In October ’97, in Serie C, the Milan coach met with that of Inter on the pitch. The years at Lazio in which Stefano coached the first team and Simone the Primavera. Until 2016, when the Rossoneri was sacked and the Nerazzurri took his place
Put an April afternoon on the avenues of Formello. A chat under the sun. “Do you know that your Primavera plays very well?”. “Thanks, even the ‘grown-ups’ are not bad”. And down to laugh. Joking about when Stefano marked Simone in Serie C. To exchange advice on young people and talk about football. All time.
in formello
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There was a time when Stefano Pioli and Simone Inzaghi crossed paths in the Lazio sports center. They parked the cars in front of the field and then stopped to talk for a while. Vintage 2014/15, Inzaghi trains the Primavera and Pioli the first team. A sporting life ago, because now the two are playing the Scudetto with Inter and Milan and also the final of the Italian Cup (tomorrow the return of the semifinal). Crossed fates. In Rome, eight years ago, the two trained in different fields and at different times, but every now and then Inzaghino peeked at Pioli’s sessions. He stood silently in the stands taking notes like a student; to understand why Stefano’s Lazio was able to hurt the big names; to study a Felipe Anderson never so decisive as with Pioli; to re-propose the game of outsiders on young people, bewitched and kidnapped.
in series C1
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The beginning must be remembered. Pioli marked the young Inzaghino. October 1997, Serie C1, Fiorenzuola-Brescello at the “Attilio Pavesi Velodrome”. A Sunday afternoon like many others on the provincial fields. Pioli is 32 years old and is at the end of his career, last season among the pros before retiring. Simone, on the other hand, is a 21-year-old with high hopes who tries to get out of the shadow of his brother Pippo, already in Serie A with Juventus. The game ends 1-1, Inzaghi plays 72 minutes but does not score. Pioli, on the other hand, followed by Massimiliano Farris, Simone’s historical deputy, defends the fort as an expert central. It is the only cross between the two as players. In the return Stefano does not play and Inzaghi scores from a penalty. Brescello wins 3-1, and Fiorenzuola’s only goal bears the signature of Luca Toni. Speaking of strange intersections and old times.
the challenges
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The merry-go-round that changes the careers of both (especially Simone) has date and place: April 3, 2016. Pioli takes four slaps in the derby and is sacked. After the third place of the previous year and the qualification for the Champions League preliminaries, the first in 8 years, he comes out against Bayer Leverkusen, loses the Italian Super Cup with Juve, takes three slaps from Sparta Prague at the Olimpico in Europe and reaches the challenge with Roma with the halo from inside or outside. And he will go outside.
Inzaghi takes over, brings the retreating team to Norcia and starts the historic Lazio cycle that lasted six years (three trophies won). And Pioli? Bad for Inter, good for Fiorentina, great for the Rossoneri. Tomorrow he can return to the Italian Cup final after seven years. The last – and only – lost it 2-1 with Juve in extra time. At 1-1, in the 97th minute, Lazio’s Filip Djordjevic hit a double post that is perhaps still trembling. The whole game is on Youtube. The Serbian rejoices after having kicked, makes a click towards the bench, but it will be tears. Sue and di Pioli, who can now return to the final again. Destiny owes him something.
April 18 – 6:05 pm
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