You may not believe it but Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini did not sack a coach last year.
Giuseppe Iachini managed to see out 2014 as the coach of the Rosanero and Palermo have emerged as one of Serie A’s surprise packages this season.
Iachini could remain as Palermo coach in 2015 and avoid being sacked by the usually trigger-happy Zamparini but it all depends on the form of the players that fit his system.
The Rosanero play in a 3-5-2 formation and Iachini encourages his teams to work hard and show plenty of fighting spirit; but he also has players with certain characteristics that make the reigning Serie B champions tick.
In goal there is 35-year-old Stefano Sorrentino, who has been in superb form despite keeping only three clean sheets. Even when Palermo were struggling to win matches, Sorrentino was the player who helped limit the damage.
Palermo had failed to win a match in the first six Serie A matches of the 2014-15 season but the presence of two important defenders lessened the bombardment of Sorrentino’s goal.
Costa Rican centre-back Giancarlo Gonzalez starred for Los Ticos at the 2014 World Cup and he has been a starter for Palermo since making his debut in the 2–1 win against Cesena. Gonzalez also scored the winning goal against the Cavallucci Marini in the Week seven encounter.
Ezequiel Munoz only played one match in the first six rounds but he has also been a rock in the Palermo defence since returning from an injury. In fact the Argentine defender has attracted plenty interest from clubs like Napoli, Roma, Inter and AC Milan.
Iachini’s midfield has been functioning superbly and the key player is veteran playmaker Enzo Maresca. He played splendidly in Palermo’s 2–0 win against AC Milan and he has started in every game since that upset at the San Siro.
Supporting Maresca in midfield are central midfielders Edgar Barreto and Luca Rigoni. Barreto, who is also the Rosanero captain, has scored two goals in 14 league matches and assisted in another five. Rigoni was acquired from Chievo in the summer and the defensive midfielder has himself managed four goals in 15 games.
Those central midfielders are over 30 years old but 21-year-old Swedish midfielder from Robin Quaison has also contributed with two goals in Palermo’s 4–3 loss to Fiorentina on the weekend. “The Swedish Xavi” could be an impact-player for Iachini or possibly even deputise for one of the veterans.
When Palermo were in Serie B last season, Iachini relied on an attacking duo containing more physical and athletic strikers in Kyle Lafferty and Abel Hernandez to score goals.
This season the Palermo coach has opted for the more technically-gifted route, with strikers Franco Vasquez and Paulo Dybala in attack who have so far scored 14 of the Rosanero’s 30 goals.
Both strikers have attracted the interest of clubs around Europe but if one of them departs soon, Iachini could grant more playing time to Italy under-21 star Andrea Belotti.
Iachini has achieved promotion to Serie A with Chievo, Brescia, Sampdoria and Palermo. He struggled in Italy’s top flight when he coached the Flying Donkeys and the Rondinelle but he has performed well with the Sicilians this time.
For the Ascoli Piceno native to stay in the job though, he will need his key players to maintain their form or he could face the sack from Zamparini like many of his Palermo predecessors.
Follow Vito Doria on Twitter: @VitoCDoria
