Ottavio Bianchi
Encyclopedia
Ottavio Bianchi is an Italian
former football
player and coach.
. During his playing days, he has won two caps for Italy
, and played for a number of teams, including Brescia
, Napoli
, Atalanta
, Milan
and Cagliari
.
He is best remembered for being the coach of Napoli from 1985 to 1989, a team consisting of great players such as Diego Maradona
and Careca, which won its first of two Serie A titles in the 1986-87 season. He also led the team to the Coppa Italia
title in 1987, and the UEFA Cup
title in 1989.
Other teams he has coached include Como
, Atalanta, Roma
, Inter
and Fiorentina
.
youth system, and then made his debut with his boyhood team in the Serie A in 1965. In 1966, Bianchi was transferred to Napoli, the club with whom he played for five consecutive championships. In addition to these, Bianchi had stints with Atalanta
, Milan and Cagliari
and finished his playing career with SPAL
.
Bianchi has also made two appearances for the National football team
, where he made his debut on 1 November 1966, in a friendly match against the USSR
in Milan where the hosts won 1-0