italia which paid significantly more for that one season but subsequently had no interest in the division.

At least the Serie B has avoided re-branding. For now. Because surely soon someone will step up with the opinion that the problem in selling the rights doesn’t lie with those whose job it is to make them attractive enough for anyone to be interested but rather in the fact that it is called the Serie B. Just as the post-game handshake between all players, the rule put in place at the start of last season, was meant to put an end to crowd violence.

And so it goes on.

A Quick Round-up

2008-07-03T22:04:00.000-07:00

Now that the fuss for the disappointing showing at Euro 2008 has died down, the focus is slowly shifting towards the next Serie A season.

Juventus have been possibly the most active club signing Amauri from Palermo and Knezevic from Livorno as well as being linked to a host of other not least Xabi Alonso who has been on the 'verge' of signing for the past three weeks now.

A surprising feature of their transfer strategy has been the willingness with which they've been getting rid their young players. A year back the likes of Rafaele Palladino, Davide Lanzafame, Cristiano Paro, Domenico Criscito were being mentioned as the future of the club, now they've all been sold. Something that cannot be said of Tiago with no one apparently interested in him no matter how hard Juve try to pimp him.

Inter have been surprisingly quite, with their only notable arrival being that of Jose Mourinho. They've been linked to quite a few players - Frank Lampard and Riccardo Quaresma in particular - but haven't realy made any serious moves.

The opposite applies to AC Milan. They started off well by getting Mathieu Flamini and then were linked with Ronaldinho in Berlusconi's usual pre-election ploy. The 'deal' promptly fell through once Berlusconi was elected and since then they've been linked to a number of top level strikers only to drop their interest as soon as they are told that they're going to cost them anything more then a fiver. They have signed Marco Boriello from

AS Roma have permanently signed Mirko Vucevic along with Chelsea favourite John Arne Riise. Napoli have discovered that buying Argentines makes their fans happy so have been focusing on that, although the arrival of Cristiano Maggio will be a good one.

The summer has also been livened up by the fans' protests at Atalanta where they weren't too happy at the return of Cristian Vieri who the claim two years ago used the club to regain full fitness before going off to Fiorentina. Similar protests have been going off in Turin after the news of the club's potential interest in Inter's Dejan Stankovic.

Finally, the Lega and FIGC have agree to allow one more non-EU player (extra-comunitario) to play in the Serie A. Takes me back to the eighties when each summer there would be talk of whether clubs would be allowed any more foreigners.

Have Coaching Manual, Will Travel

2008-06-28T22:40:00.000-07:00

Food, design and culture have long been Italy’s main exports yet football coaches are climbing rapidly up that particular list. Fabio Capello in England, Giovanni Trapattoni first at Austria Salburg and then the Republic of Ireland, Luigi De Canio at QPR and Gianni de Biasi at Levante all took their coaching philosophies abroad over the past twelve months and now they’ve been joined by Roberto Landi at Livingston.

Not that his name is likely to register with too many people back home. Indeed you’re only likely to get a flicker of recognition if you mention him to a Ravenna fan, albeit one with anorak tendencies, as that is the club where Landi grew up and went on to play in goal a handful of times in the mid-seventies.

Landi’s career is certainly atypical. After Ravenna he moved on to Modena, Piacenza and Siena, always as the backup keeper, before seemingly getting the big break to play for Pisa in the Serie A. Sadly, the deal fell through: his image – long hair and rugged look typical with youths of the era – didn’t sit comfortably with those in charge of the club. So, at twenty-three, he decided to look elsewhere.

And he really meant elsewhere. He went to Vancouver Whitecaps, where he would eventually be succeeded by a certain Bruce Grobbelaar, and followed that with stints in Chicago and even South Africa at Kaizer Chiefs. By the time he returned in America in 1983 to play for NASL legends New York Cosmos, soccer’s boom as well as the money had long since dried away. Yet, Landi remained, not only playing but also coaching goalkeepers at the club’s academy.

He eventually returned to Italy to play for semi-professional outfits like Cervia (later to achieve notoriety of sorts as the side at the centre of a football themed reality show on Italian television) and Marciano before quitting at 30. The links with America, however, remained. He was retained as consultant with the NCAA and traveled the country doing conferences. At the 1990 and 1994 World Cups he was even the national team’s goalkeeping coach. Yet that was before the MLS when there was little money doing the rounds and coaching there on a permanent basis impossible.

So he turned to Eastern Europe that was at the time opening up to foreign influences and eager to learn from foreign coaches. An able agent in Ivan Benes got him the Georgian U21 national team job – where he was in charge of a side containing Kakha Kaladze and Shota Arveladze - which was followed by a similar post in Lithuania. Then came the call from Romania.

At the time, Landi was mulling over the offer to manage Ghana (where another Italian, Roberto Dossena, had been coach) when Walter Zenga, the former manager of National Bucharest, was asked by the club’s owner whether he knew of a good coach who could speak fluent English. Zenga remembered about Landi and put him in touch. The job was soon his and he promptly settled in, leading the side to a title challenge before quitting, officially for personal reasons but more likely because of the internal politics that characterized the club.

In Romania he returned soon afterwards when he briefly took charge of FC Soporon having been at the head of the Qatar U21 side in between.

All the while, he pined for a job at home, something that for all his experience was still practically impossible: no one knew who he was. Yet, whilst Italian clubs continued to shy away, he had made his mark on Angelo Massone and when the Roman lawyer bought Livingston FC, he quickly announced that Landi would be taking over.

His knowledge of Eastern European and world football, ability to work with young players, huge contacts book – he turned to Goerge Weah and Abedi Pele for advice when he was offered the Ghana job – and fluency with the English language made him almost too perfect for a job in Britain.

Landi won’t be the first Italian to coach in Scotland – Ivano Bonetti bet him to that accolade – but surely no one has ever come to the country with such a varied CV. Just as there can’t be many coaches who can boast travelling to the Ukraine to learn from Valeri Lobanovsky or sitting through Luis Van Gaal’s training sessions in order to review the Dutch master’s methods.

Their fluid styles of play have inevitably made their mark on him yet Landi remains a pragmatist. Initially, his teams will play with in a basic 4-4-2 formation just as he has always done upon taking over a new team. It is the most easily understood system and the most practical one when you’re still learning about the abilities of your players. That, however, will evolve as he gets to know his team and the level of football they’re playing in.

That is the sort of tactical nous and approach that has made Italian coaches such a sought after commodity. Landi might not enjoy the same reputation as Capello and Trapattoni, but perhaps that is what makes him all the more appropriate for a club like Livington.

