Clubs go for continuity

With the new Serie A season kicking off on August 24, much of the focus in Italy is currently on the Azzurri’s participation in the Confederations Cup in Brazil and the clubs’ transfer wheelings and dealings which officially start on July 1.

After the completion of the 2012/13 Serie A and Serie B, all teams in Italy, as happens mostly the world over, were faced with a major decision... should they retain the coach or look for a new man to take charge of the team for the new campaign?

Unlike recent years, this time the majority of Serie A clubs have opted for continuity.

In fact, 15 of the 20 top division clubs will start the new season with the same coach they had last term.

Is this a sign of a change in mentality when it comes to dealing with coaches or is it just an enforced decision due to the financial limitations afflicting the game in Italy?

Massimiliano Allegri was very close to get the sack by Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi despite a strong finish to the season which earned the Rossoneri a berth in the Champions League third qualifying round.

A few former Milan star players, the likes of Roberto Donadoni, Clarence Seedorf, Frank Rijkaard and Marco van Basten, were all tipped to succeed Allegri.

However, in the end, Berlusconi confirmed the former Cagliari coach for another year.

In Turin, there were no doubts that Antonio Conte would again lead Juventus this season.

However, the former battling midfielder warned his club chiefs that the team need a few quality additions for Juve to bridge the gap with the best European clubs in circulation – Bayern Munich, Manchester United, Chelsea, Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Conte is expecting the club to back his ambitious plans in this summer’s transfer market to be in a better position to guide Juventus to their first Champions League since 1996.

At Lazio, Vladimir Petkovic had an overall satisfying debut season in Serie A, culminating in the side’s first Coppa Italia success since 2009.

Petkovic was also retained but the same cannot be said for rivals Roma who again resorted to a foreign coach.

At first, Walter Mazzarri was being linked as the main candidate to replace Aurelio Andreazzoli. Eventually, the former Napoli boss accepted the offer at Inter.

Roma’s second choice was Allegri but he stayed put at Milan.

Eventually, Roma unveiled Rudi Garcia as the club’s first ever French coach.

The 49-year-old took Ligue 1 outfit Lille to new heights, leading them to a domestic double in season 2010/11.

After Mazzarri’s departure, Napoli opted for the experienced Rafa Benitez, fresh from his Europa League success at Chelsea.

The Spaniard thus has a golden opportunity to prove himself in the Serie A after his short and disappointing stint at Inter in the aftermath of Jose Mourinho’s departure from the San Siro.

Fabio Liverani was given the Genoa coaching job after a positive stint with the club’s youths.

As a player, Liverani, Coppa Italia winner with Lazio in 2003/04, had successful spells with Perugia, Lazio, Fiorentina and Palermo.

Liverani, who in 2001 became the first footballer of Somali descent to play for the Italian national team, will have an arduous task in helping Genoa to a safe mid-table waters and avoid the drop next season.

Serie A coaches 2013/14

Atalanta: Stefano Colantuono (confirmed).
Bologna: Stefano Pioli (confirmed).
Cagliari: Ivo Pulga-Diego Lopez (confirmed).
Catania: Rolando Maran (confirmed).
Chievo: Giuseppe Sannino (new).
Fiorentina: Vincenzo Montella (confirmed).
Genoa: Fabio Liverani (new).
Inter: Walter Mazzarri (new).
Juventus: Antonio Conte (confirmed).
Lazio: Vladimir Petkovic (confirmed).
Livorno: Davide Nicola (confirmed).
Milan: Massimiliano Allegri (confirmed).
Napoli: Rafa Benitez (new).
Parma: Roberto Donadoni (confirmed).
Roma: Rudi Garcia (new).
Sampdoria: Delio Rossi (confirmed).
Sassuolo: Eusebio Di Francesco (confirmed).
Torino: Giampiero Ventura (confirmed).
Udinese: Francesco Guidolin (confirmed).
Verona: Andrea Mandorlini (confirmed).