Interview with Al Nassr manager, Stefano Pioli

Manos Staramopoulos • 30 de octubre de 2024

Pioli, is an italian football manager and former player who played as a defender. He is the current manager of Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr.

Stefano Pioli is the current manager of Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr.

Stefano Pioli (born 20 October 1965) is an Italian football manager and former player who played as a defender. He is the current manager of Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr.


Pioli has managed several clubs in Serie A, including Bologna, Lazio, Inter Milan and Fiorentina. He most notably led AC Milan to the Serie A title in the 2021–22 season, a club's scudetto last accomplished over a decade earlier. He was later awarded the Panchina d'Oro for best coach of the season. In 2022–23, he returned Milan to the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League before leaving the club at the end of the 2023–24 season. He started his coaching career in 1999 in Bologna (worked in 3 different seasons) and then worked successfully in 15 other clubs (among them Inter, Inter Milan, Fiorentina, Lazio) and now he is in Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia.


How did you react when Al Nassr contacted you? What motivated you to accept this new challenge in your career?


R/: I was very happy when Al Nassr contacted me because I wanted to start a new experience, different from the twenty years of coaching I had in Italy. They convinced me because Al Nassr is an important club, they have ambitions. Because the management with whom I spoke, I felt trust, I felt they want to grow and want to improve. The fact that there is Cristiano in the team was also an important thing and so I accepted very willingly with a lot of enthusiasm, with a great desire to be able to do well.

 

How motivated are you to go as far as possible this season and what are Al Nassr’s objectives this season?


R/: We are very motivated to try to be competitive, to try to win. Al Nassr is a big club, an historic club in Saudi Arabia. It is clear that we have very strong rivals, but we want to reach that level.


How would you describe your coaching philosophy, and how has it evolved over the years?


R/: It is clear that since I started, that was twenty-five years ago, I have changed a lot. Every experience has taught me, every group. Every team is different, every player is different. My philosophy is to try to improve the players that I have available, this is the main main objective. And then to create a work culture, to create a game mentality. To create, above all, the environment where we all try to give our best to always get more.

 

What excites you most about experiencing the Riyadh derby for the first time?


R/: It will be a great experience. We face a team that seems unbeatable, that seems invincible. So, we will put ourselves to the test.

 

Do you see the Riyadh derby as a key moment in Al Nassr’s season, given its importance to the fans?


For sure, it’s a very important game. It is clear that the standings could take one way or another based on the result. So, if we put together the importance of the match at an atmosphere level, and the importance of the match at the level of the standings, it is clear that it will be the most important match of this period. We will prepare ourselves the best way to be ready.

 

You’ve coached in the Derby della Madonnina, one of the most iconic rivalries in world football. How do you expect the Riyadh derby to compare?


R/: I don't know. Before judging, I have to live these emotions. So, it's clear that I have been hearing about it since I arrived. We expect a very warm atmosphere, very beautiful. Because those who do this sport can't wait to get on the field to face certain types of matches, with everything you feel in an important match. For sure, it will be a beautiful experience.

 

How do you think the Saudi Pro League can continue to grow and attract more international attention?


R/: I think it is growing a lot. I think clubs are getting better and better structured. To develop their potential, both in terms of structure at the level of the individual sportsmen, but also to management and teams. I think that the level of the players is certainly a good level and therefore I think that there is everything to continue to grow to become an increasingly important championship.

 

What has impressed you most about working with Cristiano Ronaldo so far?


R/: Of course, I have always thought that Cristiano is a great champion. But above all, a great professional with a great work ethic, a great culture of always trying to express oneself to the maximum. And therefore, I am discovering a boy who is no longer young, but with the same enthusiasm, with the same passion. As when he was a kid, he wanted to do things in wanting to always try to give the best, to reach the maximum, to score many goals and help the team. So, definitely a pleasant surprise.



What do you enjoy most about Saudi culture, and how the people welcomed you so far?


R/: I am starting to discover it. Because I haven't been here long and at the beginning I did « hotel, pitch - hotel, pitch », because there was a need to know many things. I am definitely meeting very, very polite and very respectful people and this is a very, very positive thing for me.



Manos Staramopoulos

Journalist and Analyst of International Football and Affairs

Chief Editor English Zone of Discoveryfootball.com

Athens (Greece)

   Post recientes


Carlo Ancelotti coach of Real Madrid`s
Por Manos Staramopoulos 27 de marzo de 2025
Brazil wants a new head coach after the defeat against Argentina 4-1 in Monumental Stadium. The italian coach is number one candidate.
James Rodriguez, fue uno de los jugadores de más bajo rendimiento  de Colombia ante Paraguay.
Por Juan Carlos Quiñonez Bonilla 26 de marzo de 2025
Colombia, termina esta fecha de eliminatorias confirmando que su nivel futbolistico sigue en picada. Y lo más preocupante es que no hay visos de recuperación. Nublado a nivel de ideas.
España igualó a dos con Países Bajos en la ida de cuartos de final de la UEFA Europa League.
Por Juan Carlos Quiñonez Bonilla 20 de marzo de 2025
La selección campeona de Europa extendió su racha de partidos invicto a 17, tras igualar a dos con los Países Bajos en Rotterdam
Gustavo Matosos en su etapa como entrenadxdor del CD León en 2014.
Por Teofilo Barrientos 18 de marzo de 2025
El entrenador de origen argentino fue determinante en el ascenso del Léon a la Primera División mexicana.
El Club Léon es el  principal escolta del América en la Liga MX.
Por Teófilo Barrientos 17 de marzo de 2025
El cuadro liderado por James Rodríguez, se enfrentará en Los Ángeles al Municipal de Guatemala.
Antonio Rudiger anotó  el  gol del triunfo en  la tanda de penaltis ante Atlético Madrid.
Por Juan Carlos Quiñonez Bonilla 12 de marzo de 2025
En una actuación floja en todo el partido, el cuadro de Carlo Ancelotti, tan sólo fue superior a su rival en la tanda de penaltis en donde venció 2-4. La polémica no faltó con un gol de penalti anulado a Julián Álvarez. Atlético Madrid mereció más.
Gigi Donnarumma goalkeeper of PSG
Por Manos Staramopoulos 12 de marzo de 2025
Donnarumma was the star of PSG's journey to the quarter-finals of UEFA Champions League.
FC Barcelona  will play qualified to Quarter finals offf Champions League.
Por Manos Staramopoulos 12 de marzo de 2025
Barça, qualified for the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday (11/3), scoring 3 goals against Benfica.
Gigi Donnarumma fue capital en el  pase del PSG a cuartos de la Champions
Por Juan Carlos Quiñonez Bonilla 11 de marzo de 2025
El portero italiano Gigi Donarumma, fue definitivo en la tanda de penaltis con dos atajadas y su equipo compitio a gran nivel para asegurar el pase a los cuartos de final de la Champions.
Share by: