IFA Programme 2016

SANMARINO THE COACH In February 2014 former international midfielder Pierangelo Manzaroli took over the reins from Giampaolo Mazza who had been in charge of San Marino’s national team for 15 years. 

Manzaroli (47) had served his apprenticeship as coach of the Under-21 squad from 2010. His best result as U21 coach had been a 1-0 victory in a Euro qualifier against Wales in September 2015. The goal was scored by Fiorentina defender Juri Biordi. In the Euro 2016 qualifiers, Manzaroli’s charges lost their first three matches, including a 5-0 reverse against England at Wembley, before they gained their only point of the campaign with a 0-0 draw at home to Estonia. San Marino lost their six remaining matches but did manage to score - it was their solitary goal of the qualifiers - in a 2-1 away defeat to Lithuania in September 2015. Midfielder Matteo Vitaioli netted from a free-kick just outside the box. In the first match of the WC 2018 campaign, on 4 September against Azerbaijan, Manzaroli’s troops, playing a 5-4-1 formation, lost by a headed goal seconds before the break in front of 1500 spectators in the national stadium (Serravalle). It is likely San Marino will play a similar formation against Northern Ireland, with the emphasis on holding the hosts and relying on breaks from defence.

In his playing career, 5’10” midfielder Manzaroli made his international debut in October 1991 in a Euro qualifier away to Bulgaria (4-0 defeat) and went on to win 39 caps. He ended his playing career in the summer of 2008. It certainly appears a daunting task coaching the national team rated 211th in the FIFA rankings, with a record of just one victory in their entire history (1-0 in a friendly at home to Liechtenstein in April 2004), however the coach has his own opinion about his charges’ ambitions. He said: “Our primary aim is different from that of other teams: our main objective is damage limitation, and that can be psychologically draining. Most of our players earn at the most £240 a month as players, and most have full-time jobs, training in the evenings. In other countries playing football is a job, in San Marino it is a hobby, a passion. “Sport to me means giving everyone the chance to measure themselves against teams which are much stronger. Don’t forget Brazil conceded seven goals at home to Germany in the World Cup semi-final in 2014. For us the challenge is to look to improve in every game.”

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