The new Gialloblù coach, who turns 30 on July 29, introduces himself: “I felt a very beautiful energy, right from the first chats. We want to make the most of the resources we have and the potential of our players.”
The big day has arrived. The spotlight is on Carlos Cuesta, the youngest coach in Serie A and across Europe`s top five leagues (he turns 30 on July 29). Parma signed him after extensively following his time as Mikel Arteta`s assistant at Arsenal. He has a two-year contract worth just under one million euros per season (plus bonuses). As expected, he has been the focus of fan attention and curiosity for several days.
Introducing him in the press room at the Tardini stadium was CEO Federico Cherubini, who first met Cuesta during his time at Juve. It was Cherubini himself who wanted Cuesta as a youth coach for the Bianconeri, having recognized his potential and been impressed by the enthusiasm of this young man who, with courage and tenacity, built his career himself, despite not having a playing background or significant coaching resume to show.
Why Parma Chose Cuesta
Parma is betting on him. The pitch will show if this gamble pays off. “This choice isn`t about surprising anyone or creating special effects,” Cherubini stated. “We reflected on two themes. We conducted a broad systemic analysis: we often talk about projects, yet 50 percent of coaches are dismissed – and we have done it ourselves. This long-standing trend means coach tenure in Italy is among the lowest in European leagues: less than 300 days. We entrust multi-year projects only to interrupt them after one season.
We asked ourselves how to respond to this system, which often leads to a relationship of conflict between coaches and clubs: there`s a lack of trust. We thought we needed to change something: reinstate the coach as a structural element of the club`s growth. Therefore, we wanted to rely on a profile that reflected our medium-term objectives. A coach who has had many international experiences, both with first teams and youth sectors. He is certainly ambitious and young. In our opinion, Carlos Cuesta is the right choice.”
Carlos Cuesta`s Presentation at Parma
Speaking in impressive Italian, Cuesta introduced himself and immediately explained: “I feel truly honored to be part of a great club like Parma. It felt very natural. I felt great trust, very organically. Surely, age might be a surprise for many, but for me, age is just a number; my past has always been connected to this.
I don`t want it to be an excuse: I only want to be judged for being the coach of Parma. I don`t have a single model, but I want to constantly learn from everyone. Certainly, my past in Italy, Spain, and England has helped me a lot in forming certain ideas. But I want to learn from everyone, not just in football but from other sports too.”
It was impossible to get him to name a player he`d like to have (“those are matters the club will discuss”) or his preferred formation (“you attack with eleven and defend with eleven. You have to be a team”). “We will try to have an organized team in all departments with very clear principles. We want to make the most of the resources we have and the potential of our players, to have a strong team personality.”
His initial impact with Parma has been very positive. “I felt a very beautiful energy, right from the first chats. I found very humble people who are eager to work and make you feel at home.” Now it`s up to him to guide the players, convey his ideas, and put them in the best conditions to give their maximum. The obvious goal is survival (Serie A safety), but Cuesta never uses this word.
“Serie A is a league with many good players and coaches. It`s a truly beautiful challenge. We will have a clear identity, a guideline, but we must also be versatile and have solutions for various contexts. Opponents will make things difficult for us, and we`ll need to be good at finding the right solutions to get back to the football we prefer. The starting point, for me, is the player, not how I want to play.”
