Source: Daily_Mail
The Italian Jobs: Mancini follows Serie A's finest...but how did others fare?
Roberto Mancini is the latest Italian manager to test himself in England.[LNB]The new Manchester City boss comes with a great reputation: three Italian League titles and four Italian Cup winners' medals came in his seven years in management in Italy after a celebrated playing career with Sampdoria, Lazio... and Leicester. [LNB] It's a tough job... but someone's got to do it: New City manager Roberto Mancini[LNB] HAVE YOUR SAY... Are Manchester City right to replace Mark Hughes with Roberto Mancini? What do you make of the goings on at Manchester City? Were the ambitious club right to axe manager Mark Hughes? And is Roberto Mancini the right man to take the Eastlands hot seat? TELL US WHAT YOU THINK Mancini certainly has a decent track record in his native Italy but is unproven as a manager in the glaring spotlight of the Barclays Premier League and the knives will be out should results not go his way.[LNB] So, with the new boss installed lacking experience in top-flight English football, Sportsmail takes a look at how some of his compatriots have fared during their time in England. [LNB]Roberto di Matteo (MK Dons 2008-2009, West Brom, 2009-present) The Italian midfielder made 175 appearances and scored 26 goals for Chelsea during his six years with the club and towards the end of his time with the west Londoners, he started completing his coaching badges. [LNB]His first managerial job came at MK Dons after the departure of Paul Ince, and he led them to third place in League One but lost in the play-off semi-final against Scunthorpe on penalties. [LNB]Currently Head Coach at West Brom who are flying near the summit of the Championship. [LNB]Verdict: Success - a very promising start in management. [LNB] Promising: Roberto Di Matteo[LNB]Popular: Gianfranco Zola[LNB] Gianfranco Zola (West Ham, 2008-present) From managing the Italy Under 21 side to the Premier League is a huge leap but, given on-field injuries and off-field turmoil, Zola remains a popular figure at West Ham.[LNB]Zola has been forced into blooding youngsters sooner than he may have wanted and may be forced into selling more key players in January as Icelandic investment bank and Hammers owners Straumur struggle to manage their losses. [LNB]Knee-deep in the relegation mire, if he can keep them up the diminutive Italian striker will attain legendary status. [LNB]Verdict: Success, if he keeps West Ham in the Premier League - the struggles are not all of his own making. [LNB]Fabio Capello (England, 2007-present) Born winner: England boss Fabio Capello[LNB]The final chapter is yet to be written on Don Fabio's time in charge of the England national side. For all the stability and winning habit he delivered after taking over from Steve McClaren, the final line will only be drawn under his tenure once the dust has settled after next summer's tournament in South Africa. [LNB]He's worked out the formula to get Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard playing together which is already an improvement on the two previous incumbents' efforts but will he be able to fashion the perennial quarter finalists into something that can mount a challenge through the later stages? [LNB]Verdict: Potential to go down as one of the greats - success.[LNB]Gianluca Vialli (Chelsea 1998-2000, Watford 2001-2002) Had a bit of help at the start of his tenure as player-manager atChelsea as the club were already in the quarter-finals of twocompetitions - the League Cup and European Cup Winners' Cup - and theywent on to win both.[LNB]But it was the club's league performances that proved to be Vialli'sdownfall. Third in his first season, fifth in his second, Vialliclashed with his players and, despite winning the FA Cup in 2000, hewas released five games into the following season. [LNB]His time at Watford was rather less successful - after wholesalechanges to staff and players the club only managed a 14th-place finishin the Championship and so he was sacked. [LNB]Verdict: Failure - Luca's luck ran out. [LNB] Out with the old: Gianluca Vialli[LNB]And in with the Blue: Carlo Ancelotti[LNB] Carlo Ancelotti (Chelsea, 2009-present) The latest of a triumvirate of Italians to have managed Chelsea,Ancelotti has arrived with a CV as water-tight as any manager in thegame but time will tell whether he will be able to meet the demandingstandards of owner Roman Abramovich.[LNB]Easy-going yet stern, Ancelotti rules his players in such a mannerthat doesn't allow any individuals too much power - lest he getstoppled by player-power like previous boss Luis Felipe Scolari. [LNB]Going great guns at the top of the Premier League but slips againstthe likes of Wigan and Aston Villa this season have exposed the Blues'weakness at set-pieces. All eyes are on the boss to improve things. [LNB]Verdict: So far, so good - success. [LNB]Claudio Ranieri (Chelsea, 2000-2004) Tinkerman: Ex-Chelsea coach Claudio Ranieri[LNB]Head coach at Chelsea for four years, the charismatic and loveable Italian was at the helm as the Blues transformed from an 'nearly' club into one of the big four. [LNB]Runners-up in the Premier League in 2003-04, runners-up in the FA Cup in 2002 - Ranieri almost got there, but that was just not good enough for billionaire sugar-daddy Abramovich. [LNB]Chelsea did manage to knock Arsenal out of the Champions League in his final season in 2004 but as he thrust his arms in the air after defeating Arsene Wenger's side we all knew it was futile - Jose Mourinho arrived shortly after. [LNB]Verdict: Failure - this nice guy got nowhere.[LNB]Luigi De Canio (QPR, 2007-2008) Strange times over in west London - but this time it's not at Chelsea, or even Fulham. The moneyed men at QPR are creating their own soap opera, including a brief cameo from De Canio in the lead role. [LNB]However, the former Napoli, Regina and Genoa boss lasted just seven months at Loftus Road as his record of 12 wins, 12 losses, 11 draws and a 14th-place finish in the Championship wasn't enough for Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore who showed him the door.[LNB] Verdict: Failure - but not the only QPR manager to be told 'arrivederci' in recent years. [LNB] Short stay: Luigi De Canio[LNB]Doomed: Attilio Lombardo[LNB] Attilio Lombardo (Crystal Palace, 1998) The Bald Eagle was an absolute hero as a player for the Eagles of south London but managed the club with Tomas Brolin during a season that ended in relegation. [LNB]Lombardo and Brolin took over after Steve Coppell had been 'moved upstairs' to another role at the club in early 1998 but the move wasn't enough to save the club from dropping down into the Championship. [LNB]Verdict: Given an impossible Italian job - failure.[LNB] Roberto Mancini eyes Premier League title within 18 months after taking reins at Manchester CityInter Milan warn ex-boss Mancini not to try taking 'Super Mario' to EastlandsVultures: People running City don't deserve to be in English footballFurious Craig Bellamy threatens to follow Mark Hughes out of Manchester City - putting Tottenham on alertThree Scudettos and a relegation. Is Mancini really the right man for City?Roberto Mancini faces bumpy ride in Manchester City hot seatHughes was given stay of execution to help Mancini settle in at Man City[LNB]
