Luigi De Canio to be appointed as QPR manager

[Atouk]

Reuters indicates that Italian media is reporting (http://football.uk.reuters.com/uk/news/8F1C86C6-83AA-11DC-AF88-2767C42983E0.php?refresh=true) that QPR has appointed Luigi De Canio as the new manager. According to the reports, "Reports in Italy said 50-year-old De Canio had signed a two-year deal late on Thursday but QPR made no official comment."

Channel 4's Football Italia says (http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/oct25o.html):
Ex-Siena boss Gigi De Canio is set to be unveiled as the new manager of Queens Park Rangers.

New Super Hoops owner Flavio Briatore has been searching the peninsula for a tactician after the dismissal of John Gregory on October 1.

Former Palermo and Monaco man Francesco Guidolin had been offered the post, but he couldn’t agree personal terms for the move to London.

De Canio reportedly refused the Piacenza job last week and has been unemployed since leaving Siena in 2006.

The 50-year-old is expected to put pen to paper on Friday and watch the Shepherd’s Bush outfit’s trip to Charlton before taking his first training session next week.

[QPR Kevin H]

http://www.caffeinenebula.com/quizzes/quizFiles/mario/luigi.jpg

???

[Maczebus]

Really not sure if this is going to be a great appointment. I'm hoping to be proven wrong.

Does this guy really have what it takes to turn a dire situation around? Perhaps he does and hopefully the promises of extra money for the transfer window aren't entirely made up.

Del Piero?? If there's a better instance of a player being mismatched for a club, then I haven't heard it.

[art]

Im tellin ya, this is just how the Italians do it. Read Joe McGinness' "Miracle of Castel di Sangro" if you dont believe me. Nothing, and I mean nothing, is done until it is done. Be prepared for general confusion on everything from Loftus Road improvement to transfers, you name it.

[Atouk]

It's Official -- Luigi DeCanio has been named first team coach for QPR (http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10373~1154275,00.html). He's signed a 2 1/2 year contract, through the end of the 09/10 season.

Mick Harford was offered a role in the new regime, but declined.

The 50 year-old has an extensive coaching pedigree having taken charge of Udinese, Napoli, Reggina, Genoa and most recently Siena in Serie A - who he helped keep in the top-flight for two consecutive seasons before leaving.

Speaking exclusively to www.qpr.co.uk, De Canio said: "I am very excited at this fantastic opportunity to join Queens Park Rangers as their First Team Coach.

"For me, it will be an honour to work for Queens Park Rangers, a Club which is backed by Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore, two businessmen with an incredible track-record of success in sport and other fields.

"I would like to thank them and tell them I will not disappoint their expectations. I am fully committed to the project and I am looking forward to getting to work with the players in preparation for our forthcoming home fixture against Hull City on Saturday."

On behalf of the new management of QPR, Chairman Gianni Paladini expressed his delight at the capture of De Canio, commenting: "The Club is going through a phase of total restructuring and for us the appointment of Luigi De Canio is the first important step ahead in our long-term strategy.

"De Canio is a highly motivated professional, whose dynamic and aggressive approach fits perfectly with the image and philosophy of the new Management."

Paladini added: "De Canio is fully aware of the high standards and objectives that the new Management has set for the future of the Club, and he is ready and eager to take up the challenge"

Mick Harford, who has acted as Caretaker Manager since the departure of John Gregory in early October, has left the Club with immediate effect.

Paladini added: "We offered Mick a role within the new set-up and we're disappointed that he has turned this down. He has done a fantastic job since he arrived here in the summer and his contribution will never be forgotten.

"We all wish him the very best for the future."

Official Site Profile of DeCanio here (http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10373~1154280,00.html) with a brief rundown of his many managerial stops in Italy.

[QPR Kevin H]

Im tellin ya, this is just how the Italians do it. Read Joe McGinness' "Miracle of Castel di Sangro" if you dont believe me. Nothing, and I mean nothing, is done until it is done. Be prepared for general confusion on everything from Loftus Road improvement to transfers, you name it.
This is what I'm worried about as well. I want to be optimistic though, mostly because I've developed a strange trust in Paladini in the last 6 months. We'll see how DeCanio starts in the next few weeks/months.

Also, I think that Paladini/Briatore/Ecclestone provide a bit more of a solid backbone to QPR than many Italian clubs have. In terms of finance and business credibility. Let's just see how it plays out.

