How Gattuso became the rock Pisa leans on

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  • Cancelling routine pre-season friendlies without informing your opponents beforehand is extremely unusual. When Celta Vigo took the field in Pisa in early August, they were astonished to discover that their host’s had failed to appear, and were eventually forced to have a training session instead. But Pisa’s players could hardly be blamed. They were simply unable to leave the team hotel, as entrances were blocked by hundreds of protesting fans.

    The ultras demanded the club bring back beloved coach Gennaro Gattuso, who resigned claiming the management made his work impossible. The whole city sided with the man who became a cult hero after leading the club to unlikely promotion to Serie B last term. They were determined to bring him back, and more than 20,000 users joined a special Facebook group opened to instigate Gattuso’s return. Their efforts were not in vain and by the beginning of September, the 38-year-old was officially back at the helm of the club.

    It is easy to understand why the Pisa faithful fell in love with Gattuso. One of the most colourful players of his generation, Rino was one of AC Milan’s ultimate symbols throughout his 13 years at the club as a combative defensive midfielder. His passion was incomparable, and he was a key figure in formulating huge achievements for both club and country; including World Cup glory in 2006. And yet, Gattuso’s crazy temperament was apparently unsuitable to management, an arena often requiring totally different characteristics.

    Gattuso thought differently, and his choices in the burgeoning stages of his career were just as crazy as his tackles on the field used to be. It seemed as if he took on roles at the most poorly managed clubs by intention, his chances of building long-term projects nonexistent.

    Gattuso the manager...

    • Sion - February 2012 to May 2013
    • Palermo - June 2013 to September 2013
    • Crete - June 2014 to December 2014
    • Pisa - August 2015 to Present

    It all started at Sion. Gattuso went to Switzerland in order to prolong his playing career upon leaving the San Siro in 2012 and was suitably offered a job as a player-manager in February 2013. Incredibly, he became the team’s fifth coach that season, which is business as usual for the eccentric Sion owner Christian Constantin. It is hardly surprising the Italian was sacked by May.

    Think of a president with an even greater penchant for hiring and firing coaches and Palermo’s Maurizio Zamparini should instantly spring to mind. Of course, Gattuso travelled to Sicily immediately after leaving Sion. Palermo were relegated that summer, and the former star hoped to take them back to Serie A. He wasn’t afforded such an opportunity and was duly sacked by September.

    That wasn’t enough for Gattuso, who found an even more bizarre adventure in Greece. Arriving to debt-stricken OFI Crete in the summer of 2014 was a move greeted by local journalists immediately speculating when the Italian would leave a club that failed to its pay salaries. Rino is best remembered in Crete for a very emotional press conference, when he shouted at the press in broken English, slammed his fist on the table and adamantly gestured his desire to keep the project going. “I didn’t come here for holiday. One year at OFI is like ten years at another club”, he said. Eventually, he had to give the unpaid players money from his own pocket and left in January, while the team went bankrupt and didn’t finish the season.

    By then, Gattuso’s new career was becoming a sort of a joke, and few took his appointment at third division Pisa in the summer of 2015 seriously. In fact, the Tuscan club looked a “logical” next step for Rino after Sion, Palermo and OFI, because it is much less stable than the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa. Pisa used to be a respectable Serie A team in the ‘80s and early ‘90s, and stars like Dunga and Diego Simeone started their European journeys there. But the last two decades were disastrous. The club went bankrupt twice, was dissolved and refounded in 2009, and has been on the brink ever since.

    Pisa changed 13 coaches in six years before Gattuso took over. He looked destined for another disaster, but the reality was totally different. A great motivator, he managed to unite the players. His antics on the touchline were remarkable, he often got in trouble with referees, and on one occasion even hit his own assistant, but that was all part of the show that the fans loved. Pisa won most of their home matches, drew 10 out of 17 away fixtures, and sensationally finished second in their group, qualifying for the playoffs. There, Gattuso masterminded some brilliant performances, and the club was unexpectedly promoted, even though its financial situation continued to be critical.

    Gattuso the player...

    • Serie A: 2003–04, 2010–11
    • Coppa Italia: 2002–03
    • UEFA Champions League: 2002–03, 2006–07
    • FIFA World Cup: 2006

    The summer has been absolutely chaotic and by the end of July, Gattuso decided that he couldn’t work in such conditions. “Difficulties are part of the job, and I have shown during last season that I am not afraid of obstacles. However, red lines have been crossed, and new problems are arising on daily basis. It is impossible to prepare the team for the league”, he claimed upon resigning.

    But the fans simply refused to accept that decision and, as a result, August has been a very emotional month in Pisa. The whole town seemed to be united behind their idol and demanded a resolution that would see his return.

    “You can’t even imagine how proud I am thanks to you. The uncertainly is difficult, but your love helps me to deal with the situation”, Gattuso wrote in late August, hinting that the outcome would be positive just days before he was reappointed.

    The reaction was truly astonishing. More than 5,000 fans attended Gattuso’s first training session, more than some Serie B sides attract for matches. Pisa is totally in love with Gattuso. They believe anything is possible with him in the city, even though the team are clear favourites to go straight back down.

    “I am not a hero. The players are the heroes because they made great sacrifices last season. I am sorry to have been away for a month, but now the enthusiasm is back, and we will give everything we can. Our season starts with the game against Novara”, he said upon returning.

    Serie B started before Gattuso returned, but Pisa’s first fixture at Ternana was postponed because of the disastrous earthquake. Thus, hosting Novara became the opening fixture for them, and they won 1-0 in a very spirited performance. Gattuso – still under suspension from last season – sat in the stands and celebrated wildly after the final whistle. The visit to Ternana on Thursday was ruined when Pisa conceded a penalty and remained with ten men after just five minutes, but they still gave a phenomenal fight, and only lost 1-0 while coming close to scoring.

    What happens next is anyone’s guess, and Pisa might be bankrupt again before the season is over. And yet, whatever the outcome, Gattuso has proved that he is a capable coach, backed by the unconditional love and respect of his players and fans. If he gets an opportunity at a stable club in the future, the sky could be the limit for him.

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