Why are Italian Coaches Dominating the Sidelines at Euro 2024?

Italy continues its long-standing tradition of producing top-notch coaches for the European Championship, with Italian Coaches Dominating the Sidelines at Euro 2024. This time, a remarkable five Italian coaches are leading national teams at the tournament in Germany.

Luciano Spalletti, the coach of Italy, is joined by Vincenzo Montella (Turkey), Domenico Tedesco (Belgium), Marco Rossi (Hungary), and Francesco Calzona (Slovakia). With five Italian coaches out of the 24 teams in Germany, Italy surpasses the Netherlands’ record of three coaches at Euro 2008, when there were only 16 teams.

What sets these Italian coaches apart is their education and training. All of them, except for Tedesco, studied at the Italian federation’s coaching school, which is overseen by the esteemed former coach Renzo Ulivieri. Ulivieri, who is also the president of the Italian Soccer Coaches’ Association, expressed his pride in an interview with The Associated Press.

According to Ulivieri, the success of Italian coaches can be attributed to two factors. Firstly, the coaching school provides a solid foundation for their development. Secondly, the coaches gain valuable experience through their apprenticeships in both professional and amateur leagues, where tactical knowledge plays a crucial role.

This strength in coaching is not limited to the national teams alone. Italian coaches have also made their mark at the club level. Carlo Ancelotti, a renowned Italian coach, recently secured his fifth Champions League title with Real Madrid. Additionally, Gian Piero Gasperini led Atalanta to victory in the Europa League, while Vincenzo Italiano guided Fiorentina to the Europa Conference League final.

Ulivieri believes that the secret to Italian managerial success lies in their ability to excel even in challenging situations. He describes it as an “Italian-Neapolitan art” that proves invaluable in the coaching profession.

Overall, Why are Italian Coaches dominating, Italy’s dominance in producing exceptional coaches is a testament to their commitment to excellence and the rich footballing culture that permeates the country.

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Luciano Spalletti, the most renowned among Italian coaches in the tournament, also received the highest ratings.

Having completed his coaching education at the FIGC’s school in 1998-99, Spalletti graduated with top honors: 110 cum laude. His thesis focused on “The 3-5-2 playing system.”

Taking over the Italian national team last year, Spalletti made the move shortly after departing Napoli. He guided the southern club to their first Serie A title in over thirty years.

This marked the end of a long wait for his first Italian league title, despite managing teams like Inter Milan and Roma. Spalletti secured Italian Cup victories with Roma in 2007 and 2008, followed by Russian league triumphs with Zenit St. Petersburg in 2010 and 2012.

At 65 years old, Spalletti has brought his attacking style and creativity to a revitalized Italy.

Nevertheless, the Azzurri have had a shaky start to their title defense. Italy secured a 2-1 victory over Albania in their opening match but suffered a 1-0 defeat to Spain, where they were outplayed.

Vincenzo Montella excelled in his studies, finishing with a perfect score of 110/110 in 2011.

He recently took on the role of coaching Turkey’s national team, having been based in the country since 2021 as the head coach of Super Lig side Adana Demirspor.

With an impressive coaching career that includes stints at Fiorentina, AC Milan, Sampdoria, and Sevilla, Montella’s coaching highlight so far has been winning the Italian Super Cup with Milan.

A former prolific forward, Montella played a key role in Italy’s journey to the Euro 2000 final.

Described as a stellar student by Ulivieri, Montella’s coaching journey mirrors his dedication and hard work as a player.

After a successful start with a 3-1 win against Georgia, Montella’s Turkey faces a tough challenge against Portugal in their upcoming match.

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Francesco Calzona‘s coaching journey began in Slovakia, marking his first head coach position at the age of 55. Despite his lack of experience in the role, Calzona had an impressive apprenticeship, serving as an assistant coach to Maurizio Sarri at Napoli from 2015-18. He also played a crucial role in Spalletti’s staff at the Serie A team, contributing to their successful league title run.

In August 2022, Calzona decided to leave Napoli before their title-winning season, following the recommendation of Marek Hamsik to take over as the coach of Slovakia’s national team. His leadership led Slovakia to Euro 2024, showcasing his potential as a coach.

Napoli then turned to Calzona in February, appointing him as their third coach in a challenging season. Despite the circumstances, he was given a contract for the remainder of the season and allowed to juggle both roles.

Slovakia made headlines at Euro 2024 by defeating Belgium in their opening match, pulling off a major upset. Although they faced a setback in their second group match against Ukraine, Calzona’s coaching abilities were evident in the team’s performance.

Marco Rossi‘s journey in the world of soccer coaching has been quite eventful. After considering joining his brother’s accountancy firm, a chance encounter with the sporting director of Honved changed the course of his career. Now, at 59 years old, he has led the Hungarian team to significant achievements, including their first league title in 24 years. Despite facing challenges, Rossi’s passion for coaching shines through in his dedication to the sport.

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Domenico Tedesco, the youngest among Italian coaches, stands out as the sole one who did not attend the federation’s coaching school.

The 38-year-old Italian-German took on the role of Belgium coach in February last year and swiftly molded a strong and captivating team. His tenure remained undefeated until the unexpected defeat against Slovakia.

Having moved from Italy to Germany at the age of 2, Tedesco kickstarted his coaching journey with Stuttgart’s youth squads at the age of 22, all while working at the Mercedes factory.

However, relating with Why are Italian Coaches dominating, Tedesco acquired his coaching license in Germany and excelled in a class that included the current German coach, Julian Nagelsmann. He managed senior teams at Schalke, Spartak Moscow, and Leipzig, leading the latter to victory in the German Cup in 2022.