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Sunday, February 17, 2008

Italians who have Managed in Britain

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Strangely the article omits from the list, Claudio Ranieri who did quite well at Chelsea!

One Sport/Matt Hunt - Italian seasoning - the new flavour?
What do Attilio Lombardo, Dario Bonetti, Luigi De Canio, Fabio Capello and Giovanni Trappatoni all have in common?
They are all Italian and all managers that have come to Britain to manage. The first two were short-lived at Crystal Palace and Dundee, respectively, but the latter three are all currently plying their trade in England and Ireland.
Talking 'bout a revolution
Is this the start of a quiet revolution? Is it a sign that the executives who hire and fire the bosses are turning to efficient winning football rather than excitement? Certainly the high profile appointments of Capello as England manager and Trappatoni last week in the Irish hot seat suggest the associations of each country crave success.
De Canio at QPR seems more nepotistic than trend setting, but he is turning their fortunes around.
A glance at the two national managers' past records is a list of domestic club honours longer than Mike Tyson's convictions sheet. Championships in Italy, Germany, Portugal and Spain prove these guys know how to win first and foremost.
The only thing that matters
It wasn't always spectacular at the Bernabeu last season but El Fab wrestled La Liga away from Barca's clutches in dramatic style for his second Spanish title.
Trappatoni, with no less than ten career title victories, similarly restored Bayern Munich's supremacy in Germany. Both are quality men with a wealth of experience and tactical nous.
Capello has brought his own Italian staff to add to the expertise in the England camp.
The crude and unproven Stuart Pearce is to be his right hand man (why not David Platt or Paul Ince?), while rumour has it Trappatoni favours Liam Brady, who at least speaks Italian, to help guide him through the quirks of the Irish game.
Both assistants can only benefit from this regular involvement with these coaching gurus.
Pasta, not pot noodles
Why are the British turning to Italy though?
It is no fluke that Italy produces champions. The World Cup holders have long had a programme in place for coaches to learn their craft at a lavish purpose built academy tucked away in the Italian hills.
Capello is one such graduate and among the current interns, well-known names like Ravanelli, Costacurta and Pagliuca are honing their skills to be the next generation of world beaters.
So impressive is the centre that English FA officials who have visited it are planning a similar coach's school in Burton. No expense will be spared as they aim to produce young English coaches to rival those from the continent, coaches with the right stuff to succeed at the highest level and help players develop into champions.
Desperately seeking Marcello
Interestingly, Italy's most successful coach is currently unemployed on gardening leave. 2006 World Cup winner Marcelo Lippi remains high on the desired list of many top clubs in Europe.
Who knows, could Lippi be the next Italian important to the UK?
Under fire Premiership managers beware, rich owners demand success, and it seems Italian coaches are flavour of the month. One Sport

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