They say that you should never go back, but for Luciano Spalletti and Roma, at least for the time being, that rule seems not to apply
As he reached his 57th birthday, Spalletti’s stock in Italy has risen once again. In the brief tenure of his second spell with Roma, he has managed to wipe clean the slate left by Rudi Garcia and is beginning to fashion a new side – and so far, successfully so.
Perhaps it should be no surprise. Spalletti’s most successful years in the dugout coincided with some of the Giallorossi’s best years and, though time has not softened all voices following his departure, he offered a stability that has been much sought after, but seldom replicated at the Stadio Olimpico since that time.
Only Garcia has lasted more than 18 months in the dugout since 2009, which has seen a number of false dawns and ‘projects’ beginning, only to be cast aside when the ship ran into stormy waters.
The coaches who currently top both the English and Spanish leagues currently have both passed through the Stadio Olimpico in this time, though neither Claudio Ranieri nor Luis Enrique were the right fit for Roma.
Spalletti’s initial departure from the Giallorossi, rather jumping before he was pushed, saw the former Empoli man undoubtedly fall on his feet. In moving to Zenit St Petersburg he joined a club at which everything was in place to go forward.
After a time in Rome that saw his best players sold on – strange as it may seem now, Alberto Aquilani being one of the most high-profile examples – he was suddenly at a club flush with cash. The players that moved to Zenit during Spalletti’s reign were numerous, and the prices mind-boggling.
Before his first campaign, a total of €57 million was paid out, with Bruno Alves and Aleksandr Bukharov the big investments. Zenit won the Russian League, but bowed out of the Europa League in the first knockout stage. It was a season of building.
The next year, €11m defender, Domenico Criscito, joined Spalletti. Again Zenit won the Russian League, but again European progress eluded them – the Last 16 of the Champions League being their limit.
Spalletti looked to Portugal once more. Hulk joined from Porto for an estimated €50m, whilst Axel Witsel came in from Benfica at €40m. Such a huge investment to an already champion team should have pushed them on to greater things. However, they finished second to CSKA Moscow, and went out in the group stage of the Champions League. Zenit were going backwards.
A heavy defeat at home to Borussia Dortmund in the following Champions League campaign was the straw that broke the camel’s back next season. Spalletti left mid-campaign, the side winning seven of 10 games after his departure to claim second again.
When taken at a little more depth, Spalletti’s time in St Petersburg, while it brought two titles, was not a huge success. The team he took over were equipped to win the league and he managed to do so, but he was not able to push them further forward and even with some extremely lavish signings, he couldn’t advance in Europe.
His return to Rome, then, provides his some questions to answer. Just as at Zenit, he has joined a club with a squad equipped to challenge for a title – the Giallorossi have finished second in both of the last two seasons and previously looked set to push Juventus hard this time around.
In one facet, he has clearly demonstrated his skill already. When faced with the situation, Spalletti is well able to maximise the squad at his disposal and accordingly it would be no surprise to see Roma continue their recent run of good form and while Napoli and the Bianconeri look set to duke it out for the title, third place is well within their reach; and another possible Champions League campaign.
The real challenge will come in the summer. How does he make his already high-level squad even better. What area of the pitch needs strengthening, and who is best to do it? He will not be able to count on Zenit level signings, though should be relatively immune from losing his best players.
They say you should never go back, but Spalletti has rolled the dice again and is doing exactly that. It remains to be seen if he has learned from his earlier mistakes but, as he reaches his 57th year, he will soon have the opportunity to demonstrate.
