Luciano Spalletti has won the 2023 Enzo Bearzot Award due to his incredible work with Serie A league leaders Napoli.
The award, whose previous winners include Roberto De Zerbi, Roberto Mancini and Carlo Ancelotti, is given to the best Italian coach of the year, chosen by a jury made up of representatives from the major Italian sports newspapers.
Spalletti was given the Enzo Bearzot Award today at a ceremony Castel Nuovo in Naples, winning due to Napoli’s electric work on the pitch this season. The Partenopei are only weeks away from winning their first Scudetto in over three decades and could even secure victory in the Champions League.
Speaking at the ceremony, Spalletti first discussed his work at Napoli and what he wants from his team.
“When you see the images of Napoli and Maradona, you become forced to absorb and hold a certain pressure, it is part of the love and passion of the people.
“Here you live for football, but this is still the time for work, I made a pact with the team and they have it very clear. Then we’ll see if we celebrate.
“If we talk about modern football, Di Lorenzo has this quality of being able to play multiple tasks in multiple roles.
“Di Lorenzo is unbelievable, he builds up with quality, he even gets to the level of the midfielders when he goes inside the pitch, when he gets up front with his forays he is one who shows more on the opponent’s line.
“Inside the individual quality of each of them is the growth of the players, who put together become a very strong team. To conclude, I repeat what I said in the morning, I tell the children that if you go to school, you dribble better.”
He commented on how it felt to reach the Champions League quarter-finals with the Partenopei.
“It’s something you have to experience totally, it’s never happened to me in 64 years! Even the players themselves have to be careful, these matches are of incredible beauty.”
Finally, Spalletti discussed one of the breakout stars of this season, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
“When we saw this talent, I had no doubts. Having worked in Russia, then, I made some friends, I asked for more information about him. Everyone told me he was very strong.
“The president gave me confidence but was hesitant about the fact that he played in the Russian league and maybe in a league like ours he might struggle, at least at the beginning.
“Evidently Khvicha proved that the footballing boundaries have thinned.”