PISTOIA. «I’d like to play tournaments in Pistoia», is the incipit of our pleasant phone call with Paolo Giovannini, a winner. A profile of him capable of making fans daydream. He could be in pole position for a sensational return to orange in the event of a difficult but far from impossible restart of the “Nuova Pistoiese” from Serie D.
It would be an incredible coup, also because he left a great memory among the fans here. All this could happen despite the manager having a ten-year contract with Arezzo. He has important offers, but he wouldn’t mind considering Pistoia at all. Giovannini’s career, which developed essentially between series D and C, is worthy of a top player: with Castelnuovo Garfagnana he went from series D to C2, with Lucchese from the then fifth level (the current Eccellenza) to the C1. From D to C1 he managed to go up with Massese. And again with Pontedera from C2 to C1. Finally with Arezzo from D to C. Seven promotions in five different teams and all occurred in the first year. Now still in amaranth he is in the running for the C playoffs as a newly promoted player. Today Mr. Indiani’s Arezzo will play in Alessandria against Juventus Next Gen in the first round of the post season. «The only place where I didn’t win in my first year – recalls Giovannini – was in Pistoia in 2011/12. I arrived at the eleventh matchday when the team had achieved 8 draws and three defeats. I’m sure that if I came back this time I wouldn’t be wrong”, says sibillino. Those who have a good memory remember that in 2011 Giovannini dismissed the former Juventus player Birindelli from the orange bench and obtained the termination of the most onerous contracts of the various ones: Colombo, Pagani, Braiati and others, people who had played in Serie A or B. They arrived with mister Indian players who are less popular on paper like Firenze, Macelloni, Bischeri.
The team finished in seventh place, winning many races. Giovannini explains his “belief” like this: «Do you know how much the transfer market matters to me? The 25%. Leadership, the pat on the back, the management of difficult moments are worth more. You need charisma and experience, not being overwhelmed by situations, speaking little, but making yourself understood. For example, last year, when we were away from Pianese three times, Indiani was able to continue working. Avoiding panic, we won the championship with four matchdays to spare despite the fact that in November we were five points behind the leader. In Pistoia for years the orange fans have watched with envy Giovannini’s Pontedera often ranked better than Pistoiese. With Ferrari – he reveals – there were differences of opinion which led to the end of the collaboration. However, in the following years we maintained an excellent interpersonal relationship. When I left Pistoia I had the opportunity to go to Carrara and Pontedera. I chose Pontedera to spend more time with my son who was a child at the time and is now 23 years old.” Giovannini also reveals his friendship with the super winning president of Empoli, Fabrizio Corsi: «We have known each other for many years having signed many players. We are almost the same age, he was born in 1961 and I was born in ’64. Ours is a friendship that goes beyond the professional relationship. He calls me the teacher and also the Moggi of the poor, naturally as a joke.”
Stefano Baccelli
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