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The coach who took Italy to Brazil

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The coach who took Italy to Brazil
Cesare Prandelli resigned as Italy coach on Tuesday night. Photo: Alberto Pizzoli/AFP

Cesare Prandelli resigned on Tuesday after four years at the helm of the Italian football team. As the squad packs up to come home from the World Cup, The Local takes a look at the career of their former head coach.

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Who is Cesare Prandelli?

Cesare Prandelli, 56, was until a few hours ago the coach of the Italian football team.

What happened a few hours ago?

Italy was booted out of the World Cup after losing to Uruguay in the group stage.

After winning against England but being beaten by Costa Rica, the team just needed a draw to make it down to the last 16.

As the players packed their bags, Prandelli announced his resignation and said he would take “all responsibility" for the team's failure.

How long did Prandelli coach the team for?

Four years. He was named head coach on May 30th 2010, just before the World Cup in South Africa. Prandelli, however, didn’t lead the squad onto the pitch until August of that year, after they had - as in Brazil this year - crashed out of the tournament in the first round. 

How successful was he as Italy coach?

In his first two years he took the team from their dismal 2010 World Cup performance to the final of the European Championships in 2012. Despite getting so close to the trophy, Italy failed to get a goal past Spain and lost the final 4-0.

Reflecting on his own performance in Brazil, Prandelli said: “I chose a certain technical plan and it did not work...It's useless for me to sit here and say I could have done it differently. This is why I'm resigning."

What did Prandelli do before coaching the Italy squad?

Since hanging up his boots at the end of the 1989-1990 season, Prandelli has spent more than 20 years managing and coaching Italian football teams.

He coaching career started at Atalanta and has taken him to a string of clubs including Fiorentina, Parma and Venezia. Prandelli has twice won the Golden Bench (Panchina d’Oro) award for Italy’s best coach.

Who did he play for?

On the pitch Prandelli is probably best known for his time at Juventus, where he was a player from 1979 to 1985. He had moved to the Turin club after a spell at Cremonese, in northern Italy.

As well as being a coach for Atalanta, Prandelli also played for the side both before and after his stint at Juventus. His playing career came to an end in 1990.

What are Prandelli’s career options now?

The Italian may well continue his footballing career, although he has shown a particular flair for the world of television.

Earlier this month Prandelli starred in a World Cup-themed advert for Ferrero, dribbling Nutella tubs across a mini football pitch. Based on his performance, he may do well to focus on Italy’s biggest brands - aside from football.

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