An evening with Claudio Ranieri.

[Gary Littlefield]

12/05/2008
Time: 18:00
Town: Siena
Place: NH Hotels Jolly Excelsior - La Lizza, 1

XVI Briglia d'oro - 16th Edition of the Golden Reigns (Recognition for an outstanding season as Coach)
Winner: Claudio Ranieri, coach of Juventus FC.

18:00 Tactical & Technical session presented by Claudio Ranieri 'The defensive line'
20:00 Aperitif'
20:30 Dinner & presentations

Thanks to the coaches association in Italy, Siena branch. A wonderful evening spent with all the local coaches and the gentleman Mr. Ranieri.

The evening started with Claudio Ranieri showing how he had improved the back defensive line over the course of the season. He showed video footage of pre-season friendlies highlighting errors made. Then training sessions on how to hold a high defensive line were put into place. The transformation of the team became apparent and it was an excellent example of how training sessions emulate the real match situation, thus improving the players knowledge and giving them specific practise. We were able to see in later matches how honed the players were and how having a high defensive line gave the team a compact look denying space to the opposition.

After there was a Q & A hour long discussion, where Mr. Ranieri gave his opinions and some great stories of his experiences as Manager at Chelsea, Valencia, Athletico Madrid, Parma, Fiorentina and Napoli.

The excellent session held by Ranieri gave the evening an electrical feel and the aperitif' was a buzzing room of conversation. Topped off by an typical long meal to send everyone away content.

I will however remember the evening spent with one of the current heroes of top flight football, a man of integrity, honesty and a delight to listen and learn from, yes Claudio we all did learn something to take away with us and probably it was different for each individual. Many thanks for the memory!

by Gary James Littlefield.

Claudio Ranieri, born Roma 20/10/1951

The Player:
At 12, he was scouted by AS Roma.
His debut in Serie A came 04/11/1973 against Genoa.
Changing clubs Roma-Catanzaro, Catanzaro-Roma, Roma-Catania, Catania-Napoli, Napoli-Palermo.

The Manager:
Starting in Serie D with Vigor Lamezia in 1986, then with Campania Puteolana in Serie C1.
In 1989 he joined Catania and guided them from C1 into Serie A, with cup success along the way.
1991/1992 He moved to Napoli, famously giving the young Gianfranco Zola his debut after the moving on of the great Diego Maradona.
93/94 it was Fiorentina who had just been relegated to B, Ranieri brought them straight back up and into a fourth place finish the following season in A, beating Inter inthe cup semi-final to face Atalanta in the final.
97 saw Ranieri move overseas to Valencia winning the coppa del Re. 99/2000 After a poor season with the ill fated Ath. Madrid saw Ranieri relegated for the first time.
2000/01 brought Ranieri to England and at Chelsea he oversaw 199 matches a sManager winning 107 of those.
After returning for a short spell with Valencia, Ranieri returned to Italy with Parma who he saved from relegation. On the 4th June 2007 Claudio Ranieri accepted the post of Juventus Manager.................................................