Win and Hope For Donadoni

2008-06-17T02:10:00.000-07:00

Win or bust. That is what is facing Italy tonight, putting aside that it could be win AND bust if results elsewhere don’t go their way. That too is the reality for Roberto Donadoni: contract or not, if Italy go out then so too would the national coach.

For many, that would be the predictable conclusion of a rushed decision. Prior to taking the Italy job, Donadoni’s only previous experience was at Livorno where he was famously sacked by the Aldo Spinelli, the club’s president, on national television.
In truth, his track record there wasn’t at all negative – Livorno were heading for UEFA Cup qualification when he was dismissed – yet not enough to suggest that he could take over the national team especially with the added pressure of guiding the world champions weighing him down.

It was and remains a surprise decision, particularly as there were other much more qualified candidates like Fabio Capello and Carlo Ancelotti who would have willingly taken the job. Yet it was also the peak of the calciopoli scandal at a point where no one knew who was in charge of Italian football following a series of resignations and dismissals.

Donadoni has never managed to shake off that impression about him being in the job by virtue of someone failing to really tackle the issue. His lack of popularity was reflected in the Italian federation’s reluctance into renewing his contract, apparently happy to go into a major championship with a coach whose future was undecided.

To his credit, Donadoni has grown into the role. Having been outclassed by France in his first game of qualification, he has slowly been shaping the side on his own mentality and so as to handle the loss through retirement of two key players like Francesco Totti and Alessandro Nesta.

By the end of qualifications, it was as if the Italy of old was back: determined, clinical and capable of playing attractive football. That rumours of an apparent interest by Milan to make him their manager started to surface hinted that Donadoni might be starting to win people over, not to mention finally got him a contract renewal.

Then came Holland and the biggest defeat in a major championship for almost forty years that was followed by an unimpressive draw with Romania. The critics started crawling back out, even if Donadoni was at least cut some slack thanks to the erroneous referee decisions – perceived or not – as well as the injury to Fabio Cannavaro that has exposed the lack of alternatives at the back.

Not that Donadoni is blameless. His decision – or deferral thereof - to appoint two captains following the injury to Cannavaro sent out the wrong message, one whereby he was either too undecided or else incapable of managing his players to decide between Del Piero and Buffon.
It was the same after the opening game defeat when he suddenly swept away all that had been prepared in the run up to the championships and opted to bring in five new players. Some of these were undoubtedly through personal choice or rethinking but there was also the feeling that media pressure had played a role, and an important one, in his decisions.

Even so, Donadoni appears uncertain about his best formation. Antonio Cassano and Simone Perrotta could play just behind Luca Toni up front tonight meaning more changes that feel too much like being experimental to really be of much comfort.

In this respect, the contrast with Marcello Lippi couldn’t be more marked. True, Lippi frequently changed his sides but that was to give them different tactical inflections something that proved to be crucial in the World Cup. He knew how to face each team and which players suited which opponent.

Donadoni, on the other hand, seems to be making changes in hope rather than belief. Just as talk of hope has been making the headlines for the past days, with talk of whether Holland will be putting much of a fight against Romania. Because, ultimately, whatever Donadoni and his players do today could prove to be futile.

Just like his best efforts to convince people of his worth.

In Search of a Perfect Ending

2008-06-11T01:51:00.000-07:00

'Meiu poci che nisu'. Better a few then none.

Those are the words on a banner, written in the Bergamasco dialect, that has been touring Italy with Albinoleffe this season and it couldn't be any other way. With an average home attendance of barely 2,400 - only a dozen or so travel with the team for away games - they are by far the smallest club in the Serie B. Smaller even then Chievo Verona.

Yet, like Chievo, they too could be playing in the Serie A next season. Seperating them are 180 minutes against Lecce in the Serie B play-off which, if successful, would signal the biggest fairy tale in Italian football since, well, Chievo's first promotion.

Albinoleffe was formed just ten years ago through the merger of two local rivals in the form of Albinese and Leffe. It wasn't exactly a happy marriage - Leffe fans felt that it was a degrading move for a club that had spent most of the nineties in the Serie C1 - yet with the arrival of coach Elio Gustinetti feelings quickly changed.

With a policy strictly in favour of local players largely from Bergamo and the surroundings, they got promotion to the Serie B and surprisingly stayed there. Gustinetti left and in his place came Emiliano Mondonico who last season led the club to their best ever season. When Mondonico left there was only ever going to be one candidate to take over: Gustinetti.

And how he took over, making slight tactical alterations to a side that played very attractive football but which made them more efficient. Coupled with the explosion of striker Marco Chiellini and they raced to the top of the division.

Which is where they've stayed ever since even if a late string of negative results cost them the possibility of direct promotion. Those results also cost Gustinetti his job, a surprise decision with a game to go, and he was replaced by the former youth team chief Armando Madonna who is also the father of current midfielder Nicola.

It was a surprise decision but not one that has really had a negative impact. Against Brescia in the semi-final they showed their character to recover from an unjust 1-0 away defeat in which Chiellini was wrongly sent-off. It is the sort of character show that they must show against Lecce to conclude their fairy tale in the best possible manner.

Del Piero's Rebirth

2008-06-09T07:38:00.000-07:00

If Alessandro Del Piero was looking for closure then there could have barely hoped for a better stage for the European Championships: it was here that his career first went into a freefall.

It is the 2nd of July, 2000 and Italy are taking on World Champions France in the final of the European Championships. The French are firm favourites whilst Dino Zoff’s azzurri can hardly believe their luck in being there. In the semi-final they had somehow overcome Holland who had missed two penalties in normal time before going on to, fittingly, lose the penalty kick-off.
Yet it was the Italians who went ahead and looked to be heading for a win. Then Sylvain Wiltord popped up with a dramatic final minute goal to send the game into extra-time and then David Trezeguet did likewise to win it by scoring the golden goal.

Many back in Italy blamed Del Piero for that defeat. Two marvelous chances to score the second goal and kill off the game had fallen at his feet. Del Piero had missed them both.

By that time he had long since stopped being Italy’s golden boy. If anything, he had become a burden, a player retained by both Juventus and Italy because of his past achievement rather than his current contribution. A serious injury suffered two years earlier had apparently killed off whatever special talent there had been.

Not everyone, however, was willing to discard Del Piero. Not only Dino Zoff but also Carlo Ancelotti and Marcelo Lippi had kept faith in him as well as the Juventus fans. Most stayed by his side when Fabio Capello rode in from Roma and suddenly started treating Del Piero as a glorified squad player.

Del Piero, in turn, remained faithful to Juventus when things suddenly and dramatically went bad. He was one of the few star players who immediately confirmed that he would stay with them even in the Serie B and fittingly it was during that season that his reputation started to resurface.

