New West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola watched from the stands as his side went down 3-2 at recently promoted West Bromwich Albion. The former Chelsea striker has his work cut out at Upton Park and success will be a tall order for the little Italian.

Zola, with no prior managerial experience, will have to be at least as good as these 10 Italian bosses if he is to escape the revolving door culture for managers in East London.

10. Luciano Spalletti

In the early stages Spalletti’s guided struggling Empoli, to two consecutive promotions from Serie C1 to Serie A after being in charge of the youth team for a season. However it would not be until he joined Udinese in 2002 before he really began to make an impact in Serie A.

With limited resources at Udinese he managed to guide the team to a sensational fourth-placed finish in Serie A and with it a spot in the UEFA Champions League. This achievement caught the attention of Roma, who saw him as the man to rekindle their fortunes.

In 2005 he joined the club and one year later was elected Serie A Coach of the Year and would later lead Roma until the Champions League quarter-final. He has also won the Coppa Italia, beating Inter in the final.
After being linked with the Chelsea managers job in June, he has recently resigned as head coach of AS Roma.

Honours
Coppa Italia - 2006/07, 2007/08 (AS Roma)
Serie A Coach of the Year - 2006, 2007 (AS Roma)

9. Claudio Ranieri

Ranieri first made a name from himself at Cagliari, where he guided the side to Serie A from Serie C1 in successive seasons. After a spell at Napoli, he joined Fiorentina, where he won his only silverware as a manager, the Coppa Italia and SuperCoppa Italiana. He then left Italy to join Valencia in Spain, where he won a lot of plaudits due to the performances in La Liga and The Champions League.

After a turbulant spell at Atletico Madrid, Claudio Ranieri joined Chelsea where he is fondly remembered by many fans as the “tinkerman”, often juggling players around his first eleven on a regular basis. The arrival of Roman Abramovich at the club increased the pressure on him and he was ultimatley relieved from his position.

After being sacked during a second spell at Valencia, he joined Parma and guided them to safety in a relegation battle, when at times it appeared as though all hope was lost. He is now manager of Juventus, where has guided the side back into Serie A from the second tier of Italian football and is looking to bring European football back to the once great club.

Honours
Coppa Italia - 1995/96 (Fiorentina)
Italian Supercup - 1996 (Fiorentina)
European Supercup - 2004 (Valencia)

8. Cesare Maldini

The father of the legendary Paolo Maldini’s playing career highlight came when he lifted the European Cup with A.C. Milan in 1963 as team captain. After spells in charge of Foggia, Ternana and Parma, he became assistant coach of the Italian national team, which lifted the World Cup in 1982.

In 1986 he was appointed as coach of the Italian under 21 national team, where during his ten year spell he saw his side win the European Under-21 Football Championship a record three times. His success at under 21 level saw him in placed in charge of the full team, where he qualified for the 1998 World Cup, only to see his side beaten by eventual winners France on penalties.

Following his dismissal, he was a contreversial appointment by the Paraguay FA to take care of their national side, but were eliminated in the early stages of the 2002 World Cup. Maldini returned to football as a youth scout at AC Milan, and now works as a football television commentator and presenter.

Honours
European Under-21 Football Championship - 1992, 1994, 1996

7. Gianluca Vialli

As a player Gianluca Vialli is one of the only six Italian footballers to have won the three main European club competitions. Starting his playing career in 1980 for Cremonese, he caught the eye of Sampdoria and scored over 100 goals in eight years at the club before joining Juventus for a then world record fee of £12.5million. He enjoyed great success at the club and captained the side to a Champions League final win over Ajax in 1996, before ending his playing career at Chelsea.

Shortly after being appointed manager at Chelsea in 1998, he guided the team to success in the Coca Cola Cup and the European Cup Winners’ Cup. The following season Chelsea won the European Super Cup by beating Real Madrid 1-0 and in 2000 lifted the FA Cup. However things turned sour at Stamford Bridge and he was sacked five games into the 2000/01 season following a poor start and falling out with key players.

He was given another opportunity at management with Watford, but after spending a comparatively large amount of money on transfer fees and wages, the side only finished 14th in the table and he was sacked. That has so far proved to be his last managerial appointment and works as a TV football commentator for Sky Italia.

Honours
UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup - 1997/98 (Chelsea)
European Super Cup - 1998 (Chelsea)
FA Cup - 1999/2000 (Chelsea)
League Cup - 1997/98 (Chelsea)
FA Charity Shield - 2001/01 (Chelsea)

6. Roberto Mancini

Roberto Mancini began his managerial career at Fiorentina in 2001, where despite only winning just 22.22% of the games played at the club and at times financial problems which lead to him playing for the team, his side won the Italian Cup.

He then joined Lazio, where he once again lifted that trophy. Mancini moced on to Inter Milan in 2004 and would go on to become their most successful coach of the last 30 years, winning both the Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana on two occasions and Serie A three times.

