Former Italy Intermational and Inter Milan star Walter Zenga has come to an agreement with Catania over a new contract after guiding them away from Relegation last season and a current 9th place Serie A position with 22 points.
Serie A’s Catania unveiled a new look idea during their 3 - 2 win on Sunday against Torino when forward Gianvito Plasmati (Number 16) dropped his shorts, along with two other teammates while standing at the end of Torino’s wall to make it life difficult for Torino keeper Matteo Sereni.
Guiseppe Macscara stepped up, scored and the controversy began immediately for Head Coach Walter Zenga.
Video of the Goal after the Jump……
Former New England Revolution Keeper/Coach Walter Zenga has done what was thought to be the impossible by keeping newcomers Catania up and avoiding the drop.
With their 1-1 draw against Roma, Catania stayed up with 37 points while Empoli, Parma and Livorno went down to Serie B.
image via Gazzetta
When Walter Zenga was appointed Head Coach of Serie A’s Catania last week, many in the media questioned his coaching credentials. This is a man who’s coaching path has been extremely unorthodox to say the least.
Starting with the New England Revolution back in 1998 as a player/coach, Spiderman’s flare sometimes blurred the line whether he was a player or a coach, something even us players weren’t too sure of.
Then stops in Turkey, UAE, Romania (where he won the league with Steaua Bucharest in 2004-05) and Serbia (where he won the league and cup with Crvena Zvezda) allowed Zenga to cut his teeth in competitive European Football under difficult circumstances.
Before Zenga’s appointment last week, Catania had won only one game in it’s last 11 and sat at the ledge of the danger drop zone along with Parma, Livorno, Empoli, Cagliari and Reggina who all sit within 3 points of each other.
So what happened in his first game in charge? A change in formations (4-4-1-1) and a convincing 3-nil win over Napoli, who are sitting comfortably in 10th spot in the Serie A standings.
With Zenga’s contract only running through the end of the season as of now and games against Palermo, Udinese and Juventus on the road while facing Lazio, Reggina and Roma in the final match of the season at home, you’ve got to like the chances of Zenga’s men to pull out of the relegation zone completely as they now sit on 32 points and 15th place.
Reggina is the only team (besides Juventus) with something to play for while the rest of the teams are secure within the table and not likely to be affected going either up or down.
Maybe Zenga will give Beppe Galderisi a call and he’ll be hired as his Assistant. Galderisi’s coaching/playing experience would be a valuable addition as the two already have a great friendship from their playing days in the Italian National Team and playing together in the US.
image via Click
