Source: Daily_Mail
Paolo Di Canio: The good, the mad and the ugly
ShareIt just wouldn't be Paolo Di Canio if he didn't continue to surprise us.[LNB]His latest move to takeover at Swindon Town sees the return of the Italian to these shores for the first time since leaving Charlton in 2004 - and shows he still knows how to cause a stir.[LNB]The Robins were relegated having finished bottom of League One and despite having no managerial experience the 42-year-old will at least be expected to lead a credible fight for promotion.[LNB]Whether he is successful or not, the game in England is more colourful with him involved and Robins fans should prepare for a tenure that is unlikely to go by without incident - positive or otherwise.[LNB] Legend: Paolo Di Canio had a huge impact on the Premier League[LNB]And positives there are many. It was West Ham where he enjoyed his best years in the Premier League between 1999 and 2003 and where he scored one of the top-flight's greatest goals.[LNB]His incredible volley against Wimbledon in 2000 is still talked about to this day and highlighted the fact that it he wasn't just a charismatic forward - he was a fine player too.[LNB][LNB]Another thumping volley two years later against Chelsea was just typical of his ability to produce a bit of magic out of nowhere and he was crucial in galvanising the West Ham team of that era.[LNB][LNB]It's not just Hammers supporters that love him, many took to the striker after an incredible act of sportsmanship led him to winning the FIFA Fair Play award in 2001.[LNB]The incident in question happened against Everton a year earlier. After Toffees keeper Paul Gerrard fell to the ground injured, Di Canio was left with an empty goal to head into from a cross shortly after.[LNB]Instead he caught the ball and demanded the game to be stopped so Gerrard could receive treatment. It's an act of fair play that has nobody has come close to seeing in the Premier League since.[LNB][LNB]It's not all fair play and goals with the former Celtic hitman though. After moving from Scotland to Sheffield Wednesday, his most memorable moment in an Owls shirt was for all the wrong reasons.[LNB]After being sent-off against Arsenal in 1998, he pushed referee Paul Alcock over and was later banned for 11 matches as well as copping a ?10,000 fine. It was shortly after he left to join West Ham.[LNB][LNB]Following a relative incident-free season with Charlton in 2003/04, Di Canio returned to Italy and to Lazio where he hit the headlines for the wrong reasons again.[LNB]Following a 3-1 win in the Rome derby against Roma, he celebrated with the home fans by displaying a fascist salute. It was something he would do in three further matches before the Italian FA gave him a one match ban.[LNB] Controversy: Di Canio gave this fascist salute regularly while at Lazio[LNB]Although the striker has remained fairly anonymous since retiring in 2008, nobody will have forgotten the Italian's overall positive impact on the game, and Swindon fans will have the first chance to see if that will continue in a managerial capacity.[LNB] Di Canio makes sensational return to England as manager of SwindonI'm on my way to England! Di Canio throws hat into ring for West Ham jobAll the latest West Ham enws, features and opinion[LNB] Explore more:People: Paul Gerrard Places: Rome, Scotland, United Kingdom, Italy
