Zeman, you're fired...part 31½ (7 Viewers)
- Thread starter Mark
- Start date
Zeman ready to retire Sunday 31 December, 2006
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Sacked Lecce boss Zdenek Zeman will fill his days cheering on Roma and Catania, as he admits he may be ready to end his Coaching career.
The controversial tactician, formerly of Lazio and Roma, had returned to the Stadio Via del Mare in the summer a year after his decision to walk away, but it was one he would live to regret.
“When Lecce called me again in June I kidded myself that I’d be able to work with a solid project, as I had at Licata and Foggia. Instead, they were afraid to wait and enjoy the growth of their young players,” he revealed.
Zeman became famous for taking Foggia from Serie B in 1989-90 to two top-flight ninth-place finishes before moving on to Lazio in 1994.
“Unfortunately, I discovered too late that the club had only called me to excite the interest of the fans to pick up season tickets. Let’s not forget that at Foggia that first year in Serie B with Roberto Rambaudi, Antonio Manicone and Beppe Signori we were propping up the table at Christmas only to nearly achieve promotion by the end. With me, this Lecce side would’ve fought for the play-offs.”
The Czech Coach remains confident of his work despite 10 defeats, two draws and only six wins in the opening 18 games – including four home losses.
Replaced by another former Lazio boss, Giuseppe Papadopulo, Zeman now faces an uncertain future where fewer Presidents are willing to accept his working methods.
“It’s not so much Lecce’s problem as that of football on the whole. I’ll only work with who is truly prepared to wait for youngsters to mature or to build a winning squad, but I could even put my feet up and become a pensioner,” smiled the 59-year-old.
“Now I’ll return to live in Rome and start following the games at the Olimpico. Lazio are doing well, but Roma are more entertaining and play the best football. They have the most interesting approach, all thanks to Luciano Spalletti and his men.
“Catania have been a revelation this season and have the potential to get into the European places, considering Milan and Fiorentina’s penalties. I’ve been following Pasquale Marino’s career since his time at Foggia and, admittedly, I like his way of approaching the sport. If anything, he was more attacking than me, as his 3-4-3 added a defender on the line of the midfielders.”
Meanwhile, it is reported today that Zeman’s departure from the Lecce headquarters was typically dramatic. While reversing out of the car park, his car hit an olive tree and smashed the rear bumper.
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:rofl2: :rofl2: :rofl2: :rofl2: :rofl2: :rofl2: :rofl2:
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Sacked Lecce boss Zdenek Zeman will fill his days cheering on Roma and Catania, as he admits he may be ready to end his Coaching career.
The controversial tactician, formerly of Lazio and Roma, had returned to the Stadio Via del Mare in the summer a year after his decision to walk away, but it was one he would live to regret.
“When Lecce called me again in June I kidded myself that I’d be able to work with a solid project, as I had at Licata and Foggia. Instead, they were afraid to wait and enjoy the growth of their young players,” he revealed.
Zeman became famous for taking Foggia from Serie B in 1989-90 to two top-flight ninth-place finishes before moving on to Lazio in 1994.
“Unfortunately, I discovered too late that the club had only called me to excite the interest of the fans to pick up season tickets. Let’s not forget that at Foggia that first year in Serie B with Roberto Rambaudi, Antonio Manicone and Beppe Signori we were propping up the table at Christmas only to nearly achieve promotion by the end. With me, this Lecce side would’ve fought for the play-offs.”
The Czech Coach remains confident of his work despite 10 defeats, two draws and only six wins in the opening 18 games – including four home losses.
Replaced by another former Lazio boss, Giuseppe Papadopulo, Zeman now faces an uncertain future where fewer Presidents are willing to accept his working methods.
“It’s not so much Lecce’s problem as that of football on the whole. I’ll only work with who is truly prepared to wait for youngsters to mature or to build a winning squad, but I could even put my feet up and become a pensioner,” smiled the 59-year-old.
“Now I’ll return to live in Rome and start following the games at the Olimpico. Lazio are doing well, but Roma are more entertaining and play the best football. They have the most interesting approach, all thanks to Luciano Spalletti and his men.
“Catania have been a revelation this season and have the potential to get into the European places, considering Milan and Fiorentina’s penalties. I’ve been following Pasquale Marino’s career since his time at Foggia and, admittedly, I like his way of approaching the sport. If anything, he was more attacking than me, as his 3-4-3 added a defender on the line of the midfielders.”
Meanwhile, it is reported today that Zeman’s departure from the Lecce headquarters was typically dramatic. While reversing out of the car park, his car hit an olive tree and smashed the rear bumper.
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:rofl2: :rofl2: :rofl2: :rofl2: :rofl2: :rofl2: :rofl2:
