Triestina introduce new manager Michele Santoni
This afternoon, in the press room of Stadio Rocco, the presentation conference for the new manager Michele Santoni was held, with an address by General Manager Alex Menta.
Alex Menta:
"It was a carefully considered choice, developed over time. We have followed him closely in the Netherlands and, when we sat down together, we realized he was the right person for us. He has an international profile, has worked with young players, is a very well-prepared professional, and has developed cross-disciplinary skills as an analyst, assistant, and head coach."
Michele Santoni:
"For me, it is a great honor to be here, and I am extremely happy with the opportunity that I have been given. Since I started talking with Alex months ago, I fell in love with this club, and the first time we met, I knew that Triestina was the right club for me at the right time to return to Italy. An ambitious club with a long-term project that aims to grow comprehensively. A club that wants to play modern football, invest in young players, and create the conditions for them to develop, so I didn't hesitate for a second to embrace this project.
We have been working day and night for the past three weeks to be ready for the new season. There is very positive energy in every department of this club, which makes an already incredible job even more special for me. There is a young group; for the first time in my career, I think I am older than the General Manager and the Sporting Director. There are people who want to work hard, who do not look at the clock, people who want to win, and this is the best environment for a coach. Additionally, there is a fantastic city, with an impressive stadium, which we are all working hard to fill.
I wanted to return to Italy because I am Italian, and working here is my greatest pride. However, I did not want to come back to play the kind of football everyone sees as Serie C football, a more physical one. There are some clichés that need to be dispelled. I am convinced that with the players of the new generations, we can play more dominant football, based on ball possession, more intense and dynamic, which is the foundation of modern football, where players can think quickly and read situations.
The first thing I want my players to understand is that they need to be protagonists, and for me, there is only one way to do that on the field: keep the ball, want it, and win it back. In recent years, young Italian managers have been trying to change the "cliché" Serie C football. This also depends on the quality of the players, but I am sure that this club, with so much ambition, will bring in strong and right players to get there.
The squad I will start with on Monday is motivated. I have spoken to a couple of them, and they are enthusiastic, so we will work hard, have two weeks of training camp, and we will definitely be ready for the first match of the season. There will be some changes due to the change of formation, but all the players who show up on 8 July will start from scratch for me. Everyone will have the opportunity to showcase themselves and show how much they care about staying in Trieste and investing in the common goal of winning as much as possible, and then we will draw our conclusions on who will be more functional to the project.
We have a very international group, and in terms of management, having worked in the Netherlands, where there is strong multiculturalism, I have learned to handle the presence of different characters and cultures. Apart from Italian and Dutch, English, Spanish, and German are not a problem, so I won’t struggle in terms of communication.
As for giving space to young players, the Primavera coach will join my staff in the early days to create synergy and a work plan as close as possible. Some players from the Under 19 team will join the first team squad starting in the next few days.
My growth throughout my career in various roles allows me to be a "sparring partner" with my staff. In terms of methodology, it is a continuous effort to unite different aspects and work together. From an ethical point of view, Dordrecht has allowed me to become a UK-style manager. The daily work setup will be a bit different, and that is what I have to convey to my players. If we want to win, grow, and make the next step, whether as Triestina or on an individual level for some players, we need to invest our resources.
My assistant coach will be Gianluigi Ghia, and I will be supported by Manuele Ferrini as a fitness coach, who will join Fabio Fiore. The goalkeeping coach will be Alessandro Vitrani and the match analyst Jordy Kluitenberg."
