Cagliari, Ranieri’s promise to Gigi Riva

There’s a boy who comes from Testaccio, sanguine Rome, a full-back of seventies football who then invented, almost by chance, a career as a coach. They gave him some defensivist when, in that era, defending oneself was a crime, in England they called it tinkermanthe adjuster, in Rome er soup maker because, according to the football apostles of scientists, he always made the same soup.
Then came the Leicester legend so how good is that boy. Who is now 72 years old, his name is Claudio Ranieri and he can tell another story, not as prestigious as that of Leicester, but if possible more beautiful, more exciting and full of feeling. For the second time he saved Cagliari in Serie A, after bringing him there. It had also happened thirty-three years ago. Carmine Longo wanted him in Sardinia, summer ’89, the team in Serie C, there wasn’t even light at the headquarters. First year: promotion to B and Italian Cup C. Second year: promotion to A. Third year: salvation to A. Then he toured extensively across half of Europe with a career that rarely received the recognition it deserved. He won the Italian Cup and the Super Cup with Fiorentina after bringing them back to Serie A; he built the best Valencia of history, leaving behind a Copa del Rey (6-2 in the semi-final against Real Madrid) and an Intertoto and bequeathing to Cuper the team of the two Champions League finals; he saved Parma in 2006-07 and no one knows how it was possible. He trained the greatest in Italy, Juventus, Inter, Roma, then came Leicester.
But as a feeling none of this can be compared to Cagliari. This is a fantastic story for him. Last year he burst into tears in Bari, with that crazy last-minute promotion. Yet, despite his strong, very strong emotion, he was able to go under the curve of the Cagliaritans to ask them not to insult their opponents. It was he, when he coached Sampdoria, who brought the “pasillo de honor” to Italy to pay homage to Inter who were newly champions of Italy. Ranieri’s style is a rare commodity in our football. Last year they asked him for the feat, focusing on the motion of affection: he returns to Cagliari for a miracle. Also Gigi Riva (impossible to forget about him on a day like this) had asked him through his son. Promotion to the play-offs and salvation yesterday. And how he got there is something extraordinary: with the changes. Also yesterday, in the second half between Viola and Prati, Viola’s free kick and Prati’s goal. It’s been going on like this all season. Just one case? Only Fortune? It’s probably the fresh head of this 72 year old boy who sees everything inside the game, the needs, the difficulties, the spaces, the performance of the players, the motivation of those he brings to the bench. This is what a coach does. When the referee blows the whistle to start the match, few in the world notice what is happening on the pitch like Claudio.
He was a legend at Leicester, he becomes a legend at Cagliari. When he finally enjoys retirement, it will always be too soon.