However despite great domestic success, he was unable to guide Inter Milan to European glory and was shortly sacked following their elimination in the Champions League in the 2007/08 season.
Since leaving Inter he has been linked with a number of European clubs, including the recent vacancy at West Ham United!

Honors
Serie A - 2005/06, 2006/07, 2007/08 (Inter Milan)
Coppa Italia - 2000/01 (Fiorentina), 2003/04 (Lazio), 2004/05, 2005/06 (Inter Milan)
Italian Supercup - 2005, 2006 (Inter Milan)

5. Arrigo Sacchi

Arrigo Sacchi, despite never playing profesional football and once made a living as a shoe salesman, is a highly respected manager. He was the former head coach of the Italy national football team from 1991-1996, where he lead Italy to the final in the 1994 World Cup, only to loose to Brazil on penalties.

He also enjoyed two spells in charge of AC Milan, his first from 1987-1991 being the most succesful, where he won a multitude of trophies. He also managed Parma and Atletico Madrid, before being appointed as appointed director of football of Real Madrid in 2004. Sacchi resigned from his position after the Real Madrid head coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo was fired for a string of bad results and has been out of the game since.

Honours
Serie A - 1987/88 (AC Milan)
Italian Super Cup - 1989 (AC Milan)
European Cup - 1988/89, 1989/90 (AC Milan)
European Super Cup - 1989, 1990 (AC Milan)
Intercontinental Cup - 1989, 1990 (AC Milan)

4. Carlo Ancelotti

Ancelotti’s first coaching job was of Serie B A.C. Reggiana in 1995, where he gained promotion to Serie A at the first attempt. This success lead him to be appointed as manager of Parma. He lead his Parma side, which featured goalkeeper Gigi Buffon to UEFA Cup glory in the 1998/99 season. That lead him to a stint a Juventus, where he finished runners-up twice in Serie A, before joining AC Milan.

He joined AC Milan at a time where they had been starved of success, which resulted in Ancelotti making at times, controversial team decisions and transfers. However his judgment was no longer put into question when they lifted both the Champions League and the Coppa Italia, as well as the Scudetto in 2004. After the defeat against Liverpool in the 2005 final, Milan once again lifted the trophy in 2007. Ancelotti has now signed a contract extension, keeping him at the club until 2010.

Honours
Serie A - 2003/04 (AC Milan)
Italian Supercup - 2004 (AC Milan)
UEFA Champions League - 2002/03, 2006/07 (AC Milan)
UEFA Super Cup - 2003, 2007 (AC Milan)
FIFA Club World Cup - 2007 (AC Milan)
Intertoto Cup - 1999 (Juventus)
Serie A Coach of the Year - 2001, 2004
ESM European Coach of the Year - 2007
Order of Merit of the Republic - Knight

3. Fabio Capello

Nobody could ever doubt this mans managerial credentials! Fabio Capello has the distinction of winning the domestic league title with every club he has managed throughout his career, with Milan, Roma and Juventus in Italy and Real Madrid in Spain (on two occasions).

During his managerial career he has assembled some of the great teams in history, such as the great Milan side of 1994, which demolished Barcleona 4-1 in the final of the European Cup to lift the trophy

Capello is now in what he told the press will be his last managerial appointment - in charge of the England national team. So far his biggest achievement at the helm has been the 4-1 victory in Croatia.

Honours
Serie A - 1991/92, 1992/93, 1993/94, 1995/96 (AC Milan), 2000/01 (AS Roma), 2004/05, 2005/06 (Juventus but later stripped due to 2006 football scandal)
La Liga - 1996/97, 2006/07 (Real Madrid)
UEFA Champions League - 1993/94 (AC Milan)
European Super Cup - 1994 (AC Milan)
Italian Supercup - 1992, 1993, 1994 (AC Milan), 2001 (AS Roma)
Serie A Coach of the Year - 2005 (Juventus)

2. Marcello Lippi

Marcello Lippi began his long and successful managerial career in charge of the lower division sides in Italy, until he finally got a chance in Serie A in 1989 with Cesena. Then in 1994, he led Napoli to a place in the UEFA Cup, which was remarkable given the financial turmoil of the club at the time.

That success caught the attention of Juventus, where he won the league title during his first season in charge and following a disappointing spell at Inter, rejoined the club. Lippi was appointed at the helm of the Italian national team on July 2004 and led the side to World Cup victory in 2006, despite the explosion of the 2006 Serie A scandal.

He has now been reappointed coach of the Italian national side, after resigning following the triumph in 2006.

