Francesco Guidolin is eager to get back to coaching after a year consulting Udinese. “I still feel young.”
The 59-year-old tactician retired from management last summer, stating he found the profession too stressful, but 12 months out have changed his mind.
“I still feel young, I recharged my batteries and want to get back to coaching,” Guidolin told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Francesco Guidolin is eager to get back to coaching after a year consulting Udinese. “I still feel young.”
The 59-year-old tactician retired from management last summer, stating he found the profession too stressful, but 12 months out have changed his mind.
“I still feel young, I recharged my batteries and want to get back to coaching,” Guidolin told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“The Sabbatical was good for me and it’s important every now and then to go off grid. Last year I didn’t deal with the situation well and I didn’t like myself in those circumstances. It was a warning sign and I realised I had to take a break.
“There was the plan to do different work at Udinese, as I had pledged my loyalty to the club. We had decided to work as a consultant, especially abroad.
“However, the Pozzo family run the show in Udine, father and son. While one is focused on Udinese, the other supervises Watford.
“I gave up on another three years of my contract and hoped to take my experience to Granada, but that project failed. Now I am ready to work elsewhere, if I find something that interests me.
“I was twice called by Napoli and said no because I wanted to stay at Udine. I had my chances and made my choices. I hoped that this loyalty would be more appreciated by the club.
“I had a role planned that I was then not allowed to perform. I would happily have supervised the three Pozzo family clubs, but I wasn’t allowed to do that work and now my pact of loyalty has been broken.
“I have had some contact with other clubs, I am waiting and in a position to choose. Now the issue is not so much of prestige, a small or big club, but of finding the right situation for me. I like to teach football and work with both young and less young players. I still have a lot to give and a year off is enough.”
Guidolin explained he has been learning English and French, studying other Coaches including a visit to Pep Guardiola at Bayern Munich.
Andrea Stramaccioni parted company with Udinese by mutual consent, so Stefano Colantuono was hired as the new Coach.
“I wouldn’t be so critical with Stramaccioni,” argued Guidolin. “Udinese are a provincial side and my record of reaching Europe four times out of five was not normal.
“The first objective must be to remain in Serie A, possibly without panic, then you can dream of Europe if it’s a masterpiece campaign. The focus in Udine is to bring through new players every season.”