Twenty one goals in a majestic campaign where Juventus breezed through the division added another title to his name. Yet if the sight of Del Piero doing well in the Serie B had been expected, his sudden return to form in the Serie A wasn’t. Many have argued that 2007-08 was the best of his career, with his twenty-one goals marking him out as the league’s top scorer and a main reason for Juventus’ claiming third spot in the league.

Those goals and his form saw him regain his place in the national squad. To a degree, public pressure saw to that as Donadoni has never seemed a big fan of his. He too, however, ultimately realized the importance of having someone like Del Piero not only because of his undoubted footballing merits but also because omitting him might have burdened the team with too much un-needed media pressure.

That, however, is as far as he has gone. The starting slot that many felt should belong to Del Piero will instead go to Uinese’s Antonio de Natale who at least made life easy for Donadoni by scoring a brace in the final friendly against Belgium. Even if Donadoni himself didn’t seem to eager to facilitate things by naming Del Piero as captain after the injury to Fabio Cannavaro. For a brief instant, that decision caused a flurry of rumours that he would be starting the game before it transpired that the captaincy had only passed to Del Piero because he was the senior member in the squad. On the pitch against Holland, the captain will be Gigi Buffon.

Yet for Del Piero the opportunity remains there. If anything it is even better for he is left with the prospect of changing the direction of games as a substitute and finally exorcise the demons that have been harrying himself for eight long years.

Life in Midfield

2008-06-07T01:02:00.000-07:00

There was a time when I was well into the melancholic rock of Luciano Ligabue. Not so much into him any more but, inspired by the posting on the excellent Any Major Dude With Half a Heart, and seeing that (thankfully) the tradition of having an official song hasn't yet reached Italy I've decided to do a post about his Una Vita Da Mediano (roughly translated Life as a Defensive Midfielder / Midfield Workhorse) song on the eve of Euro 2008.

The song is about all those who do the dirty work that doesn't get noticed but which is vital for others to shine. I like it partly because I feel like one myself and partly as my favourite players have always been that type.

Ligabue is, of course, one of the many famous Inter fans (although in his case the passion is genuine) and even puts in a mention to Gigi Oriali, the mediano in the Grande Inter side of the sixties and seventies. Un Vita Da Mediano was also the title of Ligabue's autobiography.

I'm sure that I can't do the song much credit but here's my attempt at translating the lyrics.

winning balls
born without good feet
working on your lungs
a life in midfield
with a fixed role
and to cover a certain area
and giving your all
always there
in the middle
as long as you've got you stay there
a life in midfield
one of those who don't score much
who the ball
must give to those
who can conclude
life in midfield
seeing that nature
didn't give you
neither the speed nor the finish
of the number ten what a pity
there
always there
in the middle
as long as you've got you stay there
stay there
always there
in the middle
as long as you've got
as long as you've got
stay there
life in midfield
as one who
gets burnt out quickly
because when you've given a lot
you've got to make way
workin like Oriali
years of work and hits
and maybe win the World Cup
there
always there
in the middle
there
always there
in the middle
as long as you've got you stay there
stay there
always there
in the middle
as long as you've got
as long as you've got
stay there

And here's the original text
recuperar palloni
nato senza i piedi buoni
lavorare sui polmoni
una vita da mediano
con dei compiti precisi
a coprire certe zone
a giocare generosi
sempre li'
li' nel mezzo
finche' ce n'hai stai li'
una vita da mediano
da chi segna sempre poco
che il pallone
devi darlo a chi
finalizza il gioco
una vita da mediano
che natura
non ti ha dato
ne' lo spunto della punta
ne' del dieci che peccato
li'
sempre li'
li' nel mezzo
finche' ce n'hai stai li'
stai li'
sempre li'
li' nel mezzo
finche' ce n'hai
finche' ce n'hai
stai li'
una vita da mediano
da uno che
si brucia presto
perche' quando hai dato troppo
devi andare e fare posto
una vita da mediano
lavorando come Oriali
anni di fatiche e botte
e vinci casomai i mondiali
li'
sempre li'
li' nel mezzo
finche' ce n'hai stai li'
stai li'
sempre li'
li' nel mezzo
finche' ce n'hai
finche' ce n'hai
stai li'

And, finally, here's the song itself:

Death of a Forgotten Legend

2008-05-28T22:44:00.000-07:00

History tends to deal exclusively with the successful. They are often the ones given prominence with the rest being relegated to mere footnotes irrespective of how vital their contribution. It is only by looking at the human element behind every story that real heroes start to emerge.

The news of Paulo Amaral’s death got very little mention in Brazil and almost none at all in Italy. Yet he played a crucial role in both countries’ footballing history.

Officially, Amaral was called in to help in the physical preparation of the two-time World Cup winning Brazilian teams of 1958 and 1962. Qualified in physical education and a huge athletics’ enthusiast, his methods were common practice in his favourite sport but nothing short of revolutionary in the football world of the 1950s. where he had initially been invited to work by Pirillo at Botofogo in 1957.

It was at Botofogo, upon the request of coach Pirillo, that he started out in 1957 but his popularity soon spread out. A year later he made his way to Sweden with the national team where Pele and many of the side’s young players quickly became fans of his methods.

Unofficially, the rumour is that it wasn’t simply the players’ bodies that he took care of: Amaral is said to have been the one who prepared the team tactically even if the coaches of the sides were Vicente Feola and Aimoré Moreira.

Whatever the truth, in 1962 he did take up a managerial role at Juventus where he had been chosen by the then head of Fiat, Vittore Catella. It wasn’t a popular appointment and Amaral was massacred by the critics yet in his outlook on how the game should be played there was Amaral’s main redeeming feature.

The Brazilian was one of the pioneers of zonal marking, and wanted his teams to press and play entertaining football, a philosophy that went against that of the most successful Italian teams of the era, the catenaccio obsessed Inter side of Helenio Herrera and the AC Milan one of Nereo Rocco.

And he almost succeeded. Up till the end of his first season his technically inferior side fought hard to win the title, pulled forward by the talent of Omar Sivori – with whom Amaral worked his magic and got motivated enough to train hard – and the raw power of Brazilian striker Miranda. Yet they didn’t make it, ultimately falling away to finish third.

That was to be as good as it got for him. A year later he was sacked and, after an unsuccessful year with Genoa, he was off to Porto before returning home to Brazil.

Thirty years later, another man tried his luck with a similar system to that adopted by Amaral. His name was Arrigo Sacchi and, having been considerably more successful, he has gone down as one of the games visionary. Amaral, on the other hand, will have to make do with the tag of the Physical Education teacher who went on to coach Juventus, a footnote in the history of the game for all apart from those willing to look closer.

