Mancini on Juventus links, Italy triumph, working in England and ‘perfect leaders’ | OneFootball

Roberto Mancini shrugs off those Juventus links, explains the differences between working in Italy and England, while describing what it takes to be ‘a perfect leader.’

The coach had been linked with the Juventus job last week when Thiago Motta was dismissed, but the role instead went to Igor Tudor, reportedly because Mancini would not accept a contract only to the end of the current campaign.

He was at an event with students, answering questions based on the concepts of leadership and winning strategies, when asked what went wrong for Motta at Juventus.

“I honestly have no idea,” he replied.

What does he take into account when choosing the next club?

“First of all, I need to understand where I’m going, who I’m working with, if I have the choice of signing a certain type of player, whether they want to spend big,” replied Mancini.

“Coaches also have responsibilities and if things don’t go well, it’s only right that he takes responsibility. The coach decides the team, he earns more, so at times it’s right that if there are mistakes, he is the first to pay. It’s easier than changing all the players.

“Having said that, if a coach is hired, the club needs to give him time. In Italy, the culture has always been that if it’s not working within six months, the coach is up for debate. It is starting to happen in England now too. It’s important to have a club that supports you.”

Mancini on experience of Italian and English football

Former Italy and Saudi Arabia head coach Roberto Mancini

Mancini worked at Manchester City and therefore knows the differences in the football culture, both on and off the field.

“In England, the manager did everything, including organising trips and working out the tactics. There were no sporting directors, so the coach had to do it all, which at times wasn’t that bad, I must admit.

“In Italy, there is a director of sport and a director general. Now things have changed in England, they all have a director of sport too, but the coaches at the time had freedom and the owners did not interfere.

“The culture was different too, whether you won or lost, that evening everyone went down the pub. It was just a football match, if you lost, then you’d make it up next time.”

That kind of attitude was always rare in Italy, which is also why the pressure is much higher on coaches in Serie A or for the Nazionale.

Mancini was at the helm of the side that won the EURO 2020 trophy, so how did that come about?

“A leader must have a wider vision, more than you might think, and it’s fundamental the vision is shared by the rest of the squad. You must make them believe and explain it well.

“The Euros were incredible, but it wasn’t just that month. We had not lost a game in three or four years, doing incredible things.

“When I arrived, I said we would win the European Championship, and I really believed that. Over time, everyone started to believe. In order to achieve a target, you must try to catch the moon, even if it seems impossible. If you believe and make others follow, you become a perfect leader.”

The figure who best encapsulates that vision for Mancini was his Goal Twin and fraternal friend Gianluca Vialli.

“Vialli was a real leader in every sense, an extraordinary man, so funny, happy, intelligent, cultured. We were together from a young age, we had fun and he was like a brother to me.

“In that month at the Euros, he really got into the heads of the players. He was an extraordinary man.”