Head Coach Option: Roberto Donadoni?

By: Dave Martinez | September 29th, 2009

Anyone who even lightly follows Serie A (like me) knows that Napoli is in a bit of trouble. Currently standing at the bottom half of the league tables, Napoli’s performances have been considered disappointing this season, even after an exciting 2-1 win against Siena this weekend, in a match that was billed to be a make or break for their head coach, former Italian National manager and Metrostars player, Roberto Donadoni.

Sporting Director Pierpaolo Marino left the club just yesterday following scathing remarks from team President Aurelio De Laurentiis. Donadoni wasn’t sparred in the ruckus, with reports quoting the clubs President saying that had he known what he knows today, he would have never hired the Italian great in the first place.

Donadoni’s coaching career peaked in 2006, immediately following the Italians dramatic World Cup victory, being named the new head coach for the squad. A thoroughly disappointing effort in the Euros 2008 cost him his job, which is where he picked up with Napoli, a team that has just begun a resurrection roughly 5 years ago of the tattered and torn franchise.

Which brings us to the local tattered and torn club, your New York Red Bulls. Suffering one of the worst seasons in recorded MLS history, the Bulls are looking for experience overseas, regardless of recent success of interim coach Richie Williams. Donadoni spent the better part of two years in the leagues formative stage, being named to the ‘96 Best XI. Sure, the league has changed a great deal over the past decade plus, but Donadoni has strong roots in this soccer community, known mainly as the initial centerpiece of the New York franchise.

To use an American sports term, Donadoni has mostly been a .500 coach in his time at Serie A. Whether with Napoli, Livorno or Genoa, the results have been mediocre. He did accumulate a winning record as the Italian National coach, but that all fell to pieces after the Euros.

Is he worth the risk? Is there a risk? Does this appeal to you in any way shape or form? Would Donadoni be the right fit for this wayward club? Sentimentally speaking, I think it would be a nice “coming full circle” story to say the least. Realistically, I would view managing the Red Bulls franchise as one of the most challenging undertakings a coach may come upon, one which Donadoni may not necessarily be ready for.

But I turn the tables over to you. How would you feel about Donadoni as the teams head coach?