“It is high time for the father to beat the son”

The coach was never able to win the Bisoli family duel. “That’s not entirely true,” corrected Father Pierpaolo. “Our very first meeting was at a summer friendly – I was coaching Cesena, Dimitri was playing for Santarcangelo. My team won, even if Dimitri scored a goal.”

Apart from that test match victory almost 10 years ago, when Cesena, as a promoted Serie A team, naturally had the upper hand against Serie C club Santarcangelo, there was nothing to laugh about for coach Bisoli in the duels with his son. The first match took place in 2016/17, Dimitri Bisoli had just moved from Fidelis Andria to Brescia in Serie B, coach Pierpaolo was on the sidelines at Vicenza. In the end, Brescia won 2-1 at home.

A special moment “It was very emotional back then – for both of us,” said the FCS coach. “When I saw Dimitri as an opponent on the pitch in a Serie B game, I understood that he had made it. He has fulfilled his dream of being a professional footballer.” The nervousness and excitement of having to play against his own father on the big football stage for the first time also thwarted Dimitri Bisoli's plans. “He didn’t play well back then,” father Pierpaolo recalled. “Especially when he had to play in front of my coaching zone and was suddenly very close to me, things didn't go well for him. But I was incredibly proud of him.”

Brescia's Dimitri Bisoli (left) in a duel with Milan's Franck Kessie in a Serie A game in the 2019/20 season. © AFP / MIGUEL MEDINA

In the return match in Vicenza, coach Bisoli managed a 1-1 draw against Brescia, shortly afterwards he was released and signed for Padova in Serie C. There there was a duel with Brescia in the Italian Cup - son Dimitri won again, this time 1-0. Padova made it into Serie B as champions, but again there was nothing to gain for their father, at least in Brescia. Padova lost 1-4, and the game in the second half of the season ended again in a 1-1 draw. Pierpaolo Bisoli last met Brescia in the 2020/21 second division season, as coach of Cremonese. However, Dimitri Bisoli was not there for the 2-2 draw in Cremona. Last year, Cosenza had already played both games against Brescia when coach Bisoli took over the helm of the relegation-threatened club from Calabria. “Mom sticks with dad? That’s because I’m obnoxious when we lose.” Pierpaolo Bisoli The match on Sunday (14 p.m.) in the Drususstadion in Bolzano between FC Südtirol and Brescia is the 6th family duel for the Bisolis. “It is high time for the father to beat the son,” emphasized the 56-year-old Bisoli. Brescia captain Dimitri said most recently in an interview familiar with the Journal of Sport , mother Rita would keep her fingers crossed for FC Südtirol. “Yes, that’s true,” smiled the FCS coach. “That's because I'm obnoxious when we lose. Then I'm unbearable. So my wife prefers a win for FC Südtirol so that she doesn’t have to experience a horror evening,” said Pierpaolo Bisoli with a wink. “Of course she’ll be happy if Dimitri wins.”

The second son works for FC Südtirol But there is another reason why mother Rita is for the FCS. Davide, Dimitri's second son and younger brother, had to end his football career early due to several serious knee injuries and is now working as assistant to his father Pierpaolo. Davide Bisoli studies the respective opponents for FC Südtirol and comes to the FCS Center in Rungg at least once a week and presents his analyses.

Coach Bisoli wants to win on Sunday.

In Porretta Terme in Emilia Romagna, Pierpaolo Bisoli's hometown, the father once coached both sons, Dimitri (born in 1994) and Davide (born in 1996). Pierpaolo Bisoli ended his glorious Serie A playing career with the amateurs in his hometown and at the same time started his coaching career. “I trained the first team, but also worked as a coach for the youth teams. “We won all the tournaments in the local area with my two boys,” the FCS coach reported proudly.

The FCS coach as a grandpa “Our family relationship is very close and special. There is a video call with the granddaughters every day. Dimitri's daughter Vittoria will soon be 2 years old, Ludovica, Davide's daughter, was born just 6 weeks ago," said the grandfather of two. Even before the direct duel on Sunday, Pierpaolo and Dimitri Bisoli are not giving up their daily calls. “We talk on the phone three times a day, talk about everything, of course a lot about football. If he needs advice, I'm there for him. Dimitri often calls his brother Davide to get advice. Davide is a real football connoisseur. It was he who raved about Daniele Casiraghi to me before I joined FCS. I didn't really know him back then. Now I know he was right.” “I would have no problem coaching Dimitri. I don't know if he would handle it. I have my doubts about that.” Pierpaolo Bisoli Bisoli never coached his sons in the pros. “I wouldn't have a problem with that. I don't know whether Dimitri would be happy with being coached by his father. I have my doubts about that.” When Bisoli was a coach in Cesena, Cagliari and Bologna, his son Dimitri always played in the respective youth sector. “In Bologna I could have called him up to the professionals, but I left it alone. When Stefano Pioli replaced me, he brought Dimitri into the senior team,” said the FCS coach.

After the game there is dinner with the family “At first it was said that Dimitri would only make a career through vitamin B. I brought him to Brescia in 2016 after a strong season with Fidelis Andria. They got him for free, I just wanted him to have a chance. He could use them. It’s only because of vitamin B that you haven’t played in Brescia for 7 years without a break.”

After the match on Sunday, father Pierpaolo and son Dimitri will review the match over dinner with the entire extended family. And the FCS coach finally wants to toast to a victory over his son. It's about time.

Serie B Italy	SP	TV	P
1. Parma	34	59:32	70
2. As	34	54:37	67
3. Venice	34	62:39	64
4. Cremonese	34	43:28	60
5. Catanzaro	34	53:42	56
6. Palermo	34	58:48	52
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“It is high time for the father to beat the son”

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