The latest rumors from Monaco suggest that Francesco Guidolin, the former coach of Palermo who resigned last June, will become the new coach of AS Monaco.
Since Didier Deschamps resigned as the coach of AS Monaco, prestigious names like Guy Lacombe, Jean Tigana, Laurent Blanc, Javier Irureta, Paul Le Guen, Guy Stephan, Ramon Diaz, and Alberto Zaccheroni have been successively rumored at La Turbie. By Monday, Monaco leaders seem to have settled on Francesco Guidolin, arguably the least media-covered and least known among the candidates. While the information has not been officially confirmed by the club, the signing is likely to take place on Wednesday morning at La Turbie.
Francesco Guidolin, at 50 years old, has previously coached Vicenza, Udinese, and Bologna, before joining Palermo, then in Serie B, at the start of the 2003-2004 season. A year later, the club moved up to the top flight and, surprisingly, qualified for the UEFA Cup by finishing sixth in Serie A. A remarkable journey that did not prevent Francesco Guidolin from signing with the newly-promoted Genoa, before that experience ended abruptly due to the corruption scandal that hit the Ligurian club this summer.
If confirmed, this choice may seem surprising, as the Italian technician is relatively unknown in France. However, his track record indicates that the club would not be in the hands of an inexperienced leader if Guidolin were to take charge in the Principality.
Regarding the supporters, they wait for the club’s official statement with skepticism. Until now, there had been two camps: those in favor of Le Guen, who knows the French league well and has proven himself with Lyon, and those supporting Diaz, who would have brought a South American style of play suitable for spectacle. Guidolin seems to have put an end to this division. “If he’s our new coach, it will be a disappointment,” says Jerome, a fervent supporter of the red and whites for fifteen years. “It will show once again the lack of ambition of our leaders. Unless, which is what we all dream of, this Guidolin is just tiding us over until the end of the season, waiting for Claude Puel to return home…”
Indeed, this is the wish expressed by a large majority of ASM fans. However, the return of this local hero seems unlikely today. But in football, everything can change very quickly. Regardless of who the new coach is, ASM’s leaders cannot afford to make a mistake. After a very (too) discreet recruitment, poor management of numerous transfers, and Didier Deschamps’ abrupt departure, some would not forgive another misstep.
Nicolas Pelazza
