Luigi Radice Italian football player and football coach Date of Birth: 15.01.1936 Country: Italy

1. Luigi Delneri: Italian Football Legend
2. Coaching Journey
3. Terni's Triumph and Empoli's Misfortune
4. The Legendary "Chievo Miracle"
5. International and Domestic Experiences
6. Return to Chievo and Atalanta
7. Sampdoria's Breakthrough and Juventus Appointment

Luigi Delneri: Italian Football Legend

Luigi Delneri, born in Udine, Italy, embarked on his football journey at the tender age of 16 with SPAL Ferrara. After stints at Foggia and Novara, he landed at Udinese, where he earned a promotion to Serie A. His impressive performances caught the attention of Sampdoria, which signed him in 1986.

Coaching Journey

Upon retiring as a player, Delneri transitioned to coaching at Opitergina, an amateur team in Oderzo. His coaching career gained momentum in 1986 when he landed a role with Pro Gorizia in Serie D. He went on to manage various clubs, including Partizanicaudace, Teramo, Ravenna, Novara, and Nocerina.

Terni's Triumph and Empoli's Misfortune

In 1994, Delneri joined Ternana and guided them to consecutive promotions from Serie C2 to Serie B within two years. His success caught the attention of Serie A's Empoli in 1998, but his tenure there ended abruptly before the start of the season.

The Legendary "Chievo Miracle"

In 2000, Delneri's career took a remarkable turn when he signed with Serie B's Chievo Verona. This marked the beginning of the "Chievo Miracle," where he led the team to promotion to Serie A and, in their debut season, qualification for the UEFA Cup.

International and Domestic Experiences

Delneri briefly managed Porto in Portugal in 2004 but returned to Italy shortly after. He took over at Roma but was dismissed after a series of poor results. In 2005, he joined Palermo and steered them to a successful UEFA Cup campaign before being replaced due to declining performances.

Return to Chievo and Atalanta

Delneri returned to Chievo in 2006 but couldn't prevent their relegation despite a strong start. He then took charge of Atalanta in 2007, leading them to a respectable mid-table finish in his two seasons there.

Sampdoria's Breakthrough and Juventus Appointment

In 2009, Delneri joined Sampdoria and guided them to a fourth-place finish in his first season, securing a berth in the Champions League qualifying rounds. The day after their successful campaign, he departed to become manager of Juventus in 2010.