Marco Giampaolo, the current manager of Lecce who recently returned to the bench after Gotti’s dismissal, has opened up about his career in an interview with Radio TV Serie A con Rds. The Italian coach discussed missed opportunities, regrets, and his discomfort with being labeled a “maestro” of football.
Regarding his near-move to Juventus, Giampaolo revealed: “In 2009, I was supposed to go to Juve, it’s well known. I was young and hadn’t been a great player, I was relatively unknown, and having that opportunity was unthinkable. The disappointment was immense, but I tried to forget. Some people attributed the negative vicissitudes I faced to that disappointment, but that’s not the case.”
Reflecting on his brief tenure at AC Milan, Giampaolo stated: “It was a great opportunity, but in many aspects, the outcome wasn’t positive. I always told Calhanoglu he was strong, even when he had less self-esteem. He wasn’t ready yet and preferred to play more offensively. What I carry inside is the players’ willingness, my greatest satisfaction.”
Looking to the future, the coach expressed a pragmatic view: “In my career, I’ve done what I’ve done, I came close to managing a big team and at another, they sent me away. I think I won’t have the opportunity to coach a big club again, so I’ll do this job as long as I can. Afterwards, I’ll dedicate myself to the young people in my home.”
On his current role at Lecce, Giampaolo shared: “I was at home for two years and I wasn’t bored. In the first year, I did other things without thinking about football, then I did nothing but wait for a call to get back in the game. I prepared myself, studied, and kept myself updated to be ready. The objective is to secure safety as soon as possible, but the championship is very tough and the fight is really intense.”
Finally, addressing the “maestro” label often attributed to him, Giampaolo expressed his discomfort: “It depends on the meaning given to the term, whether it’s out of respect or if they’re making fun of you. I don’t feel like a maestro, at most I organize teams by extending my work to the entire squad and not just the eleven on the field. I’ve never identified with this term.”
