Alberto Zaccheroni

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Alberto Zaccheroni (born 1 March 1953, in Meldola, Emilia-Romagna) is an Italian football manager and current head coach of Torino. He has previously managed a number of top clubs in Serie A and is renowned for his unconventional 3-4-3 tactical system.

Zaccheroni's playing career was relatively short. He became a manager at the age of 30, while most other players who were the same age continued their career. He started off his coaching career at Cosenza. He moved on to Riccione then San Lazzaro, Baracca, Venezia, Bologna before returning to Cosenza.

His managerial career took off during the 1997-98 season with Serie A side, Udinese. He guided them to the dizzy heights of 3rd place in the league, thus qualifying them for next seasons UEFA Cup. Zaccheroni's great results at Udinese attracted the attention of Italian giants A.C. Milan, who appointed him as manager after the San Siro club had endured 2 miserable seasons. Fellow Udinese colleagues, Oliver Bierhoff and Thomas Helveg joined him in Milan. Zaccheroni delivered instantly, as Milan won the league in the 1998-99 season, pipping Lazio and Fiorentina to the title. The following season was less successful for Zaccheroni as Milan exited the UEFA Champions League early, and although finishing 3rd in Serie A, they were never really in the running for the title. The 2000-01 season was even worse for Zaccheroni, as Milan, again, struggled in the Champions League and failed to beat Paris-Saint Germain. This lead to Milan President, Silvio Berlusconi, sacking Zaccheroni and replacing him with caretaker manger Cesare Maldini in the Spring of 2001.

Zaccheroni was without a job for a few months before Lazio came calling, after Dino Zoff had resigned. The Rome club had endured a terrible start to the season yet Zaccheroni managed a 6th place finish, thus earning Lazio a UEFA Cup place. Zaccheroni was not without his critics though as he played Mendieta and Fiore out of position thus failing to get the best out of them. He was also held responsible by many for the humiliating 5-1 defeat to Roma in the Rome deby that season. Despite Zaccheroni's efforts, he parted company with the Italian giants, to be replaced by Roberto Mancini. Zaccheroni was again called upon in the mid-season of 2003-04, this time to try and save Internazionale after the departure of coach Hector Cuper from the club. Despite crashing out of the Champions League after a humiliating 5-1 defeat to Arsenal at the San Siro, he managed to lift Inter to 4th place in Serie A, thus earning them a Champions League place for next season. However, Inter president, Massimo Moratti, was not convinced of Zaccheroni's abilities, and he was again replaced by Roberto Mancini.

After 2 seasons without a job, he became the new head coach of Torino on Septermber 7th 2006, the 100th anniversary of the team.