Cast your mind back to late November. Sampdoria had just sacked coach Delio Rossi after a dismal start to the season, where they had accumulated a total of just nine points from their first twelve games.
A run that had left them languishing in the relegation zone and crying out for a saviour to arrest the downward spiral that the club found itself in.
Enter Sinisa Mihajlovic. There are not too many players in the history of the Serie A that have been as divisive or controversial as the ill-tempered Serbian. Across his playing career he fostered a reputation as a provocative, tough tackling defender with a short fuse, arousing plenty of controversy and disputes everywhere he played. His managerial career is not quite on the same wavelength in terms of controversy as his playing career, but even now it’s never quite smooth sailing when Mihajlovic is around.
He has spent time as coach of three Serie A teams – Bologna, Catania and Fiorentina – and a short stint at the helm of the Serbian national team before taking the reins at Sampdoria, and has never spent more than 14 months at the helm of any of the clubs. His abrasive nature and stubbornness could be reasons for this, but you never got the feeling he was entirely comfortable.
His stint at Sampdoria seems to be different however, and Mihajlovic put it perfectly in his first press conference as coach when he said “it’s like coming home”. The Serbian was of course, a former player and fan favourite of the Blucerchiati in his playing career, and he spent four wonderful years at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris between 1994-1998.
This was the period where it seems he was at his most tranquil, and let his football and ability on the field do the talking. His performances garnered the attention of bigger clubs and was promptly bought by Lazio manager Sven-Goran Eriksson in the summer of 1998 for a fee of €8.5 million, and he went on to have successful trophy filled career with the Roman club and then later, for Inter.
First and foremost, Mihajlovic was brought in to steady the increasingly sinking ship at Sampdoria. He has done that and more in his reign so far carrying the club up to 13th place on the standings and now eight points clear of the relegation zone.
Mihajlovic has done a sterling job and it looks like he has finally found his ‘home’ in his managerial career. His ideals and principles are getting through to the players, and while the football may not be the most exciting brand to watch, it is practical and effective. There is now a belief and trust between both the players and coach that was missing when Rossi was in charge and this is getting results for the club.
The Serbian currently boasts a record of six wins, four draws and four losses in the Serie A since taking over on the 24th of November, and to put the losses in perspective, they were against big guns Napoli, Roma, Juventus and AC Milan. His team has been ruthlessly efficient when facing teams around them on the table, and his passionate nature seems to have rubbed off on his players. Many of his players are now thriving on confidence, something that was distinctly lacking at the start of the season.
They seem to have adapted quickly to the coach’s favored 4-2-3-1 system, which has seen them take a more balanced and measured approach to games, with the lineups mixing the right amount of creativity and tenacity.
Striker Manolo Gabbiadini has been shifted to the right forward slot, where he is given the license to drift centrally and support the lone striker Eder – who himself has been in superb form. The Italian under 21 international has made it his trademark to cut in from the right, and hit a laser like shot with his blistering left foot that has resulted in many chances and goals for the side. The aforementioned Eder has also been in deadly form this season, with his nine goals leading the charts for his side.
Serbian youngster Nenad Krsticic has been shifted in the hole behind the striker, and his passing range has allowed him to link the play between the midfield and forwards much more efficiently. The young German Shkodran Mustafi was also drafted into a more regular role under Mihajlovic, and his ball playing ability and performances from the back in the past few months have led to his maiden call up to the German national team only last week. The tactician’s ability to find new roles and positions for his current roster has been one of the most impressive aspects of 
his tenure thus far, and shows he is willing to experiment and take risks.
Mihajlovic’s return ‘home’ has certainly salvaged some of his reputation that took a battering in his last two managerial spells with Fiorentina and the Serbian national team. He seems to be getting the best out of what is a pretty ordinary side for a top division team in Italy with his methods. Of course many people may attribute his sides form to any new managers ‘honeymoon period’ where the team inevitably lifts for the first few games of a new coach’s reign.
This, of course will be judged in due time, but for now the Sampdoria fans have found a new idol to worship and rightfully so. Mihajlovic’s homecoming has turned around their season, and with the form they have been in for the past three months, a top ten finish is now a distinct possibility for side that looked destined for the drop in December.
A very good article but I disagree about Eder.
He is Sampdoria’s leading goalscorer so far but he has relied on penalties to get some of his goals and he is more brawn than brain.
I prefer Okaka than Eder and after seeing him in the games he has started, I think he deserves to hold that role.
Other than that, I agree with what was said in this article.
Like players and managers in the recent past, it remains to be seen how long this “Home” is going to last. Until the management running the club does not show a more progressive vision, Im afraid Samp will keep losing out players and even managers.