Gennaro Ruotolo
Encyclopedia
Gennaro Ruotolo is an Italian
former footballer
turned manager.
for over a decade; he joined the Grifone in 1988 to left it only in 2002 to join Livorno
of Serie C1
. During his spell at Genoa he lifted the 1996 Anglo-Italian Cup
. He played for Livorno until 2006, except for a four-months time at Saudi Arabia
n side Al-Ittihad (February–June 2003), being part of both rosters which gained promotion to Serie B
and then Serie A
, and playing two top division seasons with the amaranto. He left Livorno in 2006 to join newly-promoted Serie C2
club Sorrento in a comeback to his first professional team. He left Sorrento on December 2007 by mutual consent and then joined amateur Promozione
side Massa Lubrense for the remainder of the season.
In his playing career, Ruotolo received three call-ups for the Italian national team
, all in 1991, with a single appearance, a 2–0 home win to Denmark
on June 12.
.
On May 23, 2009 Ruotolo was appointed on an interim basis to replace Leonardo Acori
at the helm of Livorno for the final Serie B league game and the following promotion playoffs in an attempt to bring his side back to the top flight. He debutted with a late 3–2 away win to Ascoli
that left his side in third place at the end of the regular season. In the promotion playoffs, Livorno was coupled with Tuscan rivals Grosseto
in the semifinals: after a shock 0–2 loss in the first leg, Ruotolo's side managed to make an impressive comeback by defeating their opponent in a 4–1 home win that ensured Livorno a place in the playoff finals against Brescia
. In the finals, Ruotolo then managed to guide Livorno to defeat Brescia 5–2 on aggregate, thus marking an immediate Serie A return for the amaranto club. He subsequently accepted an offer from Livonro to become the club's head coach on a permanent basis; however the move was later dismissed by the Italian Football Federation due to Ruotolo lacking the required UEFA Pro coaching badges, and Vittorio Russo
was instead appointed as acting head coach, with Ruotolo being however often referred as the "real" Livorno boss.
He was removed from his assistant coach position on October 20, 2009, after a 1–2 home loss to Palermo
. On January 2010 he was re-hired by Livorno chairman Aldo Spinelli, this time as new youth coach of the Primavera under-19 squad.
On April 5, 2010 he was reappointed back at the helm of Livorno, taking over from dismissed head coach Serse Cosmi
, in a desperate attempt to save the team from relegation. He was this time allowed to act as head coach despite still not having the required coaching badges, thanks to a 60-day derogation from the Italian Football Federation. The attempt was not successful, and Livorno went down to Serie B after only one season in the Italian top flight.
On June 2010 Ruotolo was announced as new head coach of Savona
, who will play Lega Pro Seconda Divisione in the 2010–11 season.
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...
former footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
turned manager.
Playing career
Ruotolo started his career with Sorrento in 1984, but is best known for having been a key player for GenoaGenoa C.F.C.
Genoa Cricket and Football Club, commonly referred to simply as Genoa , is a professional Italian football club based in the city of Genoa, Liguria...
for over a decade; he joined the Grifone in 1988 to left it only in 2002 to join Livorno
A.S. Livorno Calcio
Associazione Sportiva Livorno Calcio is an Italian football club based in Livorno, Tuscany. The club was formed in 1915 and currently plays in Italian Serie B. The team's colors are dark red or maroon...
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....
. During his spell at Genoa he lifted the 1996 Anglo-Italian Cup
1995–96 Anglo-Italian Cup
The 1995–96 Anglo-Italian Cup was the last ever Anglo-Italian Cup competition. The European football competition was played between eight clubs from England and eight clubs from Italy. Italian side Genoa lifted the trophy after beating English side Port Vale 5-2.-Format:For the competition there...
. He played for Livorno until 2006, except for a four-months time at Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
n side Al-Ittihad (February–June 2003), being part of both rosters which gained promotion to 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...
and then Serie A
Serie 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...
, and playing two top division seasons with the amaranto. He left Livorno in 2006 to join newly-promoted 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...
club Sorrento in a comeback to his first professional team. He left Sorrento on December 2007 by mutual consent and then joined amateur Promozione
Promozione
Promozione is the name of a level of football in Italy. It is considered to be the 7th level in the Italian football league system. Each individual league winner within the Promozione level progresses to their closest regional league in the Eccellenza level...
side Massa Lubrense for the remainder of the season.
