New Udinese coach Andrea Sottil says Jurgen Klopp and Luciano Spalletti are among his role models and reveals the Bianconeri’s captain for next season.

Sottil was appointed at the Dacia Arena after a successful spell in Serie B with Ascoli, while Udinese’s previous coach Gabriele Cioffi has become Verona‘s new head coach.

A former Udinese defender, Sottil will make his Serie A debut in the dug-out next season.

“It was my dream to coach Udinese. I lack nothing in this club and I reunite with director Pierpaolo Marino, the family Pozzo, the historic secretary Daniela and so many friends. I’ll enter a great stadium where you can feel the love from fans,” he told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Which formation will he use and who are his role models?

“I don’t focus on a single system and I know what’s the philosophy of the club,” he admitted.

“I like Klopp, his vertical play, the pace, and the fact that many players attack the space. I appreciate Spalletti’s brilliance too, his teams always have something different.”

Sottil began his coaching career at Siracusa in 2011-12 and has gone through every professional division in Italy. He also worked for Gubbio, Cuneo, Paganese, Livorno, Catania and Pescara. His Ascoli side reached Serie B play-offs last season and were one of the surprises of the campaign in Italy’s second division.

How about Udinese’s captain? Who will get the armband at the Dacia Arena next season?

“The pitch proved that Roberto Pereyra will be the captain, but Bram Nuytinck is also a leader,” the 48-year-old said.

Sottil will cross paths with his son Riccardo, a winger under contract with Fiorentina. Would he like to coach him one day?

“It’s a nice thing, but it would create problems in the management of the dressing room,” the Udinese coach admitted.

“However, I’d like to do so, first of all, because Riccardo is a good footballer.”

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