Page 37 - Soccer360 Issue 107

COACH CONTEST
The coaching landscape is in constant flux in Serie A and with some high- profile appointments for 2024-25, Stephen Kasiewicz keeps track of everything following a summer of mass changes.
Only six Serie A clubs retained their
coaches as club presidents across Italy
decided change was the only way forward.
The coaching merry-go-round almost
whirled out of control as a familiar gallery
of old faces and surprise appointments
started new positions across the league.
Milan made the most unanticipated
move when they announced ex-Roma
tactician Paulo Fonseca as their new
coach. Napoli chose a serial winner in
former Juventus and Inter coach Antonio
Conte to lead them back to the top four
after a disastrous 10th place finish last
term. Meanwhile, it was an open secret
won the
that Thiago Motta wouldvetraykfiersthe reins at
Champions JuveafterheledBologLneaguteoCfuipfthplacein
in 1955
a memorable campaign and Maximiliano Allegri’s second stint with the Old Lady ended with his dramatic dismissal in
May. Motta’s replacement at Bologna
was Vincenzo Italiano, who left after steering Fiorentina to back-to-back UEFA Conference League finals, and the musical chairs continued with Raffaele Palladino leaving Monza to take his place in Florence. Elsewhere, Lazio left their supporters underwhelmed by selecting Marco Baroni after Igor Tudor unexpectedly departed following the end of last season; World Cup winner Alessandro Nesta moved up from the second tier to take the Monza hotseat, while Udinese made the left-field selection of German tactician Kosta Runjaic. Paolo Vanoli (Torino), Eusebio Di Francesco (Venezia), Davide Nicola (Cagliari), and Paolo Zanetti (Hellas Verona) all entered new jobs with a wealth of previous top flight experience. Empoli handed Roberto D’Aversa a second chance after he left Lecce in disgrace last season. D’Aversa was sacked after headbutting Hellas Verona striker Thomas Henry following a defeat but has a chance to redeem himself in Tuscany. One of the most eye-catching appointments sees former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas take
the reins at newly promoted Como after spells as interim and assistant coach. The Spaniard has an impressive footballing brain, and will look to build his coaching reputation with the Lombardy side. Reigning champions Inter were in the minority as they stuck with Simone Inzaghi after he guided the Nerazzurri to a historic 20th Scudetto. Anything is possible in
the ever-volatile world of calcio, but
the 48-year-old was handed a new deal after the Milan giants sauntered to the title.
UEFA has
come a long
way since Real Madrid
AC MILAN
LAST SEASON
FINISH: 2nd place RECORD: 22-9-7
MOST GOALS: Giroud (15)
MONZA
LAST SEASON
FINISH: 12th place RECORD: 11-12-15
MOST GOALS: Colpani (8)
PAULO FONSECA
AC Milan
ANTONIO CONTE
Napoli
THIAGO MOTTA
Juventus
VINCENZO ITALIANO
Bologna
MARCO BARONI
Lazio
Italian football is nothing if not unpredictable yet only an enlightened few would have foreseen Paulo Fonseca as
the new Rossoneri coach. The seven-time European champions placed a distant second behind city rivals Inter in the 2023-24 campaign and the former Roma tactician will be under immense pressure to bridge the gap as the other San Siro club strives to be in title contention.
Veterans Olivier Giroud and Simon Kjaer left with Alvaro Morata and Strahinja Pavlovic arriving in their place, while full-back Emerson Royal also joined from Tottenham. Talented but inconsistent winger Rafael Leao and US international midfielder Christian Pulisic will be pivotal players for the perennial championship challengers, and a change of energy is needed after just one win in the past seven games of last term.
KEY PLAYER
Rafael Leao
Legendary Italy defender and first time Serie A coach Alessandro Nesta has his work cut out to replicate last season’s
12th placed finish. The Biancorossi lost
the best goalkeeper of the 2023-24 campaign when Michele Di Gregorio moved to Juventus and breakout goalscoring midfielder Andrea Colpani switched to Fiorentina.
Another mid-table finish would be acceptable for the Lombardy club who added 20-year-old Manchester United forward Omari Forson and attacker Daniel Maldini, 22, in a low-key transfer window. Club captain Matteo Pessina, veteran stopper Armando Izzo and Portuguese forward Dany Mota will all be key players for a club competing in Serie A for just the third time in their history.
KEY PLAYER
Matteo Pessina
DID YOU KNOW?
Conte is the proud holder of an impressive record. He guided Juventus to a whole league season unbeaten in his first year in charge, as they won the 2011/12 title.
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