Potential successors to Benitez at Inter
Reuters - Thursday 23 December 2010, 14:06
MILAN - World club, European and Italian
champions Inter Milan parted company with coach Rafael Benitez
on Thursday after just six months following a poor domestic
spell and his attack on what he saw as their lack of ambition.
Here we look at the possible successors Inter president
Massimo Moratti could choose.
LEONARDO
Spent just one season at AC Milan last term in his debut
coaching job. Quit following their third-place finsh in Serie A
after becoming frustrated with Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi
interfering.
His links to Milan, also as a player, and the fact his
managerial spell was not so successful would appear to count
against him but media reports say Moratti admires the Brazilian.
Fans in the rest of the world may view the idea of last
season's Milan coach managing Inter just a season later as
extremely bizarre but in Italian soccer anything is possible.
and he is the early favourite.
Many players like Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Ronaldo and Clarence
Seedorf have played for both the city rivals.
WALTER ZENGA
The former Inter goalkeeping great has said his dream is to
coach his old side but after inconsistent spells in Romania and
in charge of Catania and Palermo, the current coach of Saudi
Arabia's Al-Nassr lacks managerial pedigree.
A six-month caretaker role might suit, however, and, after
favourite Leonardo, bookmakers give him surprisingly short odds
to replace Benitez.
LUCIANO SPALLETTI
The former AS Roma coach has just won the Russian league
with Zenit St Petersburg and would be a popular choice for fans
given he has no links to AC Milan and is a straight talker.
Did well to make Roma a title-chasing side and had several
good battles with Inter but Zenit say he is staying.
FRANK RIJKAARD
Out of work after leaving Galatasaray in October, former
Netherlands coach Rijkaard fits the bill given his history of
winning La Liga and the Champions League with Barcelona.
However, the ex-AC Milan player would have to convince Inter
fans of his loyalty and having failed in Turkey he has slipped
off the radar slightly.
DIEGO SIMEONE
The tough-nut Argentine is a former Inter player and his
demanding attitude might just be what club president Moratti
feels his players need.
His managerial career in Argentina has been very up and down
and he was last at San Lorenzo, leaving in April after a run of
poor form.
FABIO CAPELLO
Moratti was half-interested in Capello before plumping for
Benitez and only a resignation from the England boss could
facilitate the move.
The 64-year-old has consistently said the England job is his
last but that has not stopped media speculation that the former
AC Milan, Juventus and AS Roma coach may be tempted to complete
the quartet and finally manage Inter.
GIOVANNI TRAPATTONI
The Ireland coach, a former Inter manager, could be brought
in as a caretaker for the rest of the season as an old hand
perfect to steady the ship. He could combine the job with
Ireland but his bosses there would have to agree and at 71 he
may be too old for the cut and thrust of Serie A.
LUIS FIGO
The former Inter winger now works as an ambassador for the
club but has no managerial experience. However, the former world
player of the year would command huge respect from the squad as
either a caretaker or permanent coach.
BEPPE BARESI
Assistant coach to Jose Mourinho and Benitez at Inter,
Baresi is Nerazzurri through and through having spent almost his
entire career with the club. Brother of AC Milan great Franco
Baresi, he might not be high profile enough for some fans as a
permanent manager but would be welcomed as a caretaker.
PEP GUARDIOLA
Moratti loves the way Barcelona play and if their coach does
not extend his deal with the Catalans, which expires at the end
of the season, then Inter would be first in the queue with a
caretaker put in charge until the end of the campaign.