First the indiscretion, then the cryptic message (up to a point). And finally the official announcement: Claudio Ranieri is the new coach of Cagliari. There is the official communication of the company.

"Cagliari Calcio is pleased to announce that it has reached an agreement with Claudio Ranieri who will take over the technical leadership of the first team from 1 January 2023: the coach has signed a contract that binds him to the Rossoblù club until 30 June 2025". reads the club's note.

Then the story of the coach. «Roman, born in 1951, Ranieri became the coach of Cagliari in 1988, after the experiences with Vigor Lamezia and Campania Puteolana. It is the beginning of an extraordinary adventure that will go down in history. At the helm of the rossoblù he opens a cycle: in addition to winning the Serie C Italian Cup, he is the architect of a double consecutive promotion from C to A and then of a fairytale salvation in the top division. A glorious ride that Sardinian fans will always remember.

Leaving the island in 1991, he established himself on the benches of Naples and Fiorentina. The Viola, with him in command from 1993 to 1997, conquered an Italian Cup, an Italian Super Cup and reached the semi-final of the Cup Winners' Cup, surrendering to Ronaldo's Barcelona. On 26 June 1999 he won the Copa del Rey with Valencia, his first trophy abroad.

After Atletico Madrid, in September 2000 he landed in England at the helm of Chelsea, where he reached the semi-final of the Champions League in 2004. The same year, again at the helm of Valencia, he won the European Super Cup.

In 2007 he returned to Italy: first Parma, with which he achieved a sensational salvation in Serie A; then the relaunch of Juventus and then Roma, where he came close to the Scudetto in 2010, totaling 80 points in the standings.

On his way there will then be Inter, Monaco and the Greek national team, before his definitive consecration among the giants of sport: a feat that once again passes from an island, this time the British one. On 13 July 2015, he signed an agreement with Leicester City: having started with the stated goal of staying in the top flight, on 10 April 2016, the "Foxes" were crowned champions of England and Ranieri became Claudio "King" for everyone.

Nantes, Fulham, Roma again, Sampdoria and finally Watford. Now the return to rossoblù, where it all began, to write a new chapter in history together».

The note concludes as follows: «Welcome back Mister, how nice to hug you again».

Enrico Fresu

© Riproduzione riservata