Honours
FIFA World Cup - 2006 (Italy)
Serie A - 1994/95, 1996/97, 1997/98, 2001/02, 2002/03 (Juventus)
Coppa Italia - 1994/95 (Juventus)
Italian Supercup - 1995, 1997, 2002, 2003 (Juventus)
UEFA Champions League - 1996 (Juventus)
European Supercup - 1996 (Juventus)
Intercontinental Cup - 1996 (Juventus)
Serie A Coach of the Year - 1997, 1998, 2003
IFFHS The World’s Best National Coach - 2006
IFFHS The World’s Best Club Coach - 1996, 1998
Onze d’Or Coach of the Year - 2007

1. Giovanni Trapattoni

Giovanni Trapattoni considered the most successful club coach in the history of Italy, being the only manager to have won all UEFA club competitions and the Intercontinental Cup, during his two spells in charge of Juventus. Frankly, what Trapattoni doesn’t know about managing a successful football team isn’t worth knowing.

Trapattoni began his long coaching career at A.C. Milan as a youth team coach and caretaker manager before being appointed by Juventus. Following a successful spell in Turin, he took charge at Inter Milan, and later had spells in Germany in charge of Bayern Munich, in Portugal while in charge of SL Benfica and Austria whilst in charge of Red Bull Salzburg.

He is now in charge of the Republic of Ireland national team, where he is beginning to stamp his authority throughout the squad and performances on the pitch.

Honours
Serie A - 1976/77, 1977/78, 1980/81, 1981/82, 1983/94, 1985/86 (Juventus), 1988/89 (Inter Milan)
Coppa Italia - 1978/79, 1982/83 (Juventus)
European Cup - 1984/85 (Juventus)
Cup Winners Cup - 1983/84 (Juventus)
UEFA Cup - 1976/77 (Juventus), 1990/91 (Inter Milan), 1992/93 (Juventus)
European Super Cup - 1984 (Juventus)
Intercontinental Cup - 1985 (Juventus)
German Bundesliga - 1996/97 (Bayern Munich)
German Cup - 1997/98 (Bayern Munich)
Portuguese SuperLiga - 2004/05 (Benfica)
Austrian Bundesliga - 2006/07 (Red Bull Salzburg)

However, for every Capello, Lippi and Trapattoni, there is a prize turkey. Here are three Italian managers who failed to make the grade on more than one occasion and who Zola will certainly not want to emulate…

Luigi De Canio

Luigi De Canio has had a long and relatively unsuccessful career in football management. He began at what is considered to be the seventh level of Italian football, the Promozione, which he won while in charge of Pisticci.

He then had spells at different Serie C clubs, including Savoia, Siena and Carpi. In 1997/98 he landed a job in Serie B with Lucchese, where he barely guided them from a relegation, but had more joy with Pescara in 1998/1999, narrowingly missing out on promotion, but couldn’t replicate that success the in the following season. In 1999 he finally had a chance to manage in Serie A, with Udinese where he qualified for the UEFA Cup via the Intertoto. After a huge slump in performances he sacked and was once again sacked after failing to gain promotion to Serie A with Napoi.

After spells at Reggina, Genoa and Sienna, he was appointed as a shock manager of QPR. Despite an influx of signings and loan captures, he could only guide the side to a fourteenth place finish and left the club by “mutual consent” after the end of the season in May 2008

Honours
Intertoto Cup - 1999/00 (Udinese)
Promozione - 1989/90 (Pisticci)

Roberto Donadoni

After retiring from playing, Donadoni had spells in charge of Lecco and Genoa, before returning to Livorno for a second spell at the club. During this time, he managed to earn a ninth place finish, before quitting the club the following season over criticism from club chairman Aldo Spinelli.

He took over the Italian national team following their World Cup win in 2006 but endured a tough qualification campaign caused by a poor start. However, victory in their final match over Scotland saw the team finish top of the group.

While at Euro 2008, Donadoni was heavily criticized for his tactics and team selections during the 3-0 defeat against the Netherlands and the 0-0 draw with Romania. A victory over France set up a match against eventual winners Spain, who eliminated Italy on penalties. Following the tournament he was sacked from his position and at this time is still out of football.

Honours
None

Attilio Lombardo

Attilio Lombardo is mainly remembered by fans in England as part of the Crystal Palace side which also featured Sweden’s Thomas Brolin in the late ninties.

Lombardo began that season as a player, but following an injury in November, he was put in charge of the side (along with Brolin) in early 1998. At the time Palace were fairly comfortable in mid table, but a huge dip in form saw them plummit to the bottom of the table and subsequently relegated. That would be his only managerial appointment until he hung up his boots. In 2006, following a spell in charge of Sampdoria’s youth team, he was appointed manager of Swiss side FC Chiasso, only to resign in May 2007, citing lack of motivation.

In 2008 he guided the small Serie C2 club Castelnuovo away from a relagtion battle and is now in charge of Serie C1 club Legnano.

Honours
None

Agree? Disagree? Has anyone been missed on the list? Let us know by leaving a comment below!