Emiliano Mondonico
Encyclopedia
Emiliano Mondonico is an Italian
football manager. He last served as head coach of Serie B
side AlbinoLeffe
.
seasons (both with Torino
) in his career, Mondonico had a much more successful career as a manager. After two years as youth coach with Cremonese
, he became the team's head coach in 1981, guiding the club into promotion to the top flight in 1984. Another promotion followed in 1988 with Atalanta
, another former team of him as a player, which then he successfully guided to the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 1988–89.
In 1990 he joined Torino
, guiding them to fifth place and to a historic UEFA Cup
final in 1991–92, then lost to AFC Ajax in a controversial game that became famous for Mondonico clearly lifting up a chair into the air in a sign of protest against the referee. In 1993, he led Torino to victory in Coppa Italia
, in which they defeated Roma
on the away goals rule after the two teams tied at 5–5 in the two-legged final.
In the first leg, Torino won 3-0 at home, thanks to an own goal by Silvano Benedetti
, and a goal apiece by defenders Sandro Cois
and Daniele Fortunato
. In the second leg, Roma won 5-2 thanks to a hat-trick
from Giuseppe Giannini
, and goals from Ruggiero Rizzitelli
and Siniša Mihajlović
. However, two goals by Andrea Silenzi
were enough to give Torino their fifth Coppa Italia title.
On 2004, he replaced Alberto Cavasin
as the head coach of ACF Fiorentina
, which had just been admitted to play Serie B
directly from Serie C2
by the federation. Despite all of this, Mondonico managed to qualify in a two-legged promotion playoff, winning it to Perugia
. Mondonico headed Fiorentina also to Serie A, but was successively fired and replaced by Sergio Buso.
In January 2006, he accepted the offer of U.C. AlbinoLeffe
, a minor Serie B team which was involved in a relegation battle and second-last placed at the time of his signing. Mondonico was able to lead AlbinoLeffe to qualify to a relegation playoff, winning it to U.S. Avellino
. Mondonico was confirmed at the helm of AlbinoLeffe also for the 2006–07, leading the small club to a record 10th place in the Serie B. In June 2007 he left AlbinoLeffe to join Cremonese
of Serie C1
in a somewhat surprise move, but missed to guide his side back to Serie B after losing the promotion playoff finals to Cittadella
. He then left the club by mutual consent, only to return to Cremonese in December 2008 to replace Ivo Iaconi
; he successively resigned in March 2009 after a string of poor results.
On September 2009 he was appointed back at AlbinoLeffe
to replace Armando Madonna
. He stepped down as head coach of AlbinoLeffe on 29 January 2011 due to "serious health issues", with his assistant Daniele Fortunato
taking over on an interim basis. Two days later, his club confirmed he had undergone abdominal surgery, expecting him to recover in a few weeks time. On 15 February, after a full recovery, Mondonico officially returned to his coaching duties at AlbinoLeffe. He guided AlbinoLeffe to narrowly escape relegation after defeating Piacenza
in the playoffs, but on 13 June he held a emotional press conference to announce that the illness had returned during the final period of season and that he was seriously considering stepping down as a consequence. On 17 June 2011 Mondonico was confirmed to have resigned from AlbinoLeffe in order to focus solely on cancer treatment; he was replaced by his assistant Daniele Fortunato, who already took first team coaching duties during his previous sick leave.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
football manager. He last served as head coach of Serie B
Serie B
Serie B, currently named Serie bwin due to sponsorship reasons, is the second-highest division in the Italian football league system after the Serie A. It is contested by 22 teams and organized by the Lega Serie B since July 2010, after the split of Lega Calcio that previously took care of both the...
side AlbinoLeffe
U.C. AlbinoLeffe
Unione Calcio AlbinoLeffe is an Italian association football club based in Leffe and also representing the town of Albino, in the Province of Bergamo, Lombardy. AlbinoLeffe plays its home games at the Atleti Azzurri d'Italia stadium, in the city of Bergamo, and its official colors are dark blue and...
.
Career
A former player with only two Serie ASerie A
Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
seasons (both with Torino
Torino F.C.
Torino Football Club, commonly referred to as simply Torino, is a professional Italian football club based in Turin, Piedmont, that was founded in 1906. The club has spent most of its history in the top tier in Italian football....
) in his career, Mondonico had a much more successful career as a manager. After two years as youth coach with Cremonese
U.S. Cremonese
Unione Sportiva Cremonese is an Italian football club, based in Cremona. The club was founded in 1903. Cremonese played the 2005/2006 season in Serie B, having won Serie C1/A the previous season. However, in the 2005/2006 Serie B campaign, Cremonese came out twenty-first, being therefore relegated...
