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The 50-year-old from Winterthur is convinced that he can bring added value to the Swiss national team.
Giorgio Contini was 38 years old when he served as assistant coach (together with Murat Yakin) at FC Luzern for one season. Since then, the now 50-year-old has always been the “strong man” on the sidelines.
The Winterthur native is now taking on a new role for the Swiss national football team. In February, he was named an assistant to Coach Yakin. A commitment that was surprising considering Contini’s career. He himself openly admits at the Nati camp in La Manga (ESP) that “I don’t have the profile of an assistant”.
We know each other very well and have great respect for each other.
But what are Contini’s tasks? «I try to bring my energy, my positivity and empathy into the troops. And of course also the experience as a trainer.” Contini doesn’t believe that there will be arguments between him and Yakin. “We know each other very well and have great respect for each other.”
Legend:
Set the direction together
Murat Yakin (l.) and Giorgio Contini.
KEYSTONE/Peter Klaunzer
Clubs are giving Contini a pass – for now
Nevertheless, Contini says: “We are a coaching team that tolerates each other, but where there can also be friction regarding ideas. I would like ideas to be exchanged among the staff and certain tasks to be taken over from Murat.” The main goal at the beginning is successful preparation for the EURO.
If club offers appear on Contini’s desk in the spring, they will be ignored: “Anything that should happen between now and the summer is no longer an issue for me. I consciously chose this path and can contribute my qualities and at the same time develop as a coach.”
If he succeeds, it will probably only be a matter of time before Contini wields the scepter on the sidelines again.