The shirt of Messina, which he wore several times, like a second skin. Unforgettable goals, the roar of the Curve, the dream come true of promotion to the pros, the captain’s armband on his arm. Not just joys in those years also characterized by difficulties and corporate vicissitudes. Last September the decision to hang up his boots, but in the end the desire to play football is always too great.
Sicilia Football Club coached by Totò Cocuzza won the third category
So at 36 years old Totò Cocuzza just celebrated another promotion: “I was a player-coach in the third category with the Sicily Football Club, we just won the championship with 14 points on second. Now we will prepare the new one: we are carrying out some auditions, preparation will begin at the end of August. We are an emerging company that wants to do things properly.”
In the capital there is great anticipation for the moves of the Saudi owners, who would like to bring the Rosanero back to Serie A: “My Sicilia Fc has a passionate president like Santino Spuriawhich manages the store itself Palermo in the city center: we had fun, a nice journey can begin. The team of Dionysis clearly aims for the maximum with a very high level property but I also believe that no one wastes money”.
Totò Cocuzza tackled by an opponent
Cocuzza made his debut in Serie B with Catanzaro in the 2005/06 season but Messina remains the team with which he has linked his career the most, having exceeded one hundred appearances and thirty goals in total: “I always follow him, people dear to me have also returned. I was very happy when he climbed the rankings and I was hoping for the feat playoffs, which was really close. Bad luck and some really unfavorable episodes took their toll but it’s never easy to catch up. Salvation in advance is fine, however. I hope there is adequate planning for the future to bring him back to where he deserves.”
After Totò, Messina found themselves with Michele Emmausso another talented number ten: “He scored with the Cataniato Caserta he did very well. She has quality and important shots. They are players who have tested the field, they know what this shirt means, it must give something more to really make a difference. This is the beauty of Messina, where I have experienced beautiful moments and very ugly vicissitudes. But few cities make you feel so important.”
Totò Cocuzza on our microphones in 2015
The bond with his cousin is solid Giorgio Coronawho also experienced the satisfaction of his son’s debut in Serie A after the twenty goals in the Primavera withEmpoli: “We talk often. He lives this moment with more maturity and responsibility than a normal father. James he is lucky: he gets a lot of sound advice from a veteran father, who has established himself at a national level, this can only help him.”
Cocuzza left great football despite being born in 1987. An obligatory choice: “In Palermo I still divide my time between the field, work and the two little girls. Due to family issues I was no longer happy to be away from home and then with intellectual honesty the last two years have been exhausting, between a broken cruciate, an operated shoulder and an ankle. I didn’t have as much fun as before and so I preferred it that way. I finished with 19 goals Paternal and the championship victory and then a Favara. But after more than 20 years the call of family it was stronger.”
Totò Cocuzza with the captain’s armband
Among the 31 goals scored against Messina it is difficult to choose the best: “I have wonderful memories but I want to mention the double at home with the Cosenza, on the day of his return as captain among the professionals. It was a magical night for me, the most significant. It was my rebirth and that of the club, which had just restarted after a failure.”
The best result of the last decade is precisely that seventh place in C with Of Naples trainer: “Good market choices were made. Arturo’s great merit? He was a great motivator. A normal six-player with him became eight-player, he brought out the best in you.”
The handshake between Pietro Sciotto and Totò Cocuzza in 2017
Cocuzza was also a player of Messina Silly and does not share the climate of great negativity: “I’ve returned to Serie D twice, there seems to be a spell. I clearly cannot express in-depth opinions but I see too many criticisms. This property also spends, is investing money to try to propitiate a dream. I don’t accept the total silence of the rest of the city, which could re-emerge with little. Also because there would be possibilities.”
He is also in the running for the position of new director Umberto Calaiòwho was Cocuzza’s prosecutor: “He followed me for three years but I’ve known him for twenty. He is honest and loyal, a decent person. I have little to say to him, he knows very well how to behave in certain places. He is a real man, I wish him good luck and good luck in his work if he really is the new director”.
