Will Di Canio Get Another Chance At Top Level?
Paolo Di Canio has never hesitated to display his nutter credentials in football. But can he get away with it as a manager?
Having just been sacked by Sunderland only five games into the Premier League season, the answer would seem to be no.
Despite successfully guiding the Robins to promotion to League One in 2012, It was hardly plain sailing for Di Canio during his time at Swindon. A pitch-side altercation with striker Leon Clarke was perhaps the first sign that the Italian boss does not always get on with his own players, with that reported to be an integral part of the reason for his recent departure from the Stadium of Light. Clarke never played under Di Canio again, unlike goalkeeper Wes Foderingham who was forced to apologise after reacting angrily to being substituted after just 21 minutes of a game.
After managing to keep Sunderland up at the end of last season, Di Canio was allowed to spend big and mould his own side, with a complete overhaul of the Black Cats’ squad taking place during the summer. Over £19 million was parted with to bring in new recruits, with several free transfers and loan players completing a new-look Sunderland. That said, a similar amount of money was brought in from player sales, which included star men Simon Mignolet and Stephane Sessegnon. Coincidentally, Benin international Sessegnon’s first goal for new club West Brom helped ensure his former team’s trip to the Hawthorns would be the last match Di Canio would oversee as Sunderland head coach.
For all his brilliance as a player, is Di Canio simply too mad to be a manager?
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