Giampiero Ventura has won an award in recognition of his long service to Italian football, despite failing to take the Azzurri to the 2018 World Cup.
Ventura was presented with the Pallone di Marmo – or Marble Ball – award on Wednesday evening for his 50 years in professional football as a player and Coach.
The 70-year-old has coached no less than 17 teams since his first role with amateur side Ruentes Rapallo in 1981.
Giampiero Ventura has won an award in recognition of his long service to Italian football, despite failing to take the Azzurri to the 2018 World Cup.
Ventura was presented with the Pallone di Marmo – or Marble Ball – award on Wednesday evening for his 50 years in professional football as a player and Coach.
The 70-year-old has coached no less than 17 teams since his first role with amateur side Ruentes Rapallo in 1981.
His best results came at Cagliari, Bari and Torino, winning plaudits for not only helping re-establish the trio in Serie A but doing so while promoting youth and advocating attractive football.
However, those achievements were overshadowed by his disastrous spell as Italy CT between 2016 and 2017 as he led the Azzurri to their first World Cup no-show in 60 years.
Nonetheless, it is argued he was ‘not the only culprit’ for La Nazionale’s failure.