, he became the team's head coach in 1981, guiding the club into promotion to the top flight in 1984. Another promotion followed in 1988 with Atalanta
Atalanta B.C.
Atalanta Bergamasca Calcio, commonly known as just Atalanta, Atalanta Bergamo or the abbreviation Atalanta BC, is an Italian football club based in Bergamo, Lombardy.They are nicknamed the Nerazzurri and the orobici...
, another former team of him as a player, which then he successfully guided to the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 1988–89.
In 1990 he joined Torino
Torino F.C.
Torino Football Club, commonly referred to as simply Torino, is a professional Italian football club based in Turin, Piedmont, that was founded in 1906. The club has spent most of its history in the top tier in Italian football....
, guiding them to fifth place and to a historic UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
final in 1991–92, then lost to AFC Ajax in a controversial game that became famous for Mondonico clearly lifting up a chair into the air in a sign of protest against the referee. In 1993, he led Torino to victory in Coppa Italia
Coppa Italia
The Coppa Italia is an Italian football annual cup competition. Its first edition was held in 1922, but the second champions were not crowned until 1936. Roma and Juventus lead the way with nine wins. Roma has contested more finals, 16, while Torino and Juventus follow with 13...
, in which they defeated Roma
A.S. Roma
Associazione Sportiva Roma, commonly referred to as simply Roma, is a professional Italian football club based in Rome. Founded by a merger in 1927, Roma have participated in the top-tier of Italian football for all of their existence but one season in the early 50s...
on the away goals rule after the two teams tied at 5–5 in the two-legged final.
In the first leg, Torino won 3-0 at home, thanks to an own goal by Silvano Benedetti
Silvano Benedetti
Silvano Benedetti is a retired Italian football player.His son Simone Benedetti is a footballer.-External links:*...
, and a goal apiece by defenders Sandro Cois
Sandro Cois
Sandro Cois is a retired Italian football player. He has enjoyed a long career playing primarily as a defensive midfielder.He played for several clubs, including Torino and Piacenza...
and Daniele Fortunato
Daniele Fortunato
Daniele Fortunato is an Italian professional football coach and a former player, currently serving as head coach of Serie B club AlbinoLeffe.-Playing career:...
. In the second leg, Roma won 5-2 thanks to a hat-trick
Hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
from Giuseppe Giannini
Giuseppe Giannini
Giuseppe Giannini is a former Italian international footballer, who currently serves as head coach of Serie B side Grosseto. He spent the majority of his 16-year playing career with A.S...
, and goals from Ruggiero Rizzitelli
Ruggiero Rizzitelli
Ruggiero Rizzitelli is a former Italian football player, in the role of striker.-Club:...
and Siniša Mihajlović
Siniša Mihajlovic
Siniša Mihajlović is a Serbian football manager and former player. He was in charge of Serie A club Fiorentina since June 2010 to November 2011....
. However, two goals by Andrea Silenzi
Andrea Silenzi
Andrea Silenzi is a retired Italian footballer who played as a centre forward.He was known for his goal-poaching ability, but at a highly inconsistent level. The scorer of 89 league goals during his career, Silenzi was also the first Italian to play in the Premier League, when he signed with...
were enough to give Torino their fifth Coppa Italia title.
On 2004, he replaced Alberto Cavasin
Alberto Cavasin
Alberto Cavasin is an Italian football manager and former player. He last served as head coach of Serie A team Sampdoria.-Playing career:...
as the head coach of ACF Fiorentina
ACF Fiorentina
ACF Fiorentina, commonly referred to as simply Fiorentina, is a professional Italian football club from Florence, Tuscany. Founded by a merger in 1926, Fiorentina have played at the top level of Italian football for the majority of their existence; only four clubs have played in more Serie A...
, which had just been admitted to play Serie B
Serie B
Serie B, currently named Serie bwin due to sponsorship reasons, is the second-highest division in the Italian football league system after the Serie A. It is contested by 22 teams and organized by the Lega Serie B since July 2010, after the split of Lega Calcio that previously took care of both the...
directly from Serie C2
Serie C2
Lega Pro Seconda Divisione is the name of the fourth highest football league in Italy, the lowest with a professional status. Usually it consists of 54 teams, but in the season 2010–11 the teams are only 49 divided geographically into three divisions of 17, 16 and 16 teams each...
by the federation. Despite all of this, Mondonico managed to qualify in a two-legged promotion playoff, winning it to Perugia
Perugia Calcio
Associazione Calcistica Perugia Calcio is an Italian association football club based in Perugia, Umbria, direct heir of the old Perugia Calcio and A.C. Perugia, excluded from Italian football because of financial troubles....