[Atouk]

BBC: Former Napoli boss takes QPR role (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/q/qpr/7067651.stm)

The Guardian: De Canio handed QPR reins as Harford walks (http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2201340,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=7)

The Telegraph: Luigi De Canio named as new QPR coach (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2007/10/29/ufnqpr129.xml)

Not much in these beyond the QPR press release at this point.

[QPR Kevin H]

I'll be interested to hear if De Canio comes up in today's Guardian Football Weekly Podcast. The host, James Richardson, is well versed in Italian football. Worth checking out (on a twice weekly basis)...

http://football.guardian.co.uk/footballweekly/0,,1869989,00.html

[Atouk]

Warren Neill has left the club and De Canio has brought in two of his own assistants.

http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10373~1155721,00.html

Italian duo Iuri Bartoli and Paolo Pavese have joined the QPR backroom team.

Bartoli, 37, and 50 year-old Pavese met the Rangers first team squad this morning, ahead of Luigi De Canio's first training session in the QPR hot-seat.

Speaking exclusively to www.qpr.co.uk, De Canio welcomed his two new coaches to Loftus Road, commenting: "I'm very happy to have them both with me.

"I've worked with them both before and I know they are both very capable coaches.

"They are very enthusiastic and looking forward to the challenge that lies ahead."

Former Rangers defender Warren Neill, who joined the R's coaching staff midway through the 2006/07 campaign, has followed in Mick Harford's footsteps by leaving the Club.

[Atouk]

Photos from the first day of training under De Canio here:
http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Gallery/0,,10373~1155733,00.html

[JumpinJackFlash]

In terms of Italian football, he is definetely in the second level bracket of managers... but he saved Reggina (who are hardly a huge club) from being relegated to Serie B after they'd been promoted up the previous season to the top level, that is quite a sound achievement when you consider the other clubs in the league (they beat Juve and Lazio that season).

[art]

Bit of history here...Di Canio is the first ever non-UK manager in QPR's 125 year history.

[QPR Kevin H]

In terms of Italian football, he is definetely in the second level bracket of managers... but he saved Reggina (who are hardly a huge club) from being relegated to Serie B after they'd been promoted up the previous season to the top level, that is quite a sound achievement when you consider the other clubs in the league (they beat Juve and Lazio that season).
Thanks for the thoughts

[Cassano]

In Italy he is known as a master of avoiding relegation. Usually he is brought in midseason when a club looks destined to go down and he turns the whole ship around and they wind up avoiding relegation. He's a good manager, maybe a little defensive at times but I think he can do well. The only thing I wonder is if he speaks English.

[Atouk]

The only thing I wonder is if he speaks English.Thanks for your comments.

QPR World had video of De Canio's first training session and they said he was working through an interpreter. They also said they expected to have an interview with him online later this week, so we'll see then how much, if any, of that interview is conducted in English.

[Doge Leonardo]

I would have preferred Guidolin, because he's a Venetian like me... this guy surely must be from South Italy... Briatore is from the Piedmont region, though, where I was born.
I live in the area, but tickets are SOOOO expensive.

[QPR Kevin H]

I would have preferred Guidolin, because he's a Venetian like me... this guy surely must be from South Italy... Briatore is from the Piedmont region, though, where I was born.
I live in the area, but tickets are SOOOO expensive.

I can understand your complaint about ticket prices Leonardo. I think that prices for football (Premiership, Championship or otherwise) have gotten out of control.

That said, if you know any members or season ticket holders, talk to them about the Coventry match next Tuesday. They could buy you a ticket for a tenner...

http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/HomeTickets/0,,10373,00.html


QPR v Coventry City
Tuesday 6th November 2007
Kick Off 8:00pm
Local Ticket promotion for Season Ticket Holders and Members to bring up to 2 Adult, Senior or Young Adult guests priced £10.00 each, normal matchday prices apply for Members.
If a Season Ticket Holder wants to sit with there guest, they need to exchange Voucher No 8.
Please note we require the details of your guests, NO DATA NO TICKET.
Offers are only available prior to matchday and all tickets are subject to availability.
Tickets now on General Sale

The club need to have more deals to entice the many football fans that live in the West London area.

[Atouk]

De Canio has added Filippo Orlando (http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10373~1157980,00.html) to his staff as First Team Scout.

[QPR Kevin H]

Filippo Orlando
Great name :)

[ross from st paul]

Great name :)

Filippo Orlando and Alba?

Tie some-blue-and-white-hoops around the old oak tree!


I'll stop now, before someone shoots me... :p