Is Di Canio ready for top-flight management?
Controversial
Italian Paolo Di Canio has shot to the top of the bookies list to replace
recently sacked Reading boss Brian McDermott, but is the passionate former
Swindon Town manager ready for the rigours of the Premier League?
During
an illustrious playing career taking in Italy, Scotland and England, Di Canio
certainly showed his ability to perform at the highest level. His time spent at
the likes of Lazio, Celtic, Sheffield Wednesday and West Ham United has the
makings of an epic movie storyline, with Di Canio classed as a villain to just as
many people as he is a hero.
His
first steps into management with then League 2 side Swindon were equally eventful as numerous altercations with players (often his own), managers,
opposing fans and referees all added to the glaring attention surrounding the flamboyant
former striker.
He
did a lot of good in Wiltshire while in charge at the County Ground, leading
Town to promotion from League 2 and into contention for a second successive
upward leap from League 1 to the Championship before leaving last month. He
clashed with the owners of the club after they sold Matt Ritchie without Di
Canio’s knowledge amid further financial constraints that were placed on him as
he attempted to keep hold of other star players.
Reading
have no financial worries having been efficiently ran over many years by John
Madejski before the recent take-over by Anton Zingarevich, who sacked Brian
McDermott yesterday. Despite the debate over the rights and wrongs of McDermott’s
forced departure, it remains clear that Reading have 9 games left in which to
save their season and therefore the club can’t afford to hang around to find a
suitable replacement.
In
Di Canio, the Premier League strugglers will get a man with unrivalled passion,
top-level playing experience and the requisite qualifications as a coach, with the
Italian having passed his UEFA Pro Licence some time ago. His record at Swindon
was impressive, but he left under a cloud due to disagreements with the
board and Reading will be mindful of the ‘baggage’ that the hot-headed native
of Rome brings with him.
Di
Canio and his many fans will firmly believe that he’s ready for a crack at
Premier League management and I would be inclined to agree with that. Meanwhile,
the majority of the media will be licking their lips at the prospect of the
outspoken, sometimes outrageous, Italian coming to the top-flight. If he is
handed the reins at Reading, the biggest question is...will the Premier League
be ready for Paolo Di Canio?!
You can follow me on Twitter: @davewh1980
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