In his playing career, Ruotolo received three call-ups for the Italian national team
Italy national football team
The Italy National Football Team , represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation , the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles , just one fewer than...
, all in 1991, with a single appearance, a 2–0 home win to Denmark
Denmark national football team
The Denmark national football team represents Denmark in association football and is controlled by the Danish Football Association , the governing body for the football clubs which are organized under DBU...
on June 12.
Managerial career
On July 2008 he returned to Livorno once again, this time as assistant to newly-appointed coach Leonardo AcoriLeonardo Acori
Leonardo Acori is an Italian football manager, who is the current head coach of Lega Pro Prima Divisione club Benevento.-Coaching:...
.
On May 23, 2009 Ruotolo was appointed on an interim basis to replace Leonardo Acori
Leonardo Acori
Leonardo Acori is an Italian football manager, who is the current head coach of Lega Pro Prima Divisione club Benevento.-Coaching:...
at the helm of Livorno for the final Serie B league game and the following promotion playoffs in an attempt to bring his side back to the top flight. He debutted with a late 3–2 away win to Ascoli
Ascoli Calcio 1898
Ascoli Calcio 1898 is an Italian football club based in Ascoli Piceno, Marche. The club was formed in 1898 and currently plays in Italian Serie B, having returned to it after two seasons spent in Serie A...
that left his side in third place at the end of the regular season. In the promotion playoffs, Livorno was coupled with Tuscan rivals Grosseto
U.S. Grosseto F.C.
Unione Sportiva Grosseto Football Club is a professional Italian association football club, based in the city of Grosseto, Tuscany. The club was founded in 1912. The team's most associated nickname is grifone, after its logo, depicting a griffon...
in the semifinals: after a shock 0–2 loss in the first leg, Ruotolo's side managed to make an impressive comeback by defeating their opponent in a 4–1 home win that ensured Livorno a place in the playoff finals against Brescia
Brescia Calcio
Brescia Calcio , known simply as Brescia, is the largest football club in the Lombard city of Brescia, where it was founded in 1911.In the 2009–10 season, in the return leg of the Serie B playoff final, they defeated Torino 2-1 at home , returning to Serie A after a 5-year absence...
. In the finals, Ruotolo then managed to guide Livorno to defeat Brescia 5–2 on aggregate, thus marking an immediate Serie A return for the amaranto club. He subsequently accepted an offer from Livonro to become the club's head coach on a permanent basis; however the move was later dismissed by the Italian Football Federation due to Ruotolo lacking the required UEFA Pro coaching badges, and Vittorio Russo
Vittorio Russo
Vittorio Russo is an Italian football manager and former player. He last served head coach of Serie A outfit A.S. Livorno Calcio until October 2009.-Career:...
was instead appointed as acting head coach, with Ruotolo being however often referred as the "real" Livorno boss.
He was removed from his assistant coach position on October 20, 2009, after a 1–2 home loss to Palermo
U.S. Città di Palermo
Unione Sportiva Città di Palermo is an Italian football club from Palermo, Sicily which currently plays in Serie A, the top level of Italian football. Formed in 1900 as Anglo Panormitan Athletic and Football Club, the club had various names before assuming its final form in 1987 and is currently...
. On January 2010 he was re-hired by Livorno chairman Aldo Spinelli, this time as new youth coach of the Primavera under-19 squad.
On April 5, 2010 he was reappointed back at the helm of Livorno, taking over from dismissed head coach Serse Cosmi
Serse Cosmi
However, after a disappointing series of results, including elimination in Champions League and results in Serie A much below the expected results, Cosmi was finally fired on February 10, 2006.-Brescia and Livorno:...
, in a desperate attempt to save the team from relegation. He was this time allowed to act as head coach despite still not having the required coaching badges, thanks to a 60-day derogation from the Italian Football Federation. The attempt was not successful, and Livorno went down to Serie B after only one season in the Italian top flight.
On June 2010 Ruotolo was announced as new head coach of Savona
Savona 1907 F.B.C.
Savona 1907 Foot-Ball Club is an Italian football club located in Savona, Liguria.It currently plays in Lega Pro Seconda Divisione.-U.S. Savona Calcio:The club was founded in 1907 as Unione Sportiva Savona Calcio....
, who will play Lega Pro Seconda Divisione in the 2010–11 season.