At the age of 71 Claudio Ranieri is back in his spiritual home of Cagliari – his 23rd managerial job – but with no signs that his zest for coaching is in decline.
In fact far from it as a brief video on social media confirms that he’s far from taking it easy back in Sardinia. As he puts his players through their paces on the training ground, weaving their way through the slalom style markers, he urges more effort and speed. “Think of Saturday and what awaits us,” he yells. “Rapid, rapid, the mind must be rapid.”
Then he smiles: “There’s electricity in them (the markers), don’t touch!”
No wonder that even in his dotage the original ‘Tinkerman’ is still in demand. Countless sackings, many of them cruel including his Leicester City experience where he turned 5,000-1 outsiders into Premier League champions, haven’t disillusioned the proud Roman.
It also appeared to be written in the stars that after 31 years he would return to the club which forged his reputation when he guided them from Italy’s Serie C to Serie A to mix it with the elite.
Two days before Christmas he was summoned with Cagliari struggling in 14th place in Serie B. “I always knew that one day I would return. I even said that in my leaving speech,” he said. “The first time around (1988-91) achieving what we did convinced me that I could be a successful coach. We were as one, the fans, players and coach. This is what we need now again to push in the right direction.”
He has a contract until 2025 but there have been few occasions when Ranieri has managed to complete the planned term. That was certainly the case in England where he became the first managerial casualty of the Roman Abramovich reign, Chelsea dispensing with his services and bringing in Jose Mourinho.
“When the chief executive (Trevor Birch) told me there is a new owner I said ‘Me and You are the first who go home’.” Ranieri revealed. "It’s why he has always been sanguine about being shown the door.
Although even the super cool Italian must have felt some hurt at losing his job at Leicester after conjuring the miracle of a Premier League title for the Foxes and standing proudly alongside Andrea Bocelli as the world renowned tenor delivered ‘Nessun Dorma’ as part of the celebrations.
But again there was no bitterness, a trait which has endeared him to the football world during his incredible journey which has taken in huge clubs including Napoli, Juventus, Inter Milan, Monaco and Atletico Madrid in addition to a spell in charge of Greece.
He announced less than 24 hours after his parting: “Yesterday my dream died. After the euphoria of last season and being crowned Premier League champions all I dreamed of was staying with Leicester City the club I love for always.”
There were ill fated stays at Fulham where he only won three of 17 games and predictably Watford whose revolving door policy claimed the Italian as yet another short term victim.
But unbowed Ranieri simply moves onto the next job although there were tears in his eyes when he was introduced to the Cagliari supporters in the first home game of his second coming against Como.
There were also looks at disbelief as he appeared to talk to his watch during the game. There was no need for any concern – the septuagenarian had simply moved into the modern age.
“I am just recording notes on my smart watch,” he explained. “It means I can re-run the game. Some people like to write things down. I prefer to record so I can continue watching the game.” Who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks?
