Gennaro Gattuso, OM coach, cited the technician who had the most impact on him during his playing career.
Gennaro Gattuso had a fairly exceptional career as a footballer, during which he had the chance to work alongside the greatest coaches. But which one left the biggest impression on him? His answer to this question is surprising to say the least.
Gattuso marked by Guardiola
In an interview with L’Equipe, “Rino” indicated that on a technical level the one from whom he learned the most was Alberto Zaccheroni. He won the Scudetto under his orders in 1999. “I had Alberto Zaccheroni, who was a tactical monster and who explained every detail of the match to you, but who perhaps lacked that little extra to convey motivation. They all left me something.”
And what about Marcello Lippi, with whom he conquered the 2006 World Cup in Germany. “I’ve taken things from coaches I’ve had, of course. Carlo Ancelotti, who is an all-rounder: he manages to get into everyone’s heads, which is an incredible gift. Marcello Lippi didn’t let you get away with anything, he spread fear, you had to behave well otherwise you weren’t part of his team. Two totally different methodologies, two winners. I had Walter Smith, at 17, a coach of incredible kindness and education, but when his brain tilted, he could become the worst criminal in Glasgow.
Finally, the current OM coach also mentioned Guardiola. He did not play under his thumb, but was marked by his precepts when he faced his Barça. “I always thought about the game, yes. And around 27-28 years old, we started playing against Barça of Xavi, Iniesta, Ronaldinho, Messi. Something happened inside me. We ran for ninety-five minutes, I did a marathon in every game against them and I touched the ball three or four times. We didn’t understand what was happening to us. We wondered why, when there were seven or eight players behind the line waiting for the ball, and we never got one back!”
