Page 39 - Soccer360 Issue 107

TORINO
LAST SEASON
FINISH: 9th place RECORD: 13-14-11
MOST GOALS: Zapata (12)
UDINESE
LAST SEASON
FINISH: 15th place RECORD: 6-19-13
MOST GOALS: Lucca (8)
Le Zebrette will compete in their 30th consecutive Serie A campaign after a final day victory at Frosinone kept them in Italy’s top division last season in a narrow - and some may say fortunate - escape. World Cup winner Fabio Cannavaro was only in charge for six games before being replaced this summer by the surprise choice of German coach Kosta Runjaic.
The former Legia Warsaw boss inherits
a team that claimed a paltry six wins
in 2023-24 and only stayed up by virtue of being draw specialists. The return of Alexis Sanchez will boost hopes, but survival is the realistic objective again for the Udine club, who also brought in Swedish international midfielder Jesper Karlstrom and Spanish under-19 forward Iker Bravo. Brazilian mainstay Walace and veteran Argentinian Roberto Pereyra have left after long spells in Italy.
KEY PLAYER
Jesper Karlstrom
VENEZIA
LAST SEASON
FINISH: 3rd (Serie B)
RECORD: 21-13-14
MOST GOALS: Pohjanpalo (18)
Experienced tactician Eusebio Di Francesco faces another relegation dogfight in his journeyman coaching career with the newly promoted Arancioneroverdi, after taking over from Paolo Vanoli. Former Italy left- back Vanoli guided the Veneto club through the Serie B play-offs before departing for Torino, while Di Francesco left Frosinone after they were relegated on the last day of the 2023-24 Serie A season.
The form of talismanic Finnish striker Joel Pohjanpalo - who claimed 22 goals in the second tier - will be crucial if the top-flight newcomers are to avoid the drop. Inter attacking midfielder Gaetano Oristanio and seasoned Serie A campaigner Alfred Duncan from Fiorentina were notable summer recruits.
KEY PLAYER
Joel Pohjanpalo
DID YOU KNOW?
Inter coach Simone Inzaghi is one of only six coaches in Serie A not to have moved on in the summer
Croatian tactician Ivan Juric departed
after failing to elevate the Granata above mid-table in three eventful years in Turin. Replacement Paolo Vanoli, who led Venezia to promotion last term, has the taxing mission of steering Toro above ninth place in the table for the first time in 10 seasons. The loss of Italy centre-back Alessandro Buongiorno to Napoli did not make Vanoli’s task any easier, while defensive stalwart Ricardo Rodriguez also departed for Real Betis after four campaigns with the Piedmont based club. The seven-time champions of Italy purchased defender Saul Coco from Las Palmas and Scottish international striker Che Adams ahead of the new term, where mid-table again looks the most likely outcome.
KEY PLAYER
Che Adams
SOCCER360 37
Napoli, Top:
Napoli hope new boss Antonio Conte can banish the memory of a season to forget
Roma, Bottom:
Roma have high hopes after adding Ukraine striker Artem Dovbyk to their forward line
Torino, Top:
Can Paulo Vanoli lead Torino back into the top eight of Serie A?