Five games plus 20 minutes. This is how long Fabio Cannavaro’s experience as Udinese coach lasted. Enough to achieve an unexpected salvation, achieved at the last minute thanks to the victory in Frosinone on the last day obtained with Davis’ goal. The Friulian club he has in fact decided to move on without confirming the former World Champion and Ballon d’Or defender in 2006 on the bench.
Cannavaro announces farewell to Udinese
It was Cannavaro himself who announced the divorce (which was in the air given that the championship ended on May 27th and there was no immediate confirmation) with a post on Instagram in which his bitterness is evident. This is the message published by Cannavaro: “President Pozzo communicated to me today the company’s decision not to continue our professional relationship. I thank him for the opportunity given to me, and I’m sorry I can’t continue this short but intense journey which in the last month and a half of the championship led us to accomplish a great and exciting feat.
I would like to point out that on my part there would have been the desire to continue this adventure in Friuli, a land that entered my heart as well as its people, and for this reason I made myself available to society unconditionally. I wish the club, the players and the splendid Udinese fans the best successes.”
The club’s statement
Subsequently, Udinese also made the divorce official: “Udinese Calcio communicates that Fabio Cannavaro will not continue his career on the Juventus bench next season. The club sincerely thanks the coach and his staff for their professionalism and the important contribution made towards achieving salvation. Good luck to Mister Cannavaro and his collaborators for their next experiences.”
Udinese are thinking of Di Francesco or Vivarini
Who will be the next Udinese manager? Marco Baroni, who signed with Lazio, has disappeared, Udinese’s ideas range from Alessio Dionisi (who however is one step away from joining Palermo) to Eusebio By Francesco and Vincenzo Vivarini: the first is under contract with Frosinone, a club that has already made it known that it is willing to release him in the event of a call from Serie A. The second is linked to Catanzaro and in the sights of other companies.
The fans on social media applaud Cannavaro
Reactions are pouring in on social media: “You are a great Captain.. Udine thanks you for what you have done and shown respect for our people in a difficult moment in history and for this society.. Thank you Brother.. Good luck.. ” and then: “Thank you mister, you saved a team comparable to the Titanic…Friuli will always be grateful” and then: “I would have liked you to stay with us! Wrong corporate choice. Thanks for everything Fabio, you will not be forgotten”
There are those who write: “Thank you Fabio for all the effort you put into it! You definitely deserved one more chance… but on the other hand, society doesn’t even know what to do anymore! Good luck for the future!” and also: “Fabio you were great and I’m sorry not to see you on that bench as the great man and professional that you are. You saved a team from a deep crisis and with your touch you raised it again.”
The web is unleashed: “I apologize as a fan on behalf of that incompetent who rules our club” and also: “In today’s football, gratitude no longer exists, how can you not re-confirm a coach who saves the team…” and again: “I’m sorry, I would have liked see you still on the Udinese bench, but then Pipinot must have lost all common sense. Good luck in the continuation of your honored sporting career!!” and finally: “You could see that there was a good relationship with the players.. certainly the esteem for the cazzimma and the passion transmitted will have had a great impact on what they showed on the pitch.”
