For too long, the Italian football establishment has treated Fabio Cannavaro like a forgotten trophy gathering dust in a cabinet. The man who captaine...
For too long, the Italian football establishment has treated Fabio Cannavaro like a forgotten trophy gathering dust in a cabinet. The man who captained the Azzurri to their fourth World Cup triumph in 2006, a Ballon d'Or winner who redefined the art of defensive reading, is often dismissed as a coaching lightweight. It is a prejudice that reeks of short sightedness, and one I have never understood.Now, the former Italy first team doctor Enrico Castellacci has waded into the debate, throwing his considerable weight behind Cannavaro's case. Castellacci knows the pressures of the Italian game from the inside, and his insistence that Cannavaro 'deserves more consideration as a coach in Italy' carries real weight. It is a pointed remark, a direct challenge to sporting directors who have been happy to look abroad but shy away from giving the World Cup winner a chance on his own soil.Let's be honest, the reaction in some quarters has been predictable. A raised eyebrow, a muttered comment about his mixed stint in the Chinese Super League. Yet to judge Cannavaro solely on that would be to ignore the undeniable truth that managing in a dysfunctional league with unique cultural and logistical hurdles is a world apart from working within Serie A's tactical crucible. His work with Uzbekistan, a national team on the rise, has shown glimpses of genuine tactical flexibility. He is learning, adapting, and that is the mark of any good manager.So what is the real issue Is it a lingering suspicion that great players cannot translate their genius onto the touchline Or is it a simpler, more provincial fear of the unknown Castellacci has thrown the gauntlet down. The question for Italy's club owners is simple: will they have the courage to pick it up, or will they continue to let a proven leader and student of the game ply his trade far from home
