The start to the Serie A has a strong Varese presence

After the strike on Sunday 28 August, of which, the least said the better, the season of Italy’s Serie A, which was once “the best in the world” and which is now forced to catch up, on different levels, with the top leagues in England, Spain and Germany, is finally starting.

The Serie A opens with the pursuit of Allegri’s AC Milan, the current champions; we expect to see the resurgence of Inter Milan and Juventus, and the advance of Napoli and of Lazio, and there’s curiosity surrounding the new Roma team.

The Serie A opens with a large number of important names “from Varese”: managers, trainers and footballers who are linked, by birth, or by their activity, to this province, which, after a number of uneventful years, is returning the circles that matter.

AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS – The chairmen in Varese and Busto Arsizio are from outside the province, it’s true, but in the Serie A, the adventure of the Palermo team of Maurizio Zamparini (Friulian by birth, but Vergiatese by adoption) is continuing with the usual exaggerations, which, to be honest, are beginning to be a bit boring. It is thanks to Zamparini that the Varese presence in the Palermo team is so great.

However, the Varese native with the most important role is Giuseppe Marotta, the managing director of Juventus, who are looking to make their mark. This is his second year in Turin; after a beginning that was not one of the best, the former successor to Colantuoni is setting out again with Pirlo and Vucinic.

And in Zamparini’s Palermo, we find the orchestrator of Varese’s renaissance, Luca Sean Sogliano (see photo, right, with Devis Mangia), in the position of team manager. This is the first experience away from home for the local boy, who is already struggling with the tantrums of his chairman, but is still in the saddle, unlike the trainer Pioli, who has already been expelled from the bench.

In Genoa, we find Stefano Capozucca, the wizard of the Varese market at the turn of the century, who has now returned to manage the operations of the “Grifons” of Chairman Preziosi (who was previously with Saronno, although it’s better not to mention the fact).

LEADING THE RED-AND-WHITES – The greatest expectations of fans of Varese, in relation to the Serie A, certainly concern Beppe Sannino (see photo, right), on the bench of Siena. At the age of 54, he has realised his dream of training in the top league. There are those in Varese who are disappointed, but many maintain a soft spot for him. And destiny has also made the manager of the last, fantastic, Primavera team, Devis Mangia, a lead trainer in the Serie A; the Cernusco trainer has replaced Pioli on the Palermo bench, and will try to last as long as possible in the least secure job in Italian football. He might surprise everyone …

CONTINI, PAROLO, FERRI AND PISANO – And now to the players. Not many were born in Varese. The emerging face is that of the midfielder from Gallarate, Marco Parolo. In his first year in the Serie A, he scored 5 goals in 29 matches, and earned a place on the National team. The 26-year-old has remained with Cesena, despite various negotiations, also with top teams. And the highly experienced Matteo Contini (photo), the 30-year-old defender from Gemonio, has come back to Italy. After helping to save Saragozza, he was purchased by Sannino’s Siena team. In the past, he played for many years in the Serie A, in the jerseys of Parma and Napoli.

Newly promoted Atalanta has a former companion of Contini in the youth team of AC Milan, Michele Ferri, from Busto Arsizio, who has come back to the Serie A, where he previously played for Palermo and Cagliari. But as they did with Sannino, Varese fans have turned their attention more to Eros Pisano. Born in Busto Arsizio, in 1987, the right back is a true banner for Varese, and is about to make his debut in the Serie A. Where? In the Palermo team of Zamparini, Mangia and Sogliano, of course.

ROCCHI, PELLISSIER, DI NATALE, AND THE OTHERS – The list of players who, at various times, have worn the jerseys of Varese and Pro Patria, who now play in the premier league, is indeed long. The most important names are those of three forwards: the two former Varese players, Antonio Di Natale (Udinese, the current leading goal scorer) and Sergio Pellessier (the Chievo captain), and Tommaso Rocchi, the captain of Lazio. Among the goalkeepers, we find Luca Castellazzi (Inter), the two Chievo players, Stefano Sorrentino and Christian Puggioni, and a former Solbiatese player, Roberto Colombo, who is now with Napoli. In Chievo, we also find the defender Davide Mandelli (one season with Varese), and returning to Palermo, there is Federico Balzaretti, the fullback in Prandelli’s national team. Of the former Pro Patria players, Matteo Ardemagni, has stayed at Atalanta, after an unexciting season between Bergamo and Padua.

But we dedicate the final comment to Siena; the team of Sannino also has Emanuele Pesoli and Paolo Grossi (see photo), two important players in the recent history of the Varese team, who are both making their debut among the greats in football..