. Mondonico headed Fiorentina also to Serie A, but was successively fired and replaced by Sergio Buso.
In January 2006, he accepted the offer of U.C. AlbinoLeffe
U.C. AlbinoLeffe
Unione Calcio AlbinoLeffe is an Italian association football club based in Leffe and also representing the town of Albino, in the Province of Bergamo, Lombardy. AlbinoLeffe plays its home games at the Atleti Azzurri d'Italia stadium, in the city of Bergamo, and its official colors are dark blue and...
, a minor Serie B team which was involved in a relegation battle and second-last placed at the time of his signing. Mondonico was able to lead AlbinoLeffe to qualify to a relegation playoff, winning it to U.S. Avellino
U.S. Avellino
Associazione Sportiva Avellino 1912 , since summer 2010, is the new name of the Italian football club, based in Avellino, Campania. The club was founded in 1912 and its traditional colours are green and white...
. Mondonico was confirmed at the helm of AlbinoLeffe also for the 2006–07, leading the small club to a record 10th place in the Serie B. In June 2007 he left AlbinoLeffe to join Cremonese
U.S. Cremonese
Unione Sportiva Cremonese is an Italian football club, based in Cremona. The club was founded in 1903. Cremonese played the 2005/2006 season in Serie B, having won Serie C1/A the previous season. However, in the 2005/2006 Serie B campaign, Cremonese came out twenty-first, being therefore relegated...
of Serie C1
Serie C1
Lega Pro Prima Divisione is the name of the third highest football league in Italy. It consists of 36 teams, divided geographically into two divisions of 18 teams each. Until 2008 it was known as Serie C1....
in a somewhat surprise move, but missed to guide his side back to Serie B after losing the promotion playoff finals to Cittadella
A.S. Cittadella
Associazione Sportiva Cittadella is an Italian association football club, based in Cittadella, Veneto.-History:Cittadella was founded in 1973, after the merger of U.S. Cittadellense and A.S. Olympia. The club spent most of its first years in amateur football, and then professional football at Serie...
. He then left the club by mutual consent, only to return to Cremonese in December 2008 to replace Ivo Iaconi
Ivo Iaconi
Ivo Iaconi is an Italian football manager and former player.-Playing career:Iaconi played mostly with Serie C and amateur clubs, starting his career with Giulianova in the 1970s. He retired in 1992 after Giulianova were relegated to Serie D.-Managing career:In 1992-93 he started his coaching...
; he successively resigned in March 2009 after a string of poor results.
On September 2009 he was appointed back at AlbinoLeffe
U.C. AlbinoLeffe
Unione Calcio AlbinoLeffe is an Italian association football club based in Leffe and also representing the town of Albino, in the Province of Bergamo, Lombardy. AlbinoLeffe plays its home games at the Atleti Azzurri d'Italia stadium, in the city of Bergamo, and its official colors are dark blue and...
to replace Armando Madonna
Armando Madonna
Armando Madonna is an Italian football manager and former player. He is the current manager of Piacenza in the Italian Serie B.-Playing:...
. He stepped down as head coach of AlbinoLeffe on 29 January 2011 due to "serious health issues", with his assistant Daniele Fortunato
Daniele Fortunato
Daniele Fortunato is an Italian professional football coach and a former player, currently serving as head coach of Serie B club AlbinoLeffe.-Playing career:...
taking over on an interim basis. Two days later, his club confirmed he had undergone abdominal surgery, expecting him to recover in a few weeks time. On 15 February, after a full recovery, Mondonico officially returned to his coaching duties at AlbinoLeffe. He guided AlbinoLeffe to narrowly escape relegation after defeating Piacenza
Piacenza Calcio
Piacenza Calcio is an Italian association football club based in Piacenza. The club was formed in 1919 and currently plays in Italian Lega Pro Prima Divisione B. The team's colors are red and white, prompting one of the team's nicknames, the Biancorossi. They are also known as the Papaveri , and...
in the playoffs, but on 13 June he held a emotional press conference to announce that the illness had returned during the final period of season and that he was seriously considering stepping down as a consequence. On 17 June 2011 Mondonico was confirmed to have resigned from AlbinoLeffe in order to focus solely on cancer treatment; he was replaced by his assistant Daniele Fortunato, who already took first team coaching duties during his previous sick leave.