Press Conference introducing Head Coach Roberto Donadoni

On the eve of the home match against Bari, Spezia Calcio’s newly appointed head coach, Roberto Donadoni, was officially introduced to the media alongside the club’s President, Charlie Stillitano.

President Charlie Stillitano opened the press conference: “We’re here to present Roberto Donadoni, our new head coach, but before that, I want to take a moment to thank Luca D’Angelo. He’s not only an excellent coach but also a truly good person, which made this a very difficult decision. He will always be part of Spezia Calcio’s history. I completely understand the disappointment and frustration of our fans—this city deserves much better results and standings, and there’s no doubt about that. We know we represent an important club and that we play for our supporters. Tom Roberts and I bought this club because we care about Spezia Calcio, and our fans deserve more than what they’ve experienced lately.

That’s why we decided to act and bring Roberto Donadoni into our project. He needs no introduction, everyone knows his career, but what truly mattered to us was the determination we saw in him to lift Spezia back up. In his eyes, we saw the hunger to take on this new challenge and the drive to face a difficult moment. He told me that in recent years, although he had received several offers, he hadn’t yet found the right club to restart his coaching career—and he found that in Spezia: a serious, well-structured organization. I can only thank him and welcome him to Spezia Calcio.”

Head coach Roberto Donadoni then took the floor: “I want to thank the club for choosing me. Of course, my friendship with Charlie goes back to my playing days, but friendship is one thing, and work is another. Friendship is best honored through responsibility and commitment, and that’s exactly how I’m approaching this opportunity, with enthusiasm and great motivation. Naturally, being away from the field for a few years leaves a bit of rust, but after just two training sessions, that feeling was gone. I sensed a strong enthusiasm here, a real desire to climb back up the table. There’s time and room to improve, but we can’t afford to waste any, and we must pay attention to every detail.

I know Spezia has passionate supporters, fans who are deeply connected to the team, and what we’re able to transmit to them will be crucial. Their energy and support can make a huge difference in our journey ahead. We all need to pull in the same direction, with cohesion and unity, because only that way can we overcome a challenging situation.

I’m not interested in talking about other opportunities I might have had. What matters is that I accepted this one, here at Spezia, because it truly inspires me. I don’t see it as a challenge in the usual sense, football has always been my world. First as a player, then as a coach, passing on the values I’ve learned over the years. Now it’s my duty to share those values with the players I have here. That bond between player and coach has always been a driving force for me, and it reignited my desire to get back on the pitch. I’m here to give everything to a club that wants to be a contender again.

Is taking on Spezia a courageous decision? I wouldn’t say that. I’m simply following the principles my parents taught me. I don’t see myself as better or worse than anyone else, I just try to stay true to who I am. I’ve received a lot from my professional life, and now I want to give something back in every way I can. Spezia is an excellent opportunity to restart, and I’ll do my best to make a real contribution, with the help of a strong staff and a committed leadership that knows what it wants to achieve. Everyone’s support will be essential. I’ll give everything I have so that, in a few months, people might talk about Spezia in a very different way.

As for the past, I don’t have much to say. I’ve never been one to look back. Of course, we all reflect on what we could have done differently, but every step of my career has helped me grow, both professionally and personally, and that’s the spirit I want our players to have. I refuse to believe that any player is content with our current position in the standings. I’m convinced they have a strong desire to turn things around. We just need to channel that energy and use it to climb back up together. The road ahead looks steep now, but it can become smoother, and that’s up to us.

The easiest thing would’ve been to wait and see how the match against Bari goes before making any move, but I’ve never liked taking the easy route. I’ve had my own journey, and I’m restarting in a place that I feel suits my personality, my character, and my way of working. I’m looking for challenges, first and foremost with myself. If a person isn’t willing to question themselves, it’s hard to achieve real results. That’s not who I am.

Objective: survival? Not exactly, at least not in those terms. I need to get a better understanding of the players I have, both on a human and technical level, but I can already say that the first two training sessions were very focused and intense. Building good relationships can make a big difference inside a locker room, and that will be one of my goals. I don’t want to talk about “staying up” today, I want to talk about football, and about getting the most out of this team. In two days, you can’t change everything, but you can start the process carefully, without upheaval. With calmness, confidence, and determination, we’ll work to achieve the best possible results. Tomorrow, I want my team to show all the determination they have to climb back up the table.

I personally know two players here, Nagy and Sarr, whom I coached in Bologna. Sarr is exactly the same person I remember: a strong personality, very sensitive, being a goalkeeper is never easy. It’s natural to judge based on single moments, but, for example, after ten minutes against Monza, he made a great save. We shouldn’t overlook that. He knows what his mistake meant, but he also knows the responsibility that comes with his role. I’ll evaluate everything carefully to put my players in the best possible conditions to perform. One mistake won’t change my thinking or my daily choices. Making mistakes is part of the game, not trying is worse, and that worries me more.

Formation changes? Nothing’s ruled out, but after so few sessions, it wouldn’t make sense to make big tactical adjustments right away. That said, adapting tactics to the players’ strengths is essential. We have a talented squad, and it’s up to us to bring out the best in them. The tactical setup is one thing; how it develops during the match is another. The fewer references you give your opponents, the more advantages you can gain, but that requires work, and we’ll try to shorten that process as much as possible to be ready tomorrow.

When a team that performed the way Spezia did last year finds itself near the bottom of the table with mostly the same players, the first question is how that’s possible. The answer lies in human nature, everything you experience has an impact, for better or worse, and that shapes how you respond. The more you go through, the more you learn to handle it. That’s our reality now. We need to work on the mental aspect, instilling confidence and belief so we can get out of this situation.

No special words were needed to convince me. When you look someone in the eye, you can sense their intentions right away. That was the first and easiest step. It’s true I haven’t coached for a few years, but I’ve stayed close to the game, kept myself updated, and continued growing year after year. The energy I’m already getting from the players helps a lot. We have to bring out their best, without ever giving up.

As for being more attack-minded, it all starts with a positive, proactive mindset, not worrying too much about what the opponent might do to you, but focusing on imposing your own game. And you can’t forget the importance of enjoying yourself. That’s something people often underestimate nowadays. Playing football is a privilege, so is coaching, but if you lose the joy of it, it’s hard to be truly creative or forward-thinking. Last year, the team had that energy, and we need to bring it back out of our players.

We have quality forwards, Lapadula is an experienced player, and we also have younger ones with great potential. Last season, Spezia had one of the best defenses, which shows there’s real value in this squad. We just need to bring it back out. You can’t take anything for granted, you have to keep working on your principles, repeating and reinforcing them. Maybe that’s something that’s been missing a bit this year, both defensively and offensively. A strong team knows how to defend and attack as a unit. Some of that confidence might have been lost, but we’ll work to rebuild it.

How did I find the team mentally? I think D’Angelo did a very good job, and that deserves recognition. Of course, it’s a team that’s facing difficulties, that’s natural, but what I liked most in these first two days was their attitude. I’ve already introduced a few ideas, and I believe we need to raise our intensity levels. I’ve always worked hard and demanded a lot from myself, and, in turn, from others. I’ve seen that same willingness in these first sessions, and I hope it stays that way. There’s a lot of work ahead, but that doesn’t scare me. When a player isn’t giving their best, it’s never impossible to help them improve, and that’s exactly what we’re here to do".