FCS sports director Paolo Bravo is always on the lookout for new coaches. © A. Tschager

FC Südtirol and its coaches: Next, please!

The development of FC Südtirol is astonishingly consistent, consistently good. Whether in terms of sport, organization or infrastructure – the second division team shines everywhere with its consistency. There is only one position in which there is constant unrest, that of the coach.

05 November 2024

It was Monday morning at 11.17:XNUMX am when the SportNews-Editorial staff were informed of Federico Valente's dismissal. "The club would like to thank the 49-year-old for his work and for his dedication and professionalism," the press release said. It is the third coach separation within 27 months, the fifth coach in just under two and a half years in Serie B.

Marco Zaffaroni follows Valente. FCS sports director Paolo Bravo had previously put Pierpaolo Bisoli, Leandro Greco and Lamberto Zauli on the sidelines. The latter left after just one month and a single cup appearance. Greco was an unsuccessful interim solution. Bisoli then led FCS to the playoffs, but was fired by Bravo in the following season. A new project was started with his successor and former youth coach, Valente, who was trained in Freiburg. But this failed miserably less than five months after the contract extension.

25 coaches in 24 years

Zaffaroni is already the 25th head coach in 24 years of professional football at FC Südtirol. None of them has coached the white and reds for more than two seasons. Stefano Vecchi has the longest tenure, having been employed at FCS for a total of 734 days in his two terms of office.

Stefano Vecchi is the longest-serving FCS coach since the club's promotion to professional football in 2000. © M. Groppo

But even though the coaches at FC Südtirol have always been a succession of coaches, the level of attrition in recent times is astonishing. The FCS has steadily worked its way up, establishing itself in Serie B for two years - and this despite having two completely different types of coaches on the sidelines, Bisoli and Valente.

Now, with Zaffaroni, a man is coming to Rungg who will set completely new impulses ( here his portrait). He is considered a motivator, but not as impulsive as Bisoli. He seems approachable like Valente, but with more experience in the Italian football business. With this mix, FC Südtirol wants to climb out of the bottom of the table and at the same time find consistency in the coaching position. Even though Zaffaroni's contract is only dated until June 2025. Provisionally.


The FCS coaches in Serie B:
*Interim solution