Vanoli reunites with ‘proud’ Conte after Tottenham snub | OneFootball

Antonio Conte and Paolo Vanoli will reunite in Torino-Napoli tomorrow after working for several years together for Italy’s national team, Chelsea and Inter.

Serie A leaders Napoli travel to Torino to face the struggling Granata on Sunday.

Torino appointed Vanoli, a former Parma and Fiorentina defender, last summer to replace Ivan Juric.

Vanoli earned Serie A promotion with Venezia last season and had previously worked for Conte’s staff at the Italian national team, Chelsea, and Inter.

This means the pair won one Premier League title and one FA Cup with the Blues, and one Serie A title with the Nerazzurri.

However, when Conte asked his ex-assistant to join him at Tottenham in November 2021, Vanoli refused the offer and waited for a call to become a first-team coach.

A few weeks later, he was appointed by Russian side Spartak Moscow.

7 May 2000: Paolo Vanoli of Parma gets away from Conte of Juventus during the Serie A match between Juventus and Parma at the Stadio Delle Alpi, Turin, Italy. Mandatory Credit: Grazia Neri/ALLSPORT

“Conte and I spent four years together. It’s hard to pass the perfectionism and resilience to the players,” Vanoli said at a pre-match press conference on Saturday (via TMW).

“However, Conte’s best ability is to make a team strong, united, and resilient. This goes beyond the tactical and technical level, in which he is still very prepared. I’ve always been focused and respected my role as an assistant. It was a great lesson, and when I started my journey, I tried to add my ideas as well.”

Vanoli and Conte have remained on good terms, even if the Torino boss didn’t follow Conte to Tottenham.

“I brought Vanoli with me when I had the opportunity. He worked on my staff,” Conte said during his pre-match press conference on Friday.

“He’s a curious lad. I was sorry when we had to split, but at the same time, I was proud I had given him something. And surely, he gave me something, too, during those years.”