Why FC Südtirol was so successful

Catenaccio, no possession of the ball. FC Südtirol was not a spectacular team last season. But success always proves right and whoever is in 38th place after 6 match days - especially in the premiere season in Serie B - and then reaches the play-off semi-finals has done a lot of things right. Nevertheless, a look at the statistics (data from Wyscout; editor's note) shows that the FCS ended up significantly higher than it should be according to many data calculations. Why this is the case has to do with Pierpaolo Bisoli - and the fact that football is more than the sum of its individual parts.

If you look at the result of the sterile data collection of all 38 league games, FC Südtirol should have ended up among the last 5 (!) teams in Serie B. However, the White-Reds scored significantly more goals (18th place according to the expected goals value) and conceded far fewer than expected (20th place). No other team gives the opponent so much possession of the ball and plays so many passes in a row (13,72) before an attempt to win the ball occurs. This means that FC Südtirol was the most passive team in the entire Serie B over the season. The data system calculated that FCS collected around 20 points “too many”. This is a highly unusual value even in international comparison.

The difference between data analysis and the playing field So why did FC Südtirol not play at the back but at the front? And did you end up among the top four teams in the promotion play-offs? A lot has to do with the name Pierpaolo Bisoli. The coach has created something in South Tyrol that goes far beyond sport. He created a sense of belonging for the FCS in Bolzano and throughout the country. South Tyroleans are suddenly proud of “their” FCS and the Drususstadion was almost always sold out in the second half of the season. In Bisoli there is a figure with whom the “Schinter” from South Tyrol can identify. The fans love the coach and, with their presence in the stadium, have ensured that new football euphoria has been ignited in the country.

Architect of success: Pierpaolo Bisoli. © DLife/LO

On the other hand, Bisoli's construction ensured that every opponent had an extremely difficult time. There are few teams in Serie B that can play against a deep opponent. Many teams have a similar playing system, but really good dribblers are in short supply. Bisoli knew this and took advantage of this knowledge, gained over his long coaching career. He formed a team that mercilessly pointed out the opponents' weaknesses while at the same time concentrating on their own strengths. Central defender Giovanni Zaro became one of the most effective defenders in the league. At 35, Giacomo Poluzzi was an outstanding goalkeeper and Raphael Odogwu looked at times as if he were really the twin of his great role model Romelu Lukaku.

All of this was made possible by Bisoli, who, with his incredible passion and cool tactical mind, formed a unit - which often made the difference as a collective compared to the opponent's individual players. There were also exceptional individual achievements, such as those of Poluzzi.

But Bisoli also knows the data and he knows that it is relevant in the long term. He is aware that a season like this will be difficult to repeat. Especially since it was extremely exhausting. The coach is hesitant about his commitment for next season. The next few days will show whether he stays. One thing is certain: the whole of South Tyrol wants the successful coach to stay.

Serie B Italy	SP	TV	P
1. Step on	8	17:9	19
2. Specia	8	12:7	16
3. Sassuolo	8	14:8	15
4. Juventus Stabia	8	9:8	14
5. Brescia	8	12:9	13
6. FC South Tyrol	8	12:12	12
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Why FC Südtirol was so successful

FC Südtirol has had a season that has exceeded even the wildest expectations. After 3 defeats at the start, things skyrocketed under Pierpaolo Bisoli. What did the White-Red coach do so well?

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