There can be little doubt that a wind of change has blown through Italian football, both at national and club level. In his quest to guide the reigning world champions to a place at the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa, coach Marcello Lippi has tested a host of new faces, mainly in forward positions, in a bid to freshen up his squad for the challenges ahead.
The nation's finest club sides, for their part, none of whom progressed further than the first knockout stage of last season's UEFA Champions League, appear to be following Barcelona's lead by employing young, progressive and attack-minded coaches in the mould of Josep Guardiola.
This sea change has been helped by the emergence of a new generation, who have moved in to fill the gap left by some of Italian football's most successful and experienced coaches. Indeed, Giovanni Trapattoni, Fabio Capello and Lippi are all currently involved in the international arena with Republic of Ireland, England and Italy respectively, while another former Serie A stalwart, Carlo Ancelotti, has taken up the reins at English side Chelsea.
The success of Barça's gamble on relative novice Guardiola has clearly caught the eye of AC Milan, who this season will be led by their 39-year-old former player Leonardo in his first top-flight coaching job. Juventus, for their part, have put 42-year-old Ciro Ferrara in permanent charge after his caretaker spell last campaign, a choice roundly backed by his former Napoli team-mate and now Argentina coach Diego Maradona.
One man who certainly cannot be accused of lacking experience is Inter Milan's Jose Mourinho, who has been charged with ending the club's 44-year drought in the European Cup/UEFA Champions League. Meanwhile, Roma's Luciano Spalletti, 50, begins his fifth season at the helm of the capital outfit, a landmark also reached by 52-year-old Cesare Prandelli at Fiorentina, with both coaches earning a reputation for producing adventurous teams. Also noteworthy is Napoli's appointment of 45-year-old Roberto Donadoni, who is expected to send out his side in an 3-5-2 formation.
27/08/2009, 3:04 PM
