It’s a brand new period at Sampdoria underneath the possession of Andrea Radrizzani and Matteo Manfredi. The membership is hopefully getting into right into a interval of stability after flirting with chapter.
The Genoa-based membership at present discover themselves tenth in Serie B after being relegated from Italy’s top-flight final season for the primary time since 2010/11.
Sampdoria famously received Serie A in 1991 and reached the European Cup Remaining in 1992 with a workforce that includes the likes of Roberto Mancini and Gianluca Vialli. The pair mixed for 10 targets within the event with Sampdoria finally shedding 1-0 to Barcelona at Wembley.
Mancini’s youngest son, Andrea, is now the sporting director at Sampdoria having joined in July. And the 31-year-old is enjoying a vital position in making an attempt to show I Blucerchiati’s fortunes round.
“Becoming a member of Sampdoria was a giant alternative,” stated Andrea, who began his senior profession at Manchester Metropolis. “This can be a huge job, and much more so for me as a result of my father spent 15 years right here.
“For me, Sampdoria is a household. It’s like a ‘second pores and skin’ for me. I really feel a giant accountability. [Owner] Matteo Manfredi is constructing venture, however it should take time.
“It’s very particular right here. Each time I am going contained in the stadium, it’s like being a child once more. I can’t clarify the emotion I really feel, however what I can say is that if I might signal a contract for a life at Sampdoria, I’d do it with out hesitation.”
Sampdoria’s main aim is stability, each on and off the sphere. Previous to Radrizzani and Manfredi assuming management over the summer season, the membership’s monetary issues had been clear for all to see.
Massimo Ferrero was compelled to step down as Sampdoria president in December 2021 after being arrested as a part of an investigation into company crimes and chapter, however the 72-year-old nonetheless remained on as Sampdoria’s proprietor.
And for a number of years, even lengthy earlier than he was underneath investigation, Ferrero turned down suitors, together with a 2019 consortium led by the late Vialli.
All of the off-field turmoil contributed to poor outcomes with Sampdoria comfortably ending backside of Serie A final season, profitable simply thrice and scoring solely 24 targets.
“It’s been troublesome for the brand new homeowners,” admitted Andrea. “They labored day and evening to save lots of Sampdoria, and so they’re nonetheless working day and evening to convey stability to the membership. Issues are extra optimistic now.”
Former Juventus supervisor and 2006 World Cup winner Andrea Pirlo is now in control of Sampdoria and is tasked with getting them again as much as Serie A having joined in June following a short spell in Turkey. Promotion isn’t a given, and Pirlo’s job actually doesn’t rely upon getting it this season, however the purpose is to attempt to get into the playoffs.
The problem for Sampdoria is that they misplaced over 30 gamers final summer season, together with a number of influential names. Algerian worldwide Mehdi Leris was offered to Stoke, veteran high scorer from 2022/23 Manolo Gabbiadini left for UAE-side Al-Nasr, and Harry Winks’ mortgage spell from Tottenham ended and he subsequently moved to Leicester.
However Andrea was in a position to pull off some shrewd incomings. Former Liverpool and Milan ahead Fabio Borini has joined from Turkish facet Fatih Karagümrük (Pirlo’s outdated membership) and has scored 5 targets thus far this season. Matteo Ricci additionally arrived from Frosinone on a three-year deal.
And Sampdoria had been in a position to safe some promising younger abilities on mortgage, together with Uruguayan centre-back Facundo Gonzalez (Juventus) and French midfielder Noah Lemina (PSG).
Gonzalez is tall, technical and quick and has been scouted earlier than by Liverpool and Chelsea, while Noha – the brother of Wolves midfielder Mario Lemina – impressed on PSG’s pre-season tour of Asia having signed his first skilled contract with the French champions in 2022.
“I’m doing my greatest to search out gamers,” stated Andrea. “I attempt to keep as shut as I can to the supervisor and proprietor. We now have day by day contact. My job requires working a seven-day week and it’s not simple, however I prefer it very a lot.
“I’ve relationship with Pirlo. It’s a direct relationship. If he wants one thing he tells me. I feel he has the potential to develop into a high supervisor. He solely began teaching three years in the past and he works very nicely on and off the pitch. The gamers respect him, and I feel we will construct a giant venture round him at Sampdoria.”
