For therefore lengthy a legend in Bergamo, may Gian Piero Gasperini grow to be the oldest coach to win Serie A with the Giallorossi? Giancarlo Rinaldi seems to be at his lengthy journey to get so far.
The mud had hardly settled on Inter’s historic defeat by Novara – the primary in additional than half a century in Italy’s prime division – than the merciless and soulless press assertion was launched. After barely 10 weeks – and one draw and 4 defeats in 5 matches – Gian Piero Gasperini’s time with the Nerazzurri was over. The sage sports activities scribes had seen their misgivings confirmed – a very good coach, maybe, however not one worthy of one of many nation’s largest names. A person to battle for honours within the provinces, perhaps, however not for a league title.
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That fateful day, virtually precisely 14 years in the past, may have been the defining second of the tactician’s profession. He had been a rising star however, Icarus-like, had maybe flown too near the solar. He went off to lick his wounds and begin the sluggish journey of rebuilding his fame.
MILAN, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 17: FC Internazionale Milano head coach Gian Piero Gasperini reacts throughout the Serie A match between FC Internazionale Milano and AS Roma at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on September 17, 2011 in Milan, Italy. (Picture by Claudio Villa/Getty Photographs)
In all honesty, those that keep in mind his appointment with Inter in the summertime of 2011 will recall the dimensions of the duty in entrance of him. This was the squad that Jose Mourinho had completed wonders with to win the treble in 2010, however was now within the strategy of a generational change. A interval of what may at finest be most kindly described as transition had began beneath Rafa Benitez and Leonardo earlier than the person from Grugliasco took the reins. It regarded like a frightening activity for anybody – it might show to be an virtually unmitigated catastrophe for the 70-odd days it lasted.
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After working within the Juventus youth set-up, Gasp first began carving out his teaching profession with Crotone after which Genoa. Throughout practically 200 video games with the Grifone, he began to get a fame for taking part in engaging, expansive soccer that introduced them out of Serie B and made them a power to be reckoned with within the prime division. Along with his trademark three-man defence and an aggressive angle, they certified for Europe too and made him one of many up-and-coming names on the benches of the Italian recreation.
The Inter interlude, nonetheless, risked ruining his identify perpetually. Now he was marked as a failure at one in every of Serie A’s huge three, and query marks have been raised about his potential to problem for main honours. There are many gamers, in addition to managers, who discover they provide their finest exterior of the glare of the common expectation of silverware. It was time for him to start out constructing one thing particular outwith the normal powerhouses of the sport.
That might not occur in a single day, nonetheless, and his journey to seek out the membership the place his concepts may flourish was not a simple one. He was one in every of Maurizio Zamparini’s many hire-’em and fire-’em victims in Palermo – no disgrace in that – and a return to Genoa failed to really recapture the heights he had scaled. In the summertime of 2016, although, he would begin the story that may finally make him one thing of a family identify throughout Europe.
Atalanta’s Italian coach Gian Piero Gasperini smiles, holding the trophy as Atalanta’s gamers have a good time after the UEFA Europa League remaining soccer match between Atalanta and Bayer Leverkusen on the Dublin Enviornment stadium, in Dublin, on Could 22, 2024. Atalanta gained the sport 3-0. (Picture by Paul ELLIS / AFP) (Picture by PAUL ELLIS/AFP through Getty Photographs)
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Given time and the assets he required, he made Atalanta synonymous with himself. For a membership so usually seen as an elevator one – coming up and down between Serie A and Serie B – he gave stability and power and a real id to their play. Though the personnel would change over time, the angle didn’t. It delivered the Europa League but in addition numerous different nice outcomes and performances down one of the best a part of a decade in cost. That they had the odd dalliance with goals of the Scudetto over that point, however the closest they ever acquired was a third-place end on plenty of events. This summer season, he determined it was time to maneuver on and have one other crack at an even bigger membership.
It’s a swap which, thus far, has been Roma’s achieve and Atalanta’s loss. The capital membership is off to a flyer, which bodes effectively for the reason that accepted knowledge about Gasperini sides is that they take time to completely implement his teachings. If that’s the case, there may very well be some actual enjoyable in retailer on the Stadio Olimpico. On the flip aspect, the poor Bergamaschi have grow to be draw specialists beneath Ivan Juric, and the query marks raised over his appointment have grown greater with each passing week. In reality, their outdated coach was all the time going to be a tough act to comply with, however their plunge in fortunes have to be a sore distinction with the rise of his present membership.
In reality, it’s not such a miracle that the Giallorossi are up difficult on the prime finish of the desk. After a sluggish begin final season beneath Daniele De Rossi and that man Juric once more – they have been down close to the drop zone after 14 weeks – they hit their stride beneath Claudio Ranieri, although, and went on a run of excellent kind. It hinted that the squad was there to maybe enter the Scudetto reckoning if they might keep away from such poor kind within the opening levels of this marketing campaign.
ROME, ITALY – OCTOBER 23: Gian Piero Gasperini, Head Coach of AS Roma, seems to be on previous to the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Section MD3 match between AS Roma and FC Viktoria Plzen at Stadio Olimpico on October 23, 2025 in Rome, Italy. (Picture by Paolo Bruno/Getty Photographs)
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It’s most likely too early to say if this squad is robust sufficient to convey a fourth league title their approach, and accidents to some key gamers are already beginning to hit. Nevertheless, it’s a proven fact that is likely one of the most wide-open championships in Europe, and that might pave the best way for one more shock winner. At 67 – he could be 68 by the summer season – it might make Gasperini the oldest coach to win the title, with the present holder of that honour none aside from Luciano Spalletti.
It might additionally lastly silence these ghosts of November 2011, which some individuals thought he would possibly by no means recuperate from. It has been an extended, laborious slog, however the brand new Roma boss has hardly ever acquired bored with proving individuals flawed. A triumph in Rome would present he is not only fairly within the provinces however may very well be topped within the capital as effectively. He already deserves his place amongst Italian teaching’s elite – however it might be good to have that little inexperienced, white and pink protect to show it.
