Sampdoria’s Claudio Ranieri is about to make history as the first coach in the era of three points for a win to experience all four major city derbies in Serie A.
When Ivo Pulga tied his laces to enter the pitch against Torres in the Sardinian derby back in October 1988, Ranieri was preparing for his first derby in his new career as a coach.
Looking back at the time Ranieri was keeping the dugout at Cagliari warm in Serie C, it would’ve been difficult to envisage just how illustrious his career would turn out to be.
Sampdoria’s Claudio Ranieri is about to make history as the first coach in the era of three points for a win to experience all four major city derbies in Serie A.
When Ivo Pulga tied his laces to enter the pitch against Torres in the Sardinian derby back in October 1988, Ranieri was preparing for his first derby in his new career as a coach.
Looking back at the time Ranieri was keeping the dugout at Cagliari warm in Serie C, it would’ve been difficult to envisage just how illustrious his career would turn out to be.
Fast forward 31 years and the Italian tactician is in Italy once more after winning the Copa del Rey with Valencia and Premier League with Leicester City.
Now, he finds himself preparing for the Derby della Lanterna with Genoa tomorrow, which will make him the first coach in the three-point era to work in all four of Serie A’s major derbies.
The 68-year-old oversaw the Turin derby (Derby della Mole) during a stint with Juventus, the Milan derby (Derby della Madonnina) at Inter and the Rome derby (Derby della Capitale) with the Giallorossi.
As he prepares for the Genoa derby, his record should send shivers down the spine of opponent Thiago Motta.
That is because Claudio did not lose any of his first three Serie A derbies. His record reads 8-1-0 from nine games, most notably leaving Lazio emptyhanded after four meetings at the Olimpico as Roma boss between 2009 and 2011.
Additionally, he can claim to have worked in the Sardinian derby between his Cagliari side and Torres, as well as the unofficial Derby della Sole between Roma and Napoli, where he actually coached both teams.
The same goes for his spell at Fiorentina, when he oversaw the match between the Viola and fellow northerners Bologna, dubbed the Derby dell’Appennino. He was almost unlucky to have gone without a derby when he worked at Parma, given they didn’t face Bologna during his 18 games in charge.
He also brings the experience of several London derbies as Chelsea’s manager in the Premier League and oversaw an Atletico Madrid victory over city rivals Real Madrid.