A new season starts on Saturday and Giancarlo Rinaldi explains what to expect from Serie A coaches, from José Mourinho to Massimiliano Allegri and Luciano Spalletti’s replacement at Napoli Rudi Garcia.
Serie A can feel at times like an actor whose best days are behind him, living on past glories. However, last season’s treble of European hard luck stories showed that there is one area where it can still deliver an Oscar-winning performance. The coaches of Italian football remain elite box office in their own unique way.
The campaign ahead should be no different despite the illustrious exit of one of the game’s most famous bald heads from the spotlight’s glare. Spalletti’s decision to dribble out of Naples quicker than Khvicha Kvaratskhelia turns opposition defenders inside out means we have lost at least one of Italy’s most compelling characters – from league competition. His replacement, however, is a familiar face as Rudi Garcia returns to the centre of the Calcio village.
The Frenchman faces a tough assignment in trying to retain the Scudetto won by his predecessor despite possessing a squad undoubtedly capable of doing so. Since his time with Roma, he has been back home with Marseille and Lyon before taking a tilt – like so many – at the Saudi league. He returns to a landscape filled with hostile, ingenious and innovative competitors.
None are likely to be more so than Simone Inzaghi, despite Inter’s questionable performance in the transfer market so far. His Coppa Italia triumph and a creditable Champions League final display against all-conquering Manchester City have seen his stock rise rapidly with the Nerazzurri and they will now hope he can deliver a league title. His evolution as a coach suggests that he might be just about ready to do so.
Not that he will have it easy if he does achieve that goal. Grumpy old Max Allegri is on a death or glory mission at Juventus which nobody should doubt could deliver Scudetto number whatever the Bianconeri now claim they have achieved. With only the league to focus his attention on, he surely has a squad which can be a major contender. How entertaining it will be remains a matter of some conjecture but few could doubt he has the pedigree to add another domestic honour to his trophy cabinet.
If you don’t like the dour pragmatism of the Old Lady’s current minder, what about the delights of Maurizio Sarri-ball at Lazio? Now entering season three with the Biancocelesti there have been signs of him reproducing the old magic which so captured hearts in Naples. The loss of Sergej Milinkovic-Savic is a blow, but he has repeatedly shown that his teams are greater than any one individual. He has also displayed a much greater willingness than others to throw away his chances in Europe in favour of domestic success.
There is no such attitude on the other side of the Eternal City where Jose Mourinho continues to play all the old mind games that will either endear or infuriate depending on your stance. There is little middle ground when it comes to the Portuguese boss who threw everything at winning the Europa League last term to follow up on Conference League glory only to come up just short. Not everyone may love his methods, but it is hard to deny their effectiveness.
And then there is Stefano Pioli, The Normal One who has been struggling in some stormy seas at Milan after his Scudetto win. Many of his acquisitions last season failed to deliver but there seems to be greater optimism about the arrivals this summer. A good team did not go bad overnight, however, and if he gets the right additions, he has shown he is more than capable of doing an outstanding job. Don’t rule them out of contending in the upper reaches once again.
The supporting cast is enviable too. Vincenzo Italiano at Fiorentina was another boss to come within a whisker of European silverware last year and will be keen to make a more consistent tilt at Serie A. Gian Piero Gasperini looks like he has got a more solid squad than he had 12 months ago and remains a sharp tactician. Add to that rising stars like Thiago Motta or Alberto Gilardino and wily old campaigners like Claudio Ranieri and you have a wonderful mix once again. Insight, innovation and inspiration will be the order of the day on the benches of Italy’s top division which should make for a gripping spectacle once again. If there is ever a lull on the field of play, just take a look at the dugouts and you should be thoroughly entertained.
Giancarlo Rinaldi is the author of a number of books on Italian football. He is also half of the Rigore! Podcast team. You can follow him on Twitter @ginkers.