PHYSICAL TRAINING :

Both during pre-season preparation and during the season follow the principles of the Italian school of managers and football coaches; a school recognized globally the Italian federation's technical centre in Coverciano (Florence).

My method, however, in recent years has integrated with a much more diversified and international preparation (mostly German and Dutch) and the knowledge gained through training with players of different morphological structures from different geographic areas (40 countries).

This training method has as its goal the gradual achievement of the athlete’s optimal shape, lasting throughout the season, at around 90-95% of the player's physical potential; with the aim of constantly improving the athlete’s performance.

One of the key aspects of the training is the ability to work on muscular resistance, intensity and general fitness during specific periods or cycles of work always taking account the athletes health, therefore avoiding overload!

Daily training will also include exercises looking to enhance the player’s strength, power, and speed while working both with the presence of the ball balanced with technical and tactful exercises and without the presence of the ball.

Other very important aspects of my philosophy with regards to physical training is coordination and the correct projection of the player's fitness; in order to improve the responsiveness and agility of the player, and make him less vulnerable to injury. And to keep down the number of injured (as indicated by the statistics of the teams coached by me) it will be essential to apply the correct management of recovery pauses, in training, including training and the other between races.

The ultimate goal must be to have more time to provide the largest number of players that are part of the squad, so as to maintain a high level of quality of training and allow the coach to prepare as best games having a wide choice.

The players are the main assets of a club and must be physically protected!

 

 

 

TACTICAL PLAN

A coach must have tactical concepts of the game clear and well developed, and know what types of exercises are necessary to achieve the teams objective: select a team tactically ready to express the football culture (game) of the manager.

However, a coach must also have the flexibility to adapt his concepts to the type of players he has available, and not to force them to play a football that is not suitable.

My experience through these years, in different cultural contexts and environments, allow me to span different tactical systems, adapting them from time to time to the type of football played in the league in question.

Building on a strong base of Italian football school, appreciating the art of defensive football, throughout my experience I have adopted a more German and Dutch influence, notoriously devoted to a more attacking football. 

The combination of these football styles and my past experiences allow me to say that I am a manager ready for any kind of championship competition, ready to face any opponent with awareness.

To achieve my tactical goals I use what could be defined as a scientific method: working on the repetition of exercises in different fazes of the season, and video support for the weekly study of  the team's performance and obviously for the in-depth analysis of opponents.

 

 

MENTAL WORKOUT

All members of the team including the manager can’t think of reaching set goals without adequate "mental training".

I spend a lot of time to train my players' minds according to different methods scientific and empirical, philosophical influenced by various cultures, and borrowed from other sports, like basketball and football.

Through my direct experiences, I try to convey to my players for this kind of basic mental training, but being careful not to overload of information and to respect their personality, because that, too, such as physical training and technical support, grows gradually.

My goal is to have minds ready to implement my messages and my input, to prepare the best performance both in training and racing.

Motivation, respect, discipline, how to deal with anxieties and pressure and in general to live a balanced life are all trends that I try to implement from the first day of training.

Pressure exists, it cannot be eliminated, but you can learn to manage it better.

Training the mind is as important as the physical training.

A well-trained mind allows the player:

• To put into practice what the coach requires.

• To be conscious of its own means and capabilities.

• Believe that with the appropriate work ethic any result is possible.

• To fight and never give up while facing adversities.

• Not to get demoralized or over-confident from any results, and always focusing on the next goal.

If the coach has clear ideas, the same will apply to his players.

And only with clear ideas, can one expect winning results.

 

TECHNICAL EXERCISES

Daily training sessions will consist of various technique exercises, necessary for the correct preparation of the weekly challenges.

Each exercise has the aim to make the player more and more comfortable with the ball.

Through the combination of varied technical and physical exercises players both in individual and in groups the player

Will improve:

• His technical sensitivity and his confidence with the ball, allowing him to address important technical and fundamental movements during the game, thereby increasing the individual's ability to handle the ball.

• His flexibility and dexterity, which are useful to move smoothly and harmoniously, and often also useful to prevent accidents.

Will increase:

• His attention span and their ability to concentrate, which will be used later in the workout to do the work effectively and productively.

Technique and coordination can be improved even in mature athletes, until the end of the football career.

WHAT YOU DO NOT KNOW HOW TO DO, CAN ALWAYS BE LEARNED!

A player who learns to "feel" his body and note its technical improvements will be a better player for the team and become an important capital for the club.

 

PHILOSOPHY OF THE GAME

Regardless of the opponent, of the typicality’s of a team, of the importance of the single challenge (all games are important, too friendly!) one should always implement a specific philosophy of play, being able to interpret every game cautiously. Concentration and determination, pace and tactical approach, but also fairness and respect for referees and opponents, are important components in the interpretation of a game.

Every game is a different story though, each games starts with 0 to 0.

Every match has its own key, as a manager you just need to assure that the team knows how to find it.

The interpretation of the game and the correct management of the players on the bench (changes) are key issues for the final result.