Fabio Cannavaro To Make Serie A Coaching Debut Against Roma

TURIN, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 09: Fabio Cannavaro of Italy smiles during the FIFA 2010 World Cup ... [+] Qualifying Group 8 match between Italy and Bulgaria at Olimpico Stadium on September 9, 2009 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)

Italian World Cup-winning captain Fabio Cannavaro has been appointed as head coach of Serie A club Udinese for the remainder of the 2023-24 campaign following Saturday’s last-minute defeat to Hellas Verona.

With the club battling to stave off relegation, Cannavaro is Udinese’s third managerial change of the season after Andrea Sottil and Gabriele Cioffi, the latter overseeing 24 matches, winning on just four occasions.

Cioffi leaves the Zebrette in 17th, one place above the drop zone courtesy of a superior goal difference to Frosinone. The loss to direct rivals Verona, the third of the past four matches, persuaded President Franco Soldati to make bold changes to the Udinese coaching staff. There are five matches and 18 minutes still to play this season.

Eighteen minutes plus stoppage time to be precise: that’s how long remains in the match against AS Roma that was suspended on April 14th following Evan Ndicka’s on-field collapse. With the scores tied at 1-1, the Giallorossi will return to the Bluenergy Stadium for a 72nd-minute restart where Cannavaro will debut against former 2006 Italy teammate Daniele De Rossi.

TURIN, ITALY - MAY 24: Daniele De Rossi and Fabio Cannavaro of Italy during the Italy Training ... [+] Session on May 24, 2010 in Sestriere near Turin, Italy. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)

Regarded as one of the best defenders of all time, Cannavaro began his playing career at Napoli, then held European silverware with Parma, won La Liga twice with Real Madrid and had two Scudetto titles revoked at Juventus. The 2006 Ballon d’Or winner transitioned into the coaching arena in the United Arab Emirates and China, winning first and second-tier trophies, and was named the 2017 Chinese Football Association Coach of the Year.

Cannavaro has signed a contract with Udinese that runs until the end of the campaign and will be assisted by Francesco Troise and younger brother Paolo, two soccer professionals he worked alongside during his stints at Guangzhou. Former Udinese midfielder Giampiero Pinzi, who scored 17 goals in 334 games for the Bianconeri, has joined the technical staff.

Udinese’s statement on Monday read: “The club is delighted to welcome the World Cup winner and 2006 Ballon d’Or recipient to lead the team to the end of the season. Cannavaro has signed a contract until 30 June 2024.

His on-field achievements need no introduction and have made him one of the greatest players in the history of Italian football. Cannavaro is a young, well-prepared coach of international stature, who has already had the opportunity to prove his skills abroad.

His technical and on-pitch experience as well as his undisputed leadership qualities make Cannavaro the ideal person to save the club from relegation.”

Udinese was bought by Italian businessman Giampaolo Pozzo in 1986 and subsequently suffered three demotions, the last of which occurred in 1994. Together with his son Gino, who owns English second-division side Watford FC, the pair have swapped dozens of footballers over the years including current Udinese stars Gerard Deulofeu and captain Roberto Pereyra.

Twice qualified for the UEFA Champions League earlier this century, the Friulani have diminished as a force in Serie A, failing to obtain a top half-of-the-table finish since clinching fifth place under Francesco Guidolin in 2013. With Pinzi calling the shots in midfield that season, Antonio Di Natale instigated a glorious comeback to beat Liverpool at Anfield, adding 23 more goals in Serie A - seven less than the entire squad’s total in 2023-24.

Udinese's Antonio Di Natale (l) gets a shot on goal despite the attention of Liverpool's Jack ... [+] Robinson (Photo by PA Images via Getty Images)

Udinese has been kept scoreless ten times this season and has scored two or more goals in a match on just seven occasions. That’s why the remaining 18 minutes against Roma are so important. With the score locked at 1-1, Udinese can push Frosinone deeper into the water simply by avoiding defeat on Thursday. The managerial head-to-head between Cannavaro and De Rossi stands at one-nil, with the former triumphing when Benevento beat SPAL in 2022.

Cannavaro was most likely chosen by Pozzo and Soldati based on his preferred 3-5-2 formation, a staple of Calcio since the sixties and used by his predecessors in Udine for some time. Cannavaro can take inspiration from former employer Inter Milan, who won their 20th Serie A title within hours of his milestone appointment in Udine.

The 50-year-old is the third winner from the 2006 World Cup to manage a Serie A team this term, with De Rossi and Alberto Gilardino converting their respective caretaker roles into full-time positions at Roma and Genoa.

Here lies the opportunity for Cannavaro, who can capitalise on Roma’s defeat at Bologna by catching De Rossi off guard. With a managerial reputation stained by Benevento’s relegation to the third division, Udinese’s salvation is paramount to Cannavaro’s ascent into a long-lasting career at the top level.