Paulo Amaral: 1924 - 2008

Andrea Dossena: Local Boy Done (Surprisingly) Good

2008-05-25T08:00:00.000-07:00

Verona fans still can’t believe it. Not that their team is in the Serie C1 – although there is incredulity there as well – but rather that Andrea Dossena has become so good.

Often when a local player, particularly one who had come through the ranks to establish himself in the first team, gets to move on this is coupled by expressions of sadness and disappointment. Not for Dossena, however for whom few tears shed. The over-riding feeling was the he simply wasn’t that good.

Of course, the same was said when Massimo Oddo left Verona for Lazio. And when Marco Cassetti moved to Roma. Yet both have gone on to establish themselves among the top players in the Serie A, both have played for Italy and, in Oddo’s case, even gone on to win the Champions League.

Dossena has done the same albeit in a more roundabout manner. His move to Treviso was triggered by the small club’s surprise promotion to the Serie A a tavolino and their desperate attempt to find affordable players irrespective of ability.

With such a strategy, a return to the Serie B was inevitable yet they did strike it lucky with Dossena. He did enough to catch Udinese’s attention who saw in him the ideal replacement for the retiring Vincent Candela.

It was a surprise choice but, as often with Udinese, also the correct one. Given confidence from the start, he has slowly emerged as one of the left-backs in the league.

Such was his progression that last December came his first appearance in an Italy shirt that was soon followed by speculation linking him to a move to Juventus. Many had likened him to Gianluca Zambrotta, the World Cup winning defender, for his strength, ease with which he moves forward and defensive capabilities.

Realistically, he’s not at that level yet but he has improved massively over the space of the past three yeas and gives impression of being a very intelligent defender. He’s shown great tactical flexibility, performing equally as well within a traditional 4-4-2 formation and in a more attack oriented 4-3-3.

Tellingly, however, it is in the latter system – the one preferred by current Udinese coach Pasquale Marino – that he has done best. By his own admission, the freedom to press forward suits him better even if defensively very little changes. It has certainly placed him more in the spotlight: apart from Juan Vargas there arguably wasn’t a better left-back in the Serie A last season.

Much to the continued amazement of Verona fans.

Inter’s Real Saviour

2008-05-20T03:37:00.001-07:00

The headlines were, inevitably, all about Zlatan Ibrahimovic. His two goals, scored after coming on as a substitute having spent the past two months recovering from an injury, were the ones that gave Inter the league title. They also made him the obvious centre of attention of a side that had limped across the finishing line but one that could finally celebrate being the Italian champions.

His was a true Roy of Rovers ending to the season but it is impossibly hard to warm to Ibrahimovic who seems as arrogant off the pitch as he gives the impression of being on it. When things aren’t going his way, he often seems like a petulant little boy who doesn’t want to keep on playing. Yet he is also a great talent, one whose early season form paved the way for Inter’s sixteenth title just as much as he last day double.

Despite his crucial contribution, however, Ibrahimovic is far from being Inter’s best player this season. That honour falls to Julio Cesar, their grossly undervalued goalkeeper.

While most of his team-mates’ form has fluctuated throughout the season, Cesar has been immaculately consistent, often keeping them in games where they would have otherwise been buried. He seems to be the antithesis of the typical Inter player: consistent, likeable and came relatively cheap.

He is also the exception to the unwritten at Inter rule which dictates that the more famous players have to play ahead of the rest. Keeping goal before Cesar was Francesco Toldo, a ‘keeper still living off the reputation he had made for himself while playing for Italy at the 2000 European championships.

Inter fans had long since lost their patience with him, blaming his frequent inability to maintain concentration as one of the prime reasons for their failure to win anything. Yet not even they would have replaced with an unknown keeper. A Brazilian one to boot.

Indeed, Cesar could have easily been marginalised after a shaky beginning to his Inter career yet they persisted with him – again, untypical Inter behaviour – and they have been well rewarded. Apart from Buffon there is no better goalkeeper in the Serie A – indeed it is debateable whether the Italian number one has been better this season - with his reflexes and agility more than making up for his lack of height.

A tremendous block on Stefano Morrone, left unmarked at a corner, was his main contribution on the final day of the season but it was an incredibly important save: had Parma scored with the game tied at 0-0 and it is doubtful whether Inter would have recovered. Cesar was there, dependable as ever and ready to do his utmost for his club.

It has been the same all season long. Saves don’t make headlines and often neither do goalkeepers. Ibrahimovic’s impact on the game will remain as part of Inter’s folklore while Cesar’s save was lucky to make it into the game’s television highlights.

It would be criminal if the same were to apply to their respective contributions over the season.

Chiellini Starting To Convince

2008-05-09T22:15:00.000-07:00

Any examination of Juventus’ season and any attempt to identify the best players on their return to the Serie A has to include Giorgio Chiellini. An obvious choice now, but not so last summer when Juventus were clearly tempted by Manchester City’s bid for the player.

It was only the coaching staff’s dogged insistence to hold on to the player that kept him at the club. Many wanted to get rid of him, not least because of his public criticism of the club and insistence that he should be given a better deal.

His outburst further soured an already strained relationship. The Juventini are still suspicious of the player who first made a name for himself at the reviled Fiorentina and then expressed his disinclination at the prospect of moving to Turin. Not even his acceptance to go down to the Serie B has been enough to rid him of their scepticism.

This past season should have softened their feelings. First utilised in the centre of defence – amid much derision – with any real conviction by Didier Deschamps last year, this season he fell back into that position by chance.

Domenico Criscitto had been earmarked for that role but the young defender, so impressive the previous season in the Serie B, abysmally failed to get to grips with the better quality of strikers he was being asked to mark and the subsequent injury to Jorge Andrade set Claudio Ranieri on the way of establishing an unlikely couple in defence formed by Chiellini and the previously unwanted Nicola Legrotaglie.

Now both are looking to force themselves into the national team even if for Chiellini that is proving to be surprisingly difficult having once again to overcome scepticism, even if of a different form.

Chiellini’s fault seems to be his main strength. A defender that is often described as ‘old fashioned’ in that he relies primarily on strength and physicality, he has effectively man marked the best strikers in the Serie A. Yet all that is overlooked under the criticism of his inability to set the pace from the back

It is why he could miss out on the European championships. The alternatives for Donadoni seem to include Andrea Barzaglia who has had a season of ups – few – and downs – many – at Palermo or Cristiano Panucci who is appreciated for his ability to play in more roles than one across the defensive line.

Neither one of whom seems to be a better option yet both have their supporters and have the plus point of being more fashionable. For now Chiellini could have to make do with ‘just’ a new contract that a year later Juventus have finally chosen to offer him.

