Francesco Guidolin has made the remarkable revelation that he was on the verge of becoming Juventus Coach before Fabio Capello arrived at the eleventh hour.
The Monaco boss today explained that in the late spring of 2004, and contrary to common opinion, it was he who reached an agreement with the Turin club to become the successor to Marcello Lippi at the Stadio Delle Alpi.
Although it was known that the tactician from Vicenza was in the running for the Juve hotseat before Don Fabio became available, it was thought at the time that the job was going to go to one of either Didier Deschamps or Cesare Prandelli.
"Contrary to newspaper talk I was to be the next Coach of the Bianconeri," declared Guidolin. "I had every reason to be sure it was going to be me, but then suddenly one night Capello appeared out of the blue."
The capture of Capello was a tremendous coup by general director Luciano Moggi, who unexpectedly prised the highly-regarded Roma boss away from the Eternal City to the surprise of all.
The Monaco boss, who has quickly settled in France, where he is rebuilding the side since the departure of Deschamps, claims that he took the rejection well, though, given the calibre of the man who snatched the job from his grasp.
"As Fabio is the best of the lot I wasn’t too bitter about it," he said, before confessing: "Well, maybe just a little bit."
Shame crybaby
The Monaco boss today explained that in the late spring of 2004, and contrary to common opinion, it was he who reached an agreement with the Turin club to become the successor to Marcello Lippi at the Stadio Delle Alpi.
Although it was known that the tactician from Vicenza was in the running for the Juve hotseat before Don Fabio became available, it was thought at the time that the job was going to go to one of either Didier Deschamps or Cesare Prandelli.
"Contrary to newspaper talk I was to be the next Coach of the Bianconeri," declared Guidolin. "I had every reason to be sure it was going to be me, but then suddenly one night Capello appeared out of the blue."
The capture of Capello was a tremendous coup by general director Luciano Moggi, who unexpectedly prised the highly-regarded Roma boss away from the Eternal City to the surprise of all.
The Monaco boss, who has quickly settled in France, where he is rebuilding the side since the departure of Deschamps, claims that he took the rejection well, though, given the calibre of the man who snatched the job from his grasp.
"As Fabio is the best of the lot I wasn’t too bitter about it," he said, before confessing: "Well, maybe just a little bit."
Shame crybaby