If Andrea wants a managerial perspective to assist take care of Pirlo he clearly doesn’t need to look too far. And he does typically search recommendation from his dad, who’s now the pinnacle coach of the Saudi Arabia Nationwide Workforce having beforehand received Euro 2020 with Italy. Mancini Sr. additionally led Inter to 3 Serie A titles and received the 2011/12 Premier League and FA Cup with Manchester Metropolis.
“I converse every single day with my father,” stated Andrea, who not too long ago visited Jeddah. “Typically I ask him for some recommendation. It helps to have a father who can also be a supervisor. I feel managers suppose in a really specific method and his expertise and perspective is efficacious. I’m fortunate as a result of my relationship with Pirlo may be very direct and honest, nevertheless it’s at all times helpful to talk to my father as nicely.”
Roberto Mancini was solely appointed Saudi Arabia’s head coach in August shortly after quitting Italy – a shock to many, particularly with Euro 2024 on the horizon. Saudi Arabia are at present gearing up for January’s Asian Cup in Qatar, which they need to win for the primary time since 1996.
“My father may be very comfortable in Saudi,” stated Andrea. “He’s a part of a brand new venture and I feel Saudi Arabia is the way forward for soccer as a result of they’re rising every single day and shortly. And it’s thrilling for my father realizing that there’s a World Cup in Saudi Arabia in 2034 to construct as much as. And Saudi are internet hosting the Asian Cup in 2027 – in order that’s two huge occasions developing and each are crucial.
“I’ve already seen some proficient gamers from Saudi. Possibly my father will even assist discover Sampdoria a younger Saudi participant! There’s no cause why we received’t see Saudi gamers coming to Europe within the subsequent few years.”
Andrea has solid his personal path away from his father’s shadow, having determined in 2018 to qualify as a sporting director earlier than occurring to work at Fiorentina underneath Daniele Prade earlier than becoming a member of Sampdoria.
But he has nonetheless adopted his dad around the globe, which is what makes working Sampdoria’s recruitment workforce all of the extra particular given Roberto made 566 appearances and scored 168 targets for the membership between 1982-1997.
Andrea additionally joined Mancini Sr at Manchester Metropolis as a part of the Underneath-21 squad between 2010-12 after being launched by Bologna, and he nonetheless retains an in depth eye on Metropolis’s outcomes.
“I hope they win the Premier League,” stated Andrea, who additionally had a one-month spell with Oldham Athletic throughout his time in England. “The English workforce I help is Manchester Metropolis as a result of my father was there and he received the title. Metropolis are nonetheless favourites to win the Premier League this season in my view. It’s regular in any season for some unhealthy outcomes, however I’m certain Pep Guardiola can discover a solution to win the league.
“It was expertise being in Manchester. I at all times dreamed of enjoying in England. I even bear in mind the spell at Oldham fondly. I discovered so much as nicely. There have been some actually good gamers round me like David Silva and Carlos Tevez. Again then Metropolis had gamers like Gareth Barry, Vincent Kompany and Pablo Zabaleta. You would see they had been constructing a very nice workforce. And within the Underneath-21s we had Kieran Trippier, who’s now at Newcastle, and Denis Suárez. He was at a distinct stage.”
Andrea stopped enjoying in 2017 following spells in the USA with DC United and New York Cosmos and has labored arduous since to get what he considers his dream job with Sampdoria.
These within the recreation consider he has big potential as a sporting director on account of his eye for expertise, intelligence and genial persona. His homeowners are additionally keen to offer him time, though it’s clear Sampdoria belong again in Serie A and that provides strain to the job.
The January window now presents an opportunity to additional strengthen with Sampdoria nonetheless firmly within the combine for promotion. The highest two sides go up routinely in Serie B with six remaining groups getting into the playoffs.
“January is at all times busy. Busy and chilly,” laughed Andrea. “However jokes apart, we’re trying round a bit. Our method is to be very cautious and maintain our eyes open. We’ll in all probability strive one thing…
“Serie B is a really robust league. There are some good groups so we don’t need to look too far forward. Promotion received’t be simple, so we have now to take issues recreation by recreation after which see the place we’re within the league.
“I’m certain we’re on the suitable path now and may obtain one thing vital, however with each new venture, like this one, endurance is required as a result of, as is usually stated, ‘Rome wasn’t in-built a day…’ It might take one 12 months, or two years, or solely six months. We don’t know. However we’re working arduous every single day.”
There isn’t a doubt Sampdoria are in secure and impressive arms with Andrea, who’s intent on persevering with his father’s legacy at Sampdoria and restoring the membership to their former glory as shortly as potential.
