Guidolin: “Proud of My Achievements. Football? I Don’t Miss It.”

Football Italy » Guidolin: “Proud of My Achievements. Football? I Don’t Miss It.”
Preview Guidolin: “Proud of My Achievements. Football? I Don’t Miss It.”

The former Udinese coach reflects: “There was a plan for me with the national team, but then they went with Conte. Regrets? I should have gone abroad sooner.”

Like Frank Sinatra, with a touch of Edith Piaf, Francesco Guidolin built his career on his own terms and harbors few, if any, regrets. “I should have moved abroad earlier, that`s true. Because everything is simpler and more relaxed there.”

Francesco Guidolin, Udinese coach.

Francesco Guidolin during his time as Udinese coach.

Guidolin, how are you celebrating your seventieth birthday?

“With my family. I`m sad not to have my grandchildren, Gabriel and Gia, with me, but they have to go to school. London, where my son Giacomo now lives, has become a bit of a compass for our family life. But we`ve always loved it. My wife Michela and I bought a small apartment there many years ago.”

Don`t you miss football?

“I stepped away at the right time, and the same goes for my role as a pundit. I had a great time with my friends at Dazn, but at a certain point, I realized it was time to dedicate myself more to other things – my family, my grandchildren. And I still watch football, of course. My two sons are football agents; Riccardo, the elder, founded a new company in Castelfranco focusing on youth academies. And I don`t miss football mostly because, in my travels between Italy and England, whenever I can, I go to watch Gabriel, who is eight years old and seems very talented, train. It`s too early to say he`ll become a professional footballer, but he has qualities, a great left foot, for example. I hope that in the future, he can choose between Chelsea and Arsenal, the clubs he trains with now. My dream is to see him play in the Premier League when he`s older.”

Guidolin was the last coach to qualify Udinese for the Champions League in 2011 and 2012.

Francesco Guidolin was the last coach to lead Udinese to Champions League qualification in 2011 and 2012.

England seems to be your `strawberry fields`…

“When I went to coach Swansea, in Cardiff, I discovered another world, but Michela and I had fallen in love with Great Britain, and especially London, much earlier.”

At seventy, as with every milestone birthday, one takes stock. Are you satisfied with your career?

“I reached Europe eight times with four different teams without ever managing a `big` club. I went to Serie B three times by choice and always achieved promotion on the first attempt. I won the Coppa Italia with Vicenza. So yes, I am proud of my career. I would have liked a consulting role at Udinese, but it wasn`t possible. Speaking of Udinese, I left when I still had three years left on my contract. I don`t know how many coaches have done that.”

Francesco Guidolin.

Francesco Guidolin.

So, no regrets then?

“Aside from going abroad too late, no. But I don`t know if that can be strictly defined as a regret, because, as I told you, I am very happy with what I have done. Always in my own way, on my own timeline.”

You were close to big clubs; perhaps you would have liked a role with the national team…

“President Tavecchio and I crossed paths one day at Coverciano. It was an idea, but then they decided to go with Conte, who is excellent.”

Are you content with just riding your bike now?

“Cycling every day, and not just that: I walk a lot, I`m feeling well.”

What`s your first football memory?

“The small field behind my house, a piece of land owned by my parents. We`d use rocks for goalposts and play matches all day, three against three, four against four.”

Your last?

“Nothing comes to mind.”

Francesco Guidolin.

Francesco Guidolin.

A coach you admire?

“I don`t like playing out from the back; I prefer teams that press high, that demonstrate their strength in the opponent`s half. So I`d say Italiano, who plays like that, and logically I`d add Gasperini. Abroad, Klopp and his successor Slot. Liverpool is a spectacle.”

A player you would have liked to coach?

“Bernardo Silva, Xavi.”

What gift would you like for your seventieth birthday?

“I`m lucky; it`s three consecutive days of celebration: first Grandparents` Day, then my birthday, then Saint Francis`s Day, my name day. In my time, on October 4th, we didn`t go to school because Saint Francis was Italy`s patron saint, and I used to think the holiday was thanks to me, imagine that….” Guidolin laughs. That egocentric child, like all children, transformed into one of the most reserved figures in the football world. He did everything his way, with pride, regardless of titles.

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