Davide Possanzini, the new coach of FC Südtirol, at his introductory press conference. © Bordoni

FCS coach introduces himself: "We want to dominate"

Much had been said about Davide Possanzini before he officially introduced himself as the new coach of FC Südtirol on Thursday. The 50-year-old emphasized that a different style of football would be played at FCS in the future.

June 25, 2026

From the FCS Center in Rungg

Possanzini is considered one of the most modern coaches in all of Italy. The long-time assistant to Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi stands for possession-based football, high-risk build-up play, and great flexibility – in stark contrast to his predecessor, Fabrizio Castori. Possanzini is emblematic of the new direction that new sporting director Matteo Lovisa wants to pursue. The 30-year-old explained at Possanzini's introductory press conference: "This was our most important decision. We want to bring a new style of football to the club."

All key representatives of the club were present at FC Südtirol's media center in Rungg on Thursday – including main sponsor Hans Krapf, who has supported the club since its founding in 1995. This demonstrates the strong commitment of those in charge to this new direction. After a difficult season that culminated in relegation playoffs, a renewed sense of optimism is palpable at FC Südtirol.

Davide Possanzini (center of image) at the lectern with Vice President Carlo Costa (left) and Sporting Director Matteo Lovisa.

After a short time, he seized Possanzini He spoke in a rough voice. The new coach of FC Südtirol, who made a down-to-earth impression, sprach in a friendly and calm tone above...

...contacting FC Südtirol: “Hannes Fink and Matteo Lovisa explained the club’s philosophy and values ​​to me over the phone. After six months at home, I was eager to get back to work. I had plenty of time to reflect on the mistakes I made recently in Mantua. Now I’m really looking forward to it.”

...his style of football: "Every coach has his own ideas. I want to dominate the game and control the rhythm. It's not about a specific system. You can see that at the World Cup right now. Many teams now have a different formation in defense than in attack."

"We have a certain idea of ​​football, and some players in the squad will not fit into it." FCS coach Davide Possanzini

...the current squad: "We have a certain vision for our football, and some players simply won't fit into it. A new cycle is beginning, that much is clear. I won't name names now. We will communicate this clearly and fairly with the players. There won't be a revolution, but we are embarking on a new path. At the same time, we want to preserve some of the squad's characteristics, such as their work ethic and humanity. That's a great asset of this club."

...the goals: "We want to take it step by step. This season we need to lay the foundation. Then we can look further ahead next year. I feel a great deal of trust here and I want to repay it. It's important to me that I can convey my great passion for football."

Possanzini was assistant coach to current Tottenham coach Roberto De Zerbi for a long time. © APA/afp / CLEMENT MAHOUDEAU

...his patron De Zerbi: “We played together and always had a similar idea of ​​football. My experience with him helped me a lot. I started coaching in the youth ranks and since then my idea of ​​football has become increasingly refined. I want the identity of my team to be visible on the pitch and clearly recognizable.”