The Torino Issue

2008-05-06T04:23:00.001-07:00

He had been thinking about it for months but it was only the 3-0 defeat at Genoa and the subsequent fan protests that finally pushed Urbano Cairo into sacking Walter Novellino from Torino manager. Even after he’d already been in touch with Gianni De Biasi, the man he had already sent away twice before but much loved by the fans, he still harboured hope of reversing the situation. When more than a thousand fans turned up to protest at the club’s training grounds, however, he knew that there was no turning back.

Till the end, Novellino didn’t want to give up. Just as Cairo was making his mind up, he was meeting a couple of Ultras’, determined not to give in to their accusations. “As long as I’m manager I make the decisions,” he told them. Not for long, however.

Last Sunday, Torino won for the first time since Gigi de Biasi took over to ease their worries. In reality, much of that win was due to Napoli’s lack of motivation and inability to get going rather than any real merit of the new manager. Not that it is too surprising given that he has to work with a squad that he didn’t build.

Yet, the argument could apply just as well to Novellino who found himself working with a lopsided squad that is a result of Cairo’s erratic transfer policies. Did Torino need to spend that much on Di Michele and Recoba? Of course not, especially with a talent like Rosina already at the club. And how can it be that a club builds a squad of eight strikers (count ‘em: Stellone, Ventola, Bjelanovic, Di Michele, Recoba, Rosina, Oguro and Malonga) yet fail to have one that can find the net consistently.

Nor was this a squad built in the manager’s image. Novellino’s tactics are pretty straight forward with a British 4-4-2, one where there are defensive full-backs and two physical wingers, a central midfield pairing of a defensive and an offensive minded players, as well as a little and large duo up front.

Of this he was given very little and instead he found himself working with players who look good on paper but don’t fit into his strategies. Typical are the examples of Grella and Corini, two players whose talent is undoubted yet who both have done best when they play in a three man central midfield.

Novellino still gave it a go. He himself tried to change and dropped the 4-4-2 system that he favours so much. Yet for his troubles the former Torino player, the man who last summer looked like the right man at the right time found himself criticized for constantly changing his line-up and tactics with little weighting given to the injuries that he constantly seemed to be battling.

De Biasi has found the answer in a 4-2-3-1 formation that looks better suited to the players that he has. A simple solution that gives further rise to the question of whether Torino had really backed Novellino as much as they should

What Udinese Do Best

2008-04-25T01:37:00.000-07:00

It is what Udinese do best. Few clubs are as capable at spotting players, fewer still have the patience to allow them to develop.

Rather than being a limitation, the inability to challenge the top clubs as dictated by the club’s financial reality has been transformed into one of Udinese’s strengths. There is no drama every time a player feels the need to leave but rather the acceptance that it is part of the club’s cycle of life, a necessity that allows the club to progress and keep on bringing players through.

This year’s stars weren’t exactly unknowns. Fabio Quagliarella had already made a name for himself last season with Sampdoria, a reputation further enhanced with a brilliant debut goal for Italy. Besides him up front Udinese have another part-time Italy striker in Toto Di Natale, a player who has finally found maturity and continuity.

It could, however, be argued that the two strikers have been getting so much freedom to express themselves because of the untiring work of midfielder Gokhan Inler. And he is someone to have seemingly come from nowhere.

For the rest of the world, Inler looked set to become a mere squad player when he was signed last summer from FC Zurich. Instead he quietly slotted into the role vacated by Sulley Muntari bringing to the side the ruthless efficiency of his predecessor without the Ghanaian’s votalitly. Because that is how Udinese work: they sold Muntari for €9 million and got Inler for just €1 million yet their overall play has improved.

Even by their standards, however, Inler has been quite a find. After a splendid goal and game against Fiorentina, the Gazzetta Dello Sport was moved to comment “he was the best player on the pitch, another invention of patron Pozzo’s club, that Gokhan Inler bought for a piece of bread and now valued in millions.”

“I didn’t know much about him,” says coach Pasquale Marino, “but after two days with him in pre-season I realized that he really had something to offer.”

This is exactly what Inler has done with the inevitable result that bigger clubs have started circling over him with Inter, Liverpool and Barcelona all being mentioned as potential suitors. Sooner or later an irresistible offer will come through, one that is deemed to be enough and Inler will be on his way pushing the club to find someone to replace him

Then again, that is what Udinese do better than anyone else.

Is This Really The Future for AC Milan?

2008-04-17T00:27:00.000-07:00

Election time in Italy is a pretty tense period. Walls are plastered with candidates’ posters promising a better future, newspapers get filled with equally empty promises and television shows are brimming with politicians bickering over everything.

Yet there’s always time for football. Just ask Silvio Berlusconi who was first seen talking with Ronaldinho’s agent (after a television crew had been ‘surprisingly’ tipped off that this meeting was taking place) and then used the biggest political show on the eve of the election to admit that the deal to sign up the Brazilian was practically done.

Then again Berlusconi is famous for his ability to knit football within his political agenda. This is after all the man who famously used a popular football chant – Forza Italia – as his political party’s name. His speeches are also often peppered with football speak with talk of a ‘winning team’ and ‘playing at home’.

Much more subtle has been his zeal so that Milan projects certain values. It is why winning the Champions League has become so important for the club (apart from the obvious financial gains) as it projects an image of an Italian side being successful in Europe. The political projection of this for Berlusconi this is that he can make Italy important again in a world context.

Above all, Berlusconi wants Milan to win with style and class. Not for him success achieved through dogged defensiveness. It is why Ronaldinho is so important for Berlusconi. The Brazilian embodies flair and creativity, which are exactly the values that Berlusconi wants the Italians to associate with him.

The Andriy Shevchenko deal, another one mentioned publicly by Berlusconi during his political campaign, is just as loaded. When the Ukranian left for Chelsea, it was against the club’s wishes and there was a lot of resentment against him. Adriano Galliani went as far as publicly stating that he wasn’t welcome back.

All of which made Berlusconi’s late admission that there was always space for Sheva a surprising one until you remember that Berlusconi has twice been Italy’s prime minister. The implication to the voters: if Berlusconi was man enough to forgive and welcome back someone like Shevchenko, why shouldn’t you give Berlusconi another chance at running the country?

The ploy worked. Even though it is difficult to evaluate what sort of effect they may have had, football has often been Berlusconi’s trump card.

Such considerations, however, hardly lend themselves to team building much less the total overhaul which is what Milan need. An ageing striker and another with little motivation to train certainly won’t solve their problems, not even if they’re followed by another not-so-young addition in the form of Gianluca Zambrotta who has hardly been spectacular for Barcelona. But again, bringing Zambrotta back to Italy is another move that looks good for a country that is suffering from the hemorrhage of its finest minds.

