Alessandro Del Piero, the legendary former Juventus and Italy striker, has officially joined the ranks of professional coaches after recently completing the UEFA Pro course at Coverciano. As speculation grows about his future on the touchline, Fabio Capello—one of Del Piero’s most influential managers—shared his thoughts and advice in a candid interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport (as quoted by IlBianconero).
Lessons from the Past
Reflecting on their time together at Juventus, Capello recalled the challenges Del Piero faced under his management:
“Well, I have to say there was a period with me when Del Piero didn’t play much. But as a great professional, he always trained at his best, even if he obviously didn’t agree. Like it happens to all ex-footballers, if one day he sits on a bench, he will realize what it means to make unpopular decisions.
Capello also reminisced about the strength of his attacking options during that era, highlighting the recovery of another talented player:
“We had an exceptional attack: Ibrahimovic, Trezeguet, but also Mutu… Recovering the Romanian talent was perhaps the most important achievement of my coaching career. He arrived after six months without training and almost didn’t even know how to kick a ball anymore
Did Capello See Del Piero Becoming a Coach?
Capello was not surprised by Del Piero’s new career path:
“Yes, because he has always been intelligent. He has personality, speaks excellent English, and is not impulsive. When he stopped playing, he didn’t immediately throw himself into a new career: he did advertising, became a pundit… always with class, sobriety, and professionalism. That’s how he is in everything he does.
The Key Advice: “Don’t Rush”
Capello’s main message for Del Piero is clear:
“Exactly, don’t be in a hurry. Don’t skip steps. Maybe start with the youth sector and climb gradually. Take Pirlo, for example: the planned path for him, with Juve’s Under 23, was correct. Then he found himself catapulted into the first team before even starting, and despite winning two trophies, he was let go. But coaching is a different job: it takes time to learn, mature, and gain experience. Players, even champions, are used to thinking with ‘I’; as a coach, you must think only with ‘we.’
Personal Connection
Capello even revealed a recent encounter with Del Piero:
“The truth? I ran into Alessandro on a train just two days before his exam at Coveriano! (laughs) “And we talked about it a bit…”
On the Temptation of Coaching Juventus
With rumors swirling about Del Piero possibly taking over at Juventus one day, Capello offered a word of caution:
“I understand the appeal, but when I say not to rush, I mean precisely to avoid easy temptations. A coach is formed over time, by putting together a reliable and high-level staff. And here’s another piece of advice: don’t surround yourself with ‘yes men,’ but with valuable collaborators full of ideas
