TMW
The Turin coach, Paolo Vanolispoke at the Palermo Football Conference. These are his words collected by TMW: “I did my whole apprenticeship, a wonderful apprenticeship starting from Eccellenza, then two years in Serie D and the opportunity to enter the national youth teams as observers. There I met great masters like Arrigo Sacchi and Antonio Conte, with whom I had to work at Chelsea. All the people I met influenced my career, I was lucky enough to meet important and successful coaches, who taught me how to manage.”
After Chelsea, Inter, then the big opportunity alone at Spartak Moscow. What was your experience like in Russia?
“Unforgettable and complicated, given that after two months the war broke out. I found myself, without shame, crying in the hotel and I made my family suffer. In Moscow, speaking with the ambassador, I was asked to honor the contract because Moscow was a safe city. I have to say that it’s true, given that if they were to touch Moscow, World War III would break out. Then we won the Cup, after 20 years, and it was beautiful and very important for me.”
Was leaving Conte complicated?
“Yes, the decision was painful. The coincidence was that while he was signing for Tottenham I received the call from Spartak. The choice was difficult, Antonio proved to be a great person.”
Then the arrival in Italy, at Venezia during the current season. There was a moment where he was also linked to Palermo. It is true?
“Yes, I had the pleasure of meeting the owners, the City Group. They wanted to invest in Spartak Moscow, purchasing 51%, then with the war everything stopped and I was contacted again after Baldini’s dismissal. They then did other choices. The return to Italy was in Venice, I also thought I deserved more but D’Amico and Pasqualin called me for this club that was last in the rankings. At that point, I’ll tell you a background story, since I’m friends with I called Pradè to ask him for advice and he told me things to my face. He told me: ‘I’m the director of Fiorentina and if they asked me if I wanted to take Vanoli I would answer: who the fuck is Vanoli?’ a little bad but he added that I had to demonstrate. I rolled up my sleeves and had a great run at Venezia.”
Then comes the call from Torino.
“The choice of Torino was simple, I will always thank Cairo and Vagnati for giving me the opportunity to coach a club that represents the history of football. I feel the responsibility and it is a great opportunity. Being first was pleasant but we have to look at the reality, I hope to give satisfaction.”
Today no one would say “who the fuck is Vanoli”?
“I tell the young people, I thought I was a well-known coach but hearing that made me think that Pradè was right. That’s the beauty of the apprenticeship.”
Zapata’s injury?
“I’m so sorry for the boy, we know how important he is, but we will all have to give something more for him. Balotelli? Let’s not talk about these things.”