It is his first experience as a coach in the Italian Serie A but, Fabio Cannavaro, Udinese’s new coach, is ready to face the challenge that awaits him. It was a sold-out press room where Cannavaro spoke his first words. Many journalists and fans gathered at the Friuli – Bluenergy stadium: a similar sold out was last seen in the summer of 2010 for the return of Francesco Guidolin.
The world champion captain with Italy in Berlin 2006 he signed a contract with Udinese until 30 June without any automatic renewal option if salvation is achieved. He brought his brother with him Paolo Cannavaroborn in ’81 and the technical collaborator Francesco Troiseborn in ’72.
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The general manager was present Franco Collavino he thanked the fans for their support and Gabriele Cioffi “with whom we shared a tortuous path”. Then, here is Cannavaro’s presentation: «We chose Fabio Cannavaro for his technical skills, great determination and mentality. He will make an important contribution with his enthusiasm.” Also the manager of Udinese’s technical area Federico Balzaretti intervened: «We all know the qualities that the new coach has in terms of charisma and experience. But we are all focused on what is to come and what he will give to the team. Let’s make the fire of home games feel, let the boys feel our energy. We are all saved together.”
«I thank the club for the kind words and for the opportunity to be here. I heard from Mister Cioffi last night about the effort he made. These are things that happen to coaches. Beyond the great desire there is certainly the difficulty. There is a team with many players who speak different languages and communication is key. But those who play football know that there is one language.” These are the first words of Fabio Cannavaro who analyzed Udinese’s situation.
Today is the first training session with the team: «It’s not a technical problem, but there is fear. We need to make the kids understand that we need to raise our heads, that the club supports us as well as the fans. And we need to make as little mistakes as possible to reach our goal: salvation.”
The arrival in Udine
Cannavaro left Naples yesterday morning at 9.25am with a flight that landed in Venice at 10.45am. An hour later he was already at the Udinese headquarters where the general manager Franco Collavino and the director Federico Balzaretti were waiting for him. Cannavaro and members of his staff signed the contract, underwent medical examinations and then had lunch in the stadium restaurant. At 3pm he had his first training session with the team and Wednesday will already be the day of eve given that on Thursday evening the 19 minutes and 30 seconds of the match against Roma suspended on April 14th will be recovered.
It’s also therehe first time in Italy a match is played by two different coaches for the same team: Cannavaro, in fact, will make his debut on Thursday 25 April with Roma to recover 20 minutes after the stoppage in Friuli due to Ndicka’s illness. A match that saw his predecessor, Gabriele Cioffi, on the Juventus bench.
Pinzi justified absence
Giampiero Pinzi wasn’t there yesterday at Friuli. The former midfielder, who will be part of the new staff, was in Verona to terminate his contract with Hellas. He will soon be in Udine to support Cannavaro and the other coaches in their work. The figure of Pinzi, who already knows some players having worked in Udine first with Tudor and then with Gotti and Cioffi, will certainly play an important role. There is a lot to do in a short time. There is no cup to be raised, but salvation to be conquered. And for Udine and Friuli it is worth a lot.
Cannavaro’s CV
Cannavaro, 2006 world champion and Ballon d’Or winner, had started as Olaroiu’s assistant coach at Al Ahli (Saudi Arabia) in 2013, the following year, at the suggestion of Marcello Lippi, he was hired as the first coach of Guangzhou Evergrande (China) but was sacked in 2015. The same year he moved to Al Nassr (Saudi Arabia) but was sacked in February, in June his experience at Tianjin Quanjian (China) where he achieved promotion to the first division: in 2017 he resigned .
Then the return to Guangzhou Evergrande with which he won the Chinese Super Cup in 2018 and the championship in 2019. In September 2021 the contract with the club, which was having economic problems, was terminated. His first experience in Italy was in Serie B, in September 2022, with Benevento: after 16 points in 17 games, however, he was then sacked.
Tags: Fabio Cannavaro coach Udinese team afraid objective salvation