This transfer strategy isn’t going well with Milan’s ultras who, for the first time in over two decades are showing their discontent with Berlusconi. His reticence to spend in the past saw Milan miss out on Gianluigi Buffon, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Amauri. These misses may have been forgiven but not forgotten.

It will take much more than the names currently being mentioned to ensure that.

Recommended Viewing

2008-04-16T08:42:00.000-07:00

There's been a surge in visitors lately which is largely thanks to a link in one of the pieces on http://www.footballitaliano.tv/. I must admit that I didn't know about the existence of this site but will be logging in regularly (and not simply to look at Laura Esposto).

Talking of beauties, one of my favourite television channels is the free-to-air digital station Sportitalia. For those of you not lucky enough to live near Italy, they recently started broadcasting over the internet on their site. Even if you don't understand Italian you're sure to appreciate their highlights shows on the Serie A and Serie B as well as those on Dutch, Argentinian and Brazilian football.

Dealer Nani Will Fit In Perfectly With West Ham Culture

2008-03-17T01:00:00.000-07:00

For a club that has always prided itself for the development of its own players, the move by West Ham to appoint Gianluca Nani as director of football might seem a worrying break from tradition. Given that the club’s most memorable moments over the past fifteen years came under the guidance of Harry Redknapp and his unquenchable itch for transfers that helped push them forward, however, it isn’t an appointment that will bring about a complete change from its more recent traditions.

Nani is a much smoother operator than Redknapp yet he shares with him many talents. Few across Europe know football better than Gianluca Nani. Or, rather, few can spot talent better than he does.

This is the man who believed in Luca Toni when the rest of Italian football thought the player too cumbersome and ungraceful to progress beyond the Serie B. It was Nani who bought Marek Hamsik for ₤300,000 a figure which increased ten fold when Brescia came to sell him to Napoli last summer. And he was the one to coax Roberto Baggio into ending his career with the club.

The current Brescia side is a living tribute to the man. There’s Emiliano Viviano, the goalkeeper taken from Fiorentina following their bankruptcy and who is developing into the best of his generation, or someone like Robert Fezcesin (pictured) who was brought in from Sopron and has rapidly developed into one of the better strikers around, debuting and scoring for Hungary against Italy.

There are players also like Marius Stankevicius, the Lithuanian international spotted at Ekranes and who for some reason has been constantly overlooked by bigger clubs despite being a fine defender.

Indeed, Nani seems to be everywhere. Adam Vass was playing his career away at Stoke City’s reserves, barely getting a look in when Brescia approached him. The eighteen year old agreed to move and within months he was bossing his way around the Serie B, attracting the interest of a host of top-flight clubs.

It is that special kind of intuition that West Ham will be getting in Nani. Given the failure of most of last summer’s transfers, there’s every reason to be relieved.

Bubbling Under

2008-03-13T01:45:00.000-07:00

Of all the players new to the Serie A, few have done much better than Napoli’s Marek Hamsik. Creative, hard working and with an eye for goal, he is the brain in Napoli’s midfield, showing maturity far beyond his years.

None of this will surprise those who followed Hamsik’s rise at Brescia where he made his debut at just years and last season, even with Juventus in the same division, he was one of the best players in the Serie B.

Even so, for someone coming from an English background it might seem strange that Napoli placed so much faith in a player as yet untest

Traditionally the Serie B is seen as the testing ground for young players, which why so many are sent there for season long loans. Demetrio Albertini (Padova), Bruno Conti (Genoa) and Alberto Aquilani (Triestina) all went to the Serie B per farsi le osse to build them up.

One of the most prominent players this season has been Alessio Cerci (pictured) who will be returning to Roma next season more than ready to replace Ludovic Giuly. It is hard for someone to emerge at Roma when they’re being compared to Francesco Totti. At Pisa he has been lucky find in Gian Piero Ventura a manager confident enough to play with three strikers up front as well as wise enough to play Cerci on the right wing where he has really grown into the role.

Another of AS Roma’s hopefuls is Stefano Okaka who became the youngest Italian player ever to play in a European competition when he came on in a UEFA Cup tie against Aris Salonika. Now eighteen, he moved to Modena at the start of the season and has continued his progression there, hinting that Luciano Spalletti will have even more of a headache in the future when it comes to choosing which strikers to leave out.

It isn’t simply Mario Balotelli who is coming out of Inter’s youth set-up. Treviso’s manager Beppe Pillon has been changing his defence all season but one constant has been Leonardo Bonucci despite him being just nineteen years old. Bonucci won the Primavera league title with Inter and has since played for the Serie B’s Under 21 side.

Francesco Cosenza spent last season at Taranto and the right back got a call up for the Under 20 side of the Serie C. He had hoped to be retained by Reggina in the Serie A but instead was instead sent to Ravenna where he has been playing excellently in the centre of defence.

A player who hasn’t come from the Serie A is Brescia’s Hungarian striker Robert Feczesin (pictured). The 22 year-old striker was spotted playing for his country’s U21 side and has since gone on to play for the senior side, even scoring once in a friendly win against Italy.

Also at Brescia is the Lithuanian defender Marius Stankevicius who is usually played in the centre of defence even though that is probably the place where he least excels. Probably ready to play in the Champions League: it might seem exaggerated but it isn’t.

The third player at Brescia is 21 year old keeper Emiliano Viviano. In a role where Italy have traditionally always had world class talent in abundance, they’re struggling at the moment. Viviano is doing well but he will have to learn from the errors of other promising keepers who have failed to develop as they should.

Bari’s season has been far from ideal but on player who has played consistently well is goalkeeper and captain Jean Francois Gillet. He would probably be playing at a higher level if he was taller but he has both the personality and the reflexes to play for a top side.

Life on the Counterattack

2008-03-07T00:27:00.001-08:00

For a few glorious days in 1990, Pisa was at the centre of Italian football. Under the guidance of the charismatic and intense president Romeo Anconetani, the newly promoted side stormed to the top of the Serie A thanks to the goals of local hero Lamberto Piovanelli.

The side included two young Argentines, Diego Simeone from River Plate and Jose Antonio Chamot from Velez Sarsfield, making their way into the European game. It soon turned nasty for Pisa – they would eventually be relegated at the end of the season, with the long term injury to Piovanelli hitting them hard – but both of their imports were destined for greater things.

That was Pisa’s last season in the Serie A. Another relegation to the Serie C1 followed two years later and soon afterward the ignominy of bankruptcy. A new club was formed in 1995 but, unlike other clubs - Fiorentina, Napoli and Bologn - to have gone down this route, the road back is tortuous.

Then, unexpectedly, came their revival. Last year’s promotion to the Serie B has been followed by another excellent season that has brought with it the unexpected hope of making it back to the Serie A.

