Five managers who can replace Rafa Benitez at Inter Milan (Part 2)
Part 1 of the article can be read http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Inter-c39567
Walter Zenga
Teams managed: Steaua Bucureşti, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Red-Star-c40350 Belgrade, Catania Calcio, US Palermo (11 in total)
Active years in management: 11
Walter Zenga is a former Inter Milan goalkeeper who kept the goal for Serie A outfit for 12 years (1982-1994). Following his retirement from football in 1999, Zenga stepped into management with Major League Soccer outfit http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/New-England-Revolution-c40026. Zenga stayed
in http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/America-c38390 for a single season and following stints with a host of clubs, the former Azzurri goalkeeper got his first decent contract with Catania Calcio in Serie A. The manager did some admirable work with the Sicilian outfit and left the club after a single
season to join arch-rivals US Palermo.
However, Zenga’s next Sicilian adventure was less fruitful and President Maurizio Zamparini sacked the manager in January this year. Zenga moved on to manage the Saudi Arabian football club Al-Nassr where he is still plying his trade.
The fact that Zenga is being linked with Nerazzurri is more down to his legendary status among the club faithful rather his managerial ability. Should Massimo Moratti appoint Zenga as the new manager, it would be a short term fix for the President and he
will be looking for a new candidate towards the end of season.
Zenga has never managed a Champions League playing club and one can argue that a team of Inter Milan’s pedigree – reigning Italian and Champions League champions – would be a step too big for him at this stage.
Luciano Spalletti
Teams managed: UC Sampdoria, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Roma-c31603, Zenit St. Petersburg (7 in total)
Active years in management: 15
Luciano Spalletti is arguably one of the most talented Italian managers around. After having a less than successful playing career in Italy, Spalletti moved into management with Empoli FC where he made a stunning impact. The talented manager earned Empoli
successive promotions from Serie C1 to Serie A. The success was followed by some years of mediocrity and it wasn’t until 2004/05 season when Spalletti finished fourth with Udinese Calcio winning a Champions League spot as a result.
By this time, Spalletti was a highly sought after manager and AS Roma duly took him on board. Gilarossi were a wobbling ship having replaced a horde of managers following http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Fabio-c13152 Capello’s departure (or betrayal depending on the side you are on). Luciano brought
around a sense of calm and his attacking brand of football to Rome.
Under Spalleti, Lupi were completely transformed and started playing in a revolutionary 4-5-1 formation. The ‘1’ in the formation was http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Francesco-Totti-c13940; a trequartista by nature, as Gilarossi played a highly entertaining brand of football. Owing much to the
versatility of the players, the formation would often change to 4-6-0 on the pitch as Totti would often drop deep. The result of this formation was that Gilarossi dominated the midfield and played quick one-touch football while opposition defences were left
with no one to mark. The scoring responsibilities were evenly spread across the midfield and Serie A defences weren’t able to comprehend the latest trend Spalletti had introduced.
Despite finishing Serie A runner-ups on multiple occasions, Roma failed to win anything substantial with Spalletti in charge and by the start of 2009/10 season, Spalletti had lost the dressing room. The two parties parted ways on mutual consent as a move
to Zenit St. Petersburg beckoned.
Spalletti has managed the emerging Russian giants for less than a season and had already won the Russian Premier League title. Spalletti’s men have broken a plethora of club and league records along the way. If rumours are to be taken seriously, Zenit owners
will be giving Spalletti a 100 million Euros war chest for summer transfers – enough to make any manager stay.
Should Inter manage to bring home the charismatic manager, it would be an ideal fit. Spalletti is known for giving the teams he manages an identity, just what Inter are lacking at the moment. However, having said that, Zenit officials have made it clear
that Spalletti will be in http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Russia-c2991 for at least one more season. So, a move for Luciano remains a dream, at least for now.
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