Fabio Grosso reached the peak of his career as a footballer by winning the World Cup with Italy in 2006 and has now earned his first Serie A promotion as a coach with Frosinone, but the years between those two milestones were far from easy, writes Lorenzo Bettoni.
“Promotion to Serie A is an immense joy. Different from the World Cup in 2006 but similar in greatness. Those are two memories that I’ll keep with me. I always look forward, but once in a while, I’ll brush them up to remember I’ve left the mark,” Grosso told ANSA in the aftermath of Frosinone’s first Serie A promotion in four years.
It came after a 3-1 win over Filippo Inzaghi’s Reggina on Monday, a match between Italy’s 2006 World Cup winners.
Grosso didn’t only lift the trophy with the Azzurri in Berlin, but he did it in an emphatic style. The former left-back stepped up in the knock-out stage, earning a late penalty, converted by Francesco Totti, in the Round of 16 against Australia. He went on to score a late extra-time winner in the semis against Germany and the decisive penalty in the shootout against France in the Final.
As a footballer, he also won two Scudettos with Inter and Juventus, one Supercoppa with the Nerazzurri and three domestic trophies in France with Lyon, including the Ligue 1 title in 2007-08.
Grosso began his coaching career in Juventus’ youth sector a year after retiring. He had won the Scudetto in Turin in his last season as a footballer but played only two games under the emerging Antonio Conte.
On the dug-out, he was first an assistant manager of the Bianconeri’s U19 squad and then became their coach from 2014 until 2017, winning one Torneo di Viareggio, one of the most prestigious youth tournaments in Europe, and two Primavera titles. However, professional football was not going to be gentle to the Azzurri hero.
He made his debut in 2017-18, finishing seventh in Serie B with Bari. Grosso was then appointed by Hellas Verona the following summer but didn’t make it to the end of the season and was sacked in May 2019 after seven consecutive winless matches.
A 3-2 loss defeat against Livorno at the Stadio Bentegodi was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Verona President Maurizio Setti showed up at a post-match press conference that day, confirming Grosso’s sacking: “My staff and I will take time to decide what to do,” he said.
“Like this, we are not going to Serie A and I want to go there. Today’s result was very disappointing and it gave me anxiety. Albeit reluctantly, I’ve relieved the coach from his duties. It’s a defeat for everyone.”
Grosso had won 12 of his 34 games in charge of Verona in all competitions, drawing 13 and losing nine.
The former defender still made it to Serie A as he was appointed by strugglers Brescia in 2019, but his spell at the Stadio Rigamonti only lasted three games. President Massimo Cellino hired him to replace Eugenio Corini in November, but Brescia lost three games from three under their new coach, conceding 10 goals and scoring none. Cellino quickly changed his mind and by the end of the month, he had already recalled Corini but could still not avoid relegation at the end of the season.
It didn’t end well on and off the pitch. Grosso and Cellino argued over the coach’s severance pay leading him to sue the ex-Leeds United owner. However, the pair cleared the air this past January with Grosso withdrawing his request.
The ex-defender continued his career abroad, signing for Sion in 2020, but had another tough time in Switzerland, collecting 22 points in 23 games. He was sacked on March 5 2021, leaving the club fighting for survival, but 18 days later, on March 23, he was hired by Frosinone, replacing his former Italy teammate and fellow World Cup winner, Alessandro Nesta.
This time, the choice paid off, Grosso avoided relegation, finishing tenth, and was confirmed for the following season when he finished ninth.
Perhaps, time was the only thing Grosso needed as the Ciociari have dominated Serie B this term, winning 21 of their 35 games and earning Serie A promotion with three games to spare. They have the best attack in the league with 54 goals scored and the less-beaten defence with 21 goals conceded, as many as Genoa, their closest opponent, coached by Alberto Gilardino, another Italy 2006 World Cup winner.
Grosso will likely remain in charge of Frosinone in 2023-24, starting his first-ever Serie A campaign as a coach. Time will tell if the experience he’s earned at the Stadio Stirpe will be enough to achieve another milestone to which he would look with pride.
@lorebetto