The star of this side is just as unlikely. With nineteen goals so far, Javier Ignacio Castillo heads the top scorers’ list of the Serie B and is finally within touching distance of playing at a level for so long denied to him.

Castillo arrived in Italy in the summer of 2001 as a 26 year old with a non-descript past playing for Universita Tandil. That year he joined Serie D (Italy’s version of the non-league) side Brindisi and immediately made himself known with fifteen goals in twenty three matches as the side won promotion to the Serie C2.

The striker’s joy, however, was shortlived. Without a European passport, the strict rules restricting lower league clubs from signing foreign players prevented Brindisi from taking their star player up with them. And so began Castillo wandering in the lower reaches of Italian football.

From Brindisi he moved to Nardo (17 goals) and then Vigor Lamezia where his twenty-four goals in thirty-two games proved useful for the team as they gained promotion but useless for him as bureaucracy once again prevented him from playing among the professionals.

That came at his next stop at Gallipoli, where his forty goals in fifty five games propelled the side from the to the Serie C1 in successive seasons and Castillo, at long last granted citizenship, was finally free to move out of the Serie D.

By now, his goal tally was attracting clubs higher up and he moved to the Serie B with Frosinone for one season on loan. It was a bitter sweet move as Castillo struggled to adjust, scoring just five times.

This was not enough to deter Pisa from making a move for him and, after several attempt, managed to convince Gallipoli to sell him. The impact was immediate, with two goals on his debut away against Bari and since then he hasn’t stopped scoring.

The dream is to take Pisa – and Castillo - to the Seria A before it is too late. “In November I’ll be 32 years old,” he says “but I’ve only got good memories and no regrets. Indeed, it is all those seasons spent in the Serie D, in places that truly love football, that have made me all the more appreciative of whatever success I have. Sometime you have to take like on the counter-attack, just like football.”

AC Milan's Happy Families

2008-03-03T14:41:00.000-08:00

If you go through AC Milan’s official squad, you’re bound to come across the unfamiliar name of Digao. Look a little deeper and you will discover that this is a Brazilian defender who joined during the summer after spending a couple of years on loan at Rimini.

What the record books are unlikely to tell you is that Digao is also Kaka’s brother and that his presence in Milan has gone a long way to ensuring that the Brazilian striker renewed his contract.

Few at Milan will begrudge paying Digao’s modest annual salary. He is unlikely to ever challenge Paolo Maldini or Alessandro Nesta for a starting spot yet, when Real Madrid last summer tried to woo Kaka by impressing his father, Milan knew that they were already way ahead of them.

At least Digao is a real footballer, something that could hardly be said about Harvey Esajas. A friend of Clarence Seedorf when they were in Ajax’s youth teams, their path had parted a long way back. Whilst Seedorf went on to become European champion with Ajax, Real Madrid and Milan, Esajas moved to Spain where he played for a couple of lower league clubs before a serious ligament injury forced him to retire.

Life outside football wasn’t easy for him as he struggled to pin down a permanent job and his weight ballooned to over 100 kilos. It was at this point that Seedorf remembered about his old mate and asked Milan’s all powerful Adriano Galliani to allow him to train for them.

Galliani went as step further and offered Esajas a contract, challenging the overweight Dutchman to get into shape. And, true to his word, he did earning first a cameo appearance in the Coppa Italia and then a transfer to Third Division Lecco.

Yet, like in Digao’s case, Milan had another reason for wanting Esajas in the squad for it helped ensured that the negotiations to extend Seedorf’s contract progressed smoothly.

However, neither Digao nor Esajas’ story can begin compare to Ibrahim Ba’s. The French winger had risen to prominence for Bordeaux and the French national team before earning a big money move to Milan. In Italy, however, he floundered and, despite winnng the scudetto under Alberto Zaccheroni, his stay was a huge disappointment.

Stints at clubs in England, Turkey and Switzerland ended in a similar fashion so much that two summers back he found himself without a club. Eager to keep in shape, he turned on Milan asking them to allow him to join in with their squad.

Once again, that man Galliani stepped in and agreed, only to notice that Ba’s arrival had coincided with the team starting to find their feet. Once Milan regained the Champions League title by beating Liverpool in Athens, his fate was sealed. Galliani declared Ba as Milan’s good luck charm which was certainly fortunate for Ba seeing that he got offered a contract.

Italy’s Football Carnival

2008-02-29T00:58:00.000-08:00

Viareggio is a small, picturesque city on the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea in northern Tuscany that is remarkable for two things: the papier-mâché floats at the carnival has been organized since 1873 and, more pertinently to this site, the youth football tournament that is held at around the same time.

The Torneo di Viareggio holds a special place in Italian football folklore. Held since 1949, it features the country’s top Primavere - literally Spring, as in the season, which is how the under 18s are called over here – as well as an ever increasing number of international sides.

What makes the Torneo di Viareggio special is the sheer number of players that have come through the tournament. Giovanni Trapattoni, Sandro Mazzola, Roberto Bettega, Bruno Conti, Paolo Rossi, Franco Baresi, Paolo Maldini, Alessandro Del Piero, Gigi Buffon and Antonio Cassano all feature in a roll call of the tournament’s most famous graduates that also reads like a list of Italian greats of the past sixty years.

It is through the authority of such a past that around the start of February, focus shifts to Viareggio and the search for the next big thing.

This year, spotting the ones with the most potential wasn’t overly difficult. Milan fielded their other teenage star in the form of Alberto Paloschi, an 18 year-old who scored Milan’s winner in his senior league debut against Siena. The ever increasing injury list is forcing Carlo Ancelotti to rely more heavily on the youngster than he would wish yet this doesn’t preclude the club from using him in a competition like the Torneo di Viareggio. Winning titles, especially one as prestigious as the Viareggio, comes above everything else.

It is the same reasoning that led to Inter into using their own prodigy, Mario Balotelli. Two goals on his debut in the Coppa Italia against Reggina, another brace in the following round’s victory against Juventus, this kid truly is something special.

As is his story. Born to Ghanaian parents in Palermo, at age two he was adopted by a couple in Brescia. His talent for football immediately shone through so much that he was in the Lumezzano first team in the C1 (Division One) by the time he was fifteen. Such was the development that the Italian football association had to give him special consent to play.

This progress brought him to the notice of big clubs, and he even held a trial with Barcelona. Eventually he opted for Inter and despite the club’s reticence to bring through young players, Balotelli - who never celebrates when he scores although an exception was made against Juventus - has quickly forced himself into Roberto Mancini’s reckoning.

Seven goals in six games at the Viareggio – including two in the replayed final where he also twice hit the post – easily mark him out as the tournament’s best player as well as another name that will continue to embellish Viareggio’s reputation.

