Nothing personal: Coaches' knockout tie revenge
Monday, March 9, 2015
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With Vincenzo Montella and Marcelino out to oust former employers, UEFA.com recalls some coaches who got their own back in UEFA knockout ties.
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Vincenzo Montella is taking on AS Roma with ACF Fiorentina; Marcelino is up against Sevilla FC with Villarreal CF; and Arsène Wenger is hoping for a miraculous turnaround versus AS Monaco FC. As UEFA.com discovers, the knockout stages of UEFA's top club competitions offer great opportunities for coaches to get one over on former employers.
Luigi Simoni (FC Internazionale Milano v SS Lazio)
1997/98 UEFA Cup final
In the 11 years between him leaving Lazio in 1986 and signing up for Internazionale in 1997, Gigi Simoni coached seven more Italian clubs – and he was Inter coach for just 18 months despite his Ronaldo-inspired team winning the UEFA Cup. It was fun while it lasted. "Simoni always ended every training session with a small game," recalled Youri Djorkaeff. "He enjoyed seeing the technical skills of his players so much."
Carlo Ancelotti (AC Milan v Juventus)
2002/03 UEFA Champions League final
Second-placed finishes in successive campaigns prompted Ancelotti's dismissal as Juventus coach in 2001, with his predecessor Marcello Lippi ultimately replacing him. He had revenge of sorts as his Milan side beat Lippi's Juve on penalties in the goalless 2003 UEFA Champions League decider, though local sports paper Tuttosport concluded: "He beat Lippi without exactly beating him, but that's life."
Sir Bobby Robson (Newcastle United FC v PSV Eindhoven)
2003/04 UEFA Cup quarter-finals
Sir Bobby had enjoyed a return mission to another old club, FC Barcelona, in the previous season's UEFA Champions League group stage, even though his team lost, and was happy to take on PSV where he had won two Dutch league titles. "Three happy years, three great years," he mused, with Newcastle proceeding to earn a 3-2 aggregate success in the last eight of the UEFA Cup.
José Mourinho (Chelsea FC v FC Porto)
2006/07 UEFA Champions League round of 16
Mourinho steered Porto to UEFA Cup glory in 2002/03 and the UEFA Champions League crown in 2003/04 before moving on to Chelsea. Almost inevitably, his old team and new were paired in that autumn's group stage. Their meetings ended with home wins, and both sides advanced, though when two years later they faced each other in the last 16 that was not an option. The Blues, featuring two ex-Dragons, edged a 3-2 aggregate win.
Juande Ramos (Sevilla FC v RCD Espanyol)
2006/07 UEFA Cup final
Ramos talked down his 2002 spell at Espanyol ahead of the Glasgow final: "Five matches isn't significant." However, he certainly knew about the Barcelona-based club's 1988 UEFA Cup final shoot-out loss to Bayer 04 Leverkusen, noting: "To lose this would hurt them a lot." His Sevilla team duly inflicted an agonising defeat; Espanyol twice came from behind to draw 2-2, only to succumb 3-1 on penalties.
Dick Advocaat (FC Zenit v Rangers FC)
2007/08 UEFA Cup final
"I don't become emotional because I am playing against a team where I was manager for four years," said the Dutchman in the build-up to the Manchester showpiece, though his repeated references to Rangers as "my team" in the run-up to Zenit's 2-0 UEFA Cup final victory suggested there was still a bond. Advocaat had guided Rangers to two Scottish championships and two Scottish Cups from 1998–2002.
José Mourinho (FC Internazionale Milano v Chelsea FC)
2009/10 UEFA Champions League round of 16
"Chelsea are a very important part of my life," said Mourinho as he returned to Stamford Bridge with Inter. He had left Chelsea in 2007 after lifting two Premier League titles. Following a 2-1 first-leg success, his Inter side prevailed 1-0 in west London too, and Mourinho was to oust another ex-employer – Barcelona, where he had been assistant coach – before the final triumph against FC Bayern München.
Quique Sánchez Flores (Club Atlético de Madrid v Valencia CF)
2009/10 UEFA Europa League quarter-final
As a right-back, Sánchez Flores had served Valencia with distinction through thick and thin from 1984–94, returning as coach in 2005. However, the Mestalla outfit called time on him in 2007, only to meet him again in Europe with Atlético. A 2-2 first-leg draw in Valencia followed by a tense 0-0 stalemate in Madrid ensured that the coach had his day – Atlético even going on to land the trophy.
Jupp Heynckes (FC Bayern Munchen v Real Madrid CF)
2011/12, UEFA Champions League semi-final
Heynckes had lasted just one campaign in Madrid, yet in those 12 months his team became the club's first European champions since 1966 – downing Juventus 1-0 in the 1997/98 UEFA Champions League final. It took penalties in Madrid for his Bayern side to overcome Madrid in 2012, fully 14 years later. "It was a magical night," said Heynckes. The magic ran out as Bayern lost to Chelsea on penalties in the Munich final.
Unai Emery (Sevilla FC v Valencia CF)
2013/14 UEFA Europa League semi-final
"I was there for four years – and that made me a better person and a better coach – but I am now 100% Sevilla," said Sevilla boss Emery as he prepared to tackle the team he had led from 2008–12. His side won the home leg 2-0, yet trailed 3-0 at Mestalla before a Stéphane Mbia header deep into added time turned the tie around, putting Sevilla in the final – where they would overcome SL Benfica on spot kicks.