From Rome to Udine: Colantuono on his forgotten Giallorossi dream

We spoke to Stefano Colantuono, the Rome-born player and coach whose career run-ins with the Giallorossi have been marked by raised hopes, crushing disappointment and what might have been...

Most people in Italy know Stefano Colantuono as a coach who has managed Atalanta, Palermo, Torino and Udinese, among other sides, with differing fortunes. But not many people know that he played for Roma – not even Roma fans.

That’s partly because it was a long time ago, 1987, and partly because they were non-competitive matches in the Los Angeles Gold Cup, during the team’s US tour in June.

“As a Roman and a Romanista, it was an honour for me to pull on the Giallorossi jersey,” he says.

Rumours persist about who you really support…

“Let’s not joke about that! My family are Romanistas and so am I. I’ve always been a Roma fan.”

What was it like to play in that US tournament?

“We’re going back to prehistoric times here – it’s 33 years ago now! But it was a wonderful experience. Hard to put in words, really. I had the chance to play for Roma in that summer tournament in Los Angeles. [Roma president Dino] Viola made an official request to Avellino, my club at the time, and they agreed to let me and Dirceu go with them. We’d caught the eye playing for Avellino that season.”

Roma played four games in that tournament and you were involved in two of them.

“It felt strange to wear the No. 5 shirt as it carried a special meaning at Roma, especially in those years: it meant Paulo Roberto Falcao. I played in defence though, not in midfield like ‘Il Divino’. I made my debut against Club America and we won 2-1 with Zibi Boniek scoring both.”

Was that the highlight for you?

“It was a very emotional occasion. The best thing about that tournament was being around fantastic players like Boniek, Carlo Ancelotti, Bruno Conti and Franco Tancredi.”

Nothing came of it afterwards, however.

“Avellino didn’t want to break up the team that had finished eighth, behind seventh-placed Roma. I returned to the fold and that’s where my Roma experience ended.”

You faced Roma as an opposition coach too...

“Several times. The last one cost me my job…”

When you were Udinese coach.

“Right. It was Udinese v Roma in March 2016. Roma were coached by Luciano Spalletti and they won 2-1. They were firing on all cylinders at the time – they’d won seven in a row and that was their eighth. [Edin] Dzeko and [Alessandro] Florenzi got their goals and Bruno Fernandes scored for us – he’s doing well at Manchester United now.”

Why did they sack you? There was nothing scandalous about losing to a team in such good form.

“I don’t want to stir up trouble after all these years – I’ve never done that. What I can say is that I think it was a rushed decision. When I left we were five points clear of the relegation zone and I think we would have stayed up, as they did with [Luigi] De Canio. Anyway, it’s water under the bridge now.”

Roma and Udinese have Luca Gotti and Paulo Fonseca in charge now. What do you think of them?

“I know Gotti better because he was on the same course as me in Coverciano. He’s a good coach with an excellent knowledge of the game. He did well last year as he kept Udinese up with no great difficulty.

"Fonseca I can only judge from the outside. He’s doing a good job despite the inevitable difficulties. Roma have started the season well with two good performances against Verona and Juventus, neither of which make for easy opposition. I think he can do well. The new owners have big plans for the club.”

Meanwhile you’re back at Sambenedettese.

“Yes, as technical director. Samb were the first club I coached and I played for them too. They have new owners too and the president wants to spend and build a strong team. They asked me to help out in a different role and I was happy to accept.

"I’m there to help our coach, Paolo Montero, and to prove I can do a good job at club level too.”

"To wear the Roma shirt was an honour for me. I wore the No. 5, which at the time meant only one player - Falcao..."

- Stefano Colantuono