Juventus' Luck Not Out

2008-01-23T15:57:00.000-08:00

Not a day goes by without Claudio Ranieri being asked about Tiago. Brought in towards the end of the summer by Juventus and presented as their ‘big’ transfer, his subsequent lack of games has been surprising.

Publicly, Ranieri has always expressed his confidence in the talents of the player yet, towards the end of last year, he admitted that “I just hope that he finds it within himself to react and prove that”. Which, in other words, means that he isn’t confident that the player really wants to be in Italy. With Paolo Zanetti a fixture in the centre of midfield, and Tiago hardly convincing whenever giving an opportunity, it didn't take long for Juve to realise that it was best that they cut their losses on a player who hasn’t shown any willingness to adapt his game to the Italian style of play.

When he left Chelsea, Tiago admitted that it had been a very tough decision and one which, had it been left to him, he wouldn’t have made. With things not going to plan in Italy and a return to France not really an option, England was always going to be his preferred destination.

However neither he, nor Juventus, would have imagined Tottenham coming in. Quite a lucky break for them, seeing that it means a bigger transfer fee.

Making the Most out of Nothing: the Pippo Inzaghi story

2007-12-09T13:31:00.000-08:00

‘He was born offside’. Alex Ferguson’s description of Filippo Inzaghi always makes me chuckle for the simple reason that it is so fitting of the player. Neither extraordinarily fast nor particularly skilful, Inzaghi has made a career out of his ability to hang about in the penalty area looking for any possible loose ball or threading on the thin line that seperates onside from offside. Yet, in doing so, he has been extremely successful.

Last week, by scoring in the Champions League against Chelsea, Inzaghi became the highest scorer in a European competition. For a striker with so little obvious qualities, it is a fantastic achievement.

Indeed, Inzaghi’s whole career is nothing short of incredible. This is a player who has won everything worth winning: three Italian titles, two Champions Leagues and a World Cup. Those successes – and his goals – are the best answers to both doubters and critics.

His career began at Piacenza but it was at Leffe and Hellas Verona that he started to make a name for himself as a striker, scoring 13 and 14 goals for each of those two clubs in as many seasons. The Serie A beckoned and he moved to Parma who, at the time, were one of Italian football’s big clubs.

The weight of expectations was however too much and he scored only twice in fifteen games. For a brief period there was the belief that he was one of those unable to overcome the difference in quality between top flight football and the rest.

Those of that opinion were soon forced to rethink once he joined Atalanta in 1996 where his career really took off. A replacement for the Juventus bound Christian Vieri, he quickly forgot of the previous season’s failure to top the Italian scorer list with twenty four goals.

Juventus, ever alert to what was happening elsewhere, were quick to move in for him and linked him up with Alessandro Del Piero and Zinedine Zidane. Those two’s talents obviously overshadowed everyone else yet most of the time it was Inzaghi running to their through balls to add the concrete touch too all their fancy stuff.

Even so, despite his goals – eighty nine of them – Inzaghi never really convinced the people at Juventus. Each season his place in the side was questioned but he always managed to win it back. When David Trezeguet came in, however, things changed. As the Frenchman proved to be an immediate success, Inzaghi was unceremoniously benched with the indication being that he would be better off leaving.

Letting him go, however, was only half of Juventus’ mistake: allowing AC Milan to get him was the other. Much more aware of his unique abilities, he’s much more respected within the club then he ever was before and as such playing with greater vehemence.

Not that it has all been plain-sailing. When he was left out of the 2005 Champions League final – a wrong choice by manager Carlo Ancelotti as the events of two years later would prove - it seemed that his big club days were over. A transfer is what everyone expected yet he stayed on, thanks also to Milan’s strange reluctance to sign anyone. Then last May came his finest moments when he scored twice to win the Champions League for Milan.

Both were typical Inzaghi goals. The first one was an unintentional deflection off a Pirlo free-kick whilst the second came about after he sprung the offside trap. Indeed, anyone trying to compile a list of his finest goals will be hard pressed to find anything different from those two.

Yet they all count the same. Inzaghi may be an easy target for criticism but he’s scored goals throughout his career: his invariably will be the last laugh.

Football Obituary: Nils Liedholm

2007-11-08T03:05:00.000-08:00

For years, Nils Liedholm was a semi-permanent fixture on the Sunday night football talk shows that populate Italian television. With his ready smile and unmistakable accent, he cut the figure of a much loved uncle whose words were greatly respected and rarely contradicted.

Respect that stemmed largely from the realization that he was someone who truly understood the game.

As a player, Liedholm enjoyed a phenomenal career. Twice league champion in Sweden, he eventually moved to AC Milan in 1949 where he formed part of the legendary gre-no-li strike trio alongside fellow Swedes Gunnar Gren and Gunnar Nordahl. In Italy he won a further four league titles in a side that dominated the fifties. Milan legend has it that he never misplaced a pass in his first two years at the club and, when he finally did, he was given a standing ovation by the supporters.

That success was nowhere nearly matched by his results for the Sweden who failed to select him for the 1950 and 1954 World Cups because they wouldn’t play professional players. He did, however, win the gold medal in the 1948 Olympics and, aged 36, he helped them reach the World Cup final and even put Sweden 1-0 front.

Sweden ultimately lost 5-2 to a Pele inspired Brazil, yet Liedholm often picked that as the best game in his career. When someone once pointed out that Brazil still won the game, he replied that “I know but when I went off we were still 1-0 up.”

Yet it is as a coach that he really made an indelible mark. Described in Italy as the first democratic manager, he treated his players like men and always listened to their ideas.

Not that Liedholm needed much prompting, such was his knowledge of the game and the handling of players. He was a great believer of the zonal marketing system – one of the first to do so in a catenaccio dominated era – claiming that it was easier to switch players based on a system rather than on their qualities, something that forced you to react to the opposition rather than impose yourself.

He was also always hammering into his players the importance on retaining possession. His teams loved t keep the ball, waiting for the opposing team to make a mistake. Fargli addormentare – get them to sleep – was the thinking. It wasn’t too exciting to watch and was criticized for being boring yet it got results and ultimately his approach inspired a whole range of coaches, including Arrigo Sacchi and Rafael Benitez.

With Milan, he won a league title before moving on to AS Roma, whom he guided to another league win and a European Cup final loss to Liverpool. He also managed Fiorentina, Varese and Hellas Verona helping the latter two to promotion. Juventus wanted to make him manager but he refused “together we would have been too strong” he said.

In 1997 he returned to manage AS Roma for the final seven games of the season in what was his swansong in football.

Nils Liedholm 1922 -1997