Clichés are supposed to be taboo in modern journalism, but in this case it is
just too tempting. Franco Baldini, who will assist Fabio Capello, the new
England manager, grew up in Reggello, 15 miles from Florence, where the
Renaissance began and flourished. And, given his interests and achievements,
it is impossible to avoid that most overused of tags: Renaissance Man.
Baldini, 47, had enough talent to earn a living as a player, making his debut
for Bologna and spending time in Serie B and Serie C. While he has remained
in the game all his life, his forays outside it have been frequent and
successful. He turned to player representation, quickly gaining a solid
reputation as a talent-spotter, intermediary and agent. At the same time, he
founded – and still runs – a theatrical production company.
In 1999, he became sporting director at AS Roma, largely on the strength of
his prowess in the transfer market. Yet he also found time to press and
bottle olive oil at his estate near Reggello – his products have won a
number of awards – and to set up a business exporting espresso machines to
the African market; and to help to write a screenplay loosely based on the
2006 Calciopoli match-fixing scandal in Italian football; and to earn
a university degree in law. Many claim to have wide-ranging interests. The
difference is that Baldini somehow finds the time to pursue them. And to do
so successfully.
Of course, Capello did not want him along on his Soho Square adventure because
of his skills as espresso entrepreneur, playwright or olive oil producer. He
wanted him for his knowledge of football, which, in Italy, is regarded by
many as second to none.
The pair began working together at Roma when Baldini left his representation
business to become the club’s sporting director. His brief was to handle
relations between the playing squad – and Capello himself – and the board,
as well as identifying and securing talented players. Thus began a
partnership that took Roma to the most successful period in their 80-year
history, Baldini selecting and acquiring talent, Capello managing it and
making footballing history.
In June 2004, that relationship went badly off the rails. Capello walked out
on Roma and joined Juventus, the arch-rivals he had pilloried week in, week
out for five years. Roma and their supporters were furious at what they
considered the cruellest of betrayals. Baldini felt badly let down. Later,
Capello insisted that he had told Baldini about Juventus’s offer and had
invited him along. Baldini said he thought Capello was joking. He said he
felt his integrity would have been on the line if he had joined Capello in
Turin.
“Had I joined Juventus, I would have had to look [Juventus officials] in the
eye and told them that I disagreed with just about everything related to the
way they ran the club,” he said last year. “And they would have told me that
they didn’t care, that they now paid my salary and I had to put my feelings
aside. And they would have been entitled to do so.”
It was to prove a wise choice. Juventus were to be overwhelmed by the Calciopoli
scandal, stripped of the two titles Capello had won – although the
manager was innocent of any wrongdoing - and relegated to Serie B. Their
upper management was disgraced and many banned from football.
Baldini was vindicated and Capello moved on to join Real Madrid. But when
Capello invited Baldini to join him at the Bernabéu, many were shocked that
he said “yes”.
Asked about it – and, specifically, if it meant that he had forgiven Capello –
Baldini was brutally honest. “There was a major rift between us, I won’t
deny that,” he said. “And that rift is still there. But the personal issues
between us have nothing to do with the professional sphere. I paid a high
price for sticking to my values.”
There is no question that he did. In 2004, at the time of Capello’s
“betrayal”, he was one of the hottest commodities in the Italian game. He
could have had his pick of half a dozen top clubs. Instead, he stuck with
Roma when they were running into the worst financial difficulties. When Real
came calling, he was through playing the martyr. If nothing else, it is a
testament to the regard in which Capello holds Baldini that, given their
history, he considers him an important piece of the England puzzle.
There is some confusion as to what his role will be. According to sources
familiar with the situation, Capello has a clear plan for him. Baldini, who
speaks good English, is to be a liaison with the upper echelons of the FA
and, behind the scenes, help him to navigate through the pitfalls of the
English media.
But the bulk of his job will, effectively, involve scouting, both opponents
and, crucially, English players. He will be on the lookout not just for
youngsters looking to make the step up to the England side, but also
evaluating another brand of English footballer: those who may have made a
fleeting appearance in the past but no longer get call-ups and those in
mid-career who are uncapped and may have been overlooked by past England
managers.
The support act
- Born in Reggello, near Florence
- Aged 47
- Midfield player in the second and third tiers of Italian football with clubs
such as Bologna and Bari before becoming an agent
- Became director of football at AS Roma in 1999 but refused to follow Fabio
Capello to Juventus, their hated rivals, in 2004
- Helped to sign players such as Gabriel Batistuta, Emerson and Walter Samuel
as Roma won the Serie A title for only the third time in 2001
- Agreed to work with Capello again at Real Madrid last year
- Other interests include an olive farm, theatre production, writing
screenplays, studying law and exporting espresso machines
Words by Kaveh Solhekol
A year in the life of England’s new manager
January 2007 As Real Madrid manager, sanctions the departures of
Ronaldo and David Beckham from Real. Ronaldo joins AC Milan in the transfer
window, while Beckham announces that he will move to the Los Angeles Galaxy
at the end of the season. Capello responds by insisting that Beckham will
never play for the club again.
February After defeat by Levante – a fourth loss in six league matches
- he reinstates Beckham, who scores, against Real Sociedad. Real Madrid
issue statement denying suggestions that Capello had handed in his
resignation.
March Oversees the departure of another galáctico as Roberto Carlos
confirms that he will leave the club for Fenerbahçe, the Turkish club, at
the end of the season.
June Real celebrate their first league title since 2003, but Capello is
sacked on June 28.
July Reveals that he is considering an offer to coach a Major League
Soccer club in the United States.
November Declares his interest in becoming England manager after Steve
McClaren’s contract is terminated by FA.
December 11 Emerges as favourite to be McClaren’s successor after José
Mourinho rules himself out.
December 12 The FA confirms it has held discussions with Capello about
the England manager’s job, which it describes as “extremely positive and
without any problems”.
December 13 The FA board unanimously approves the appointment of
Capello as England manager, subject to the successful conclusion of contract
negotiations the next day.
December 14 Capello’s appointment as England manager on a contract
running for 4½ years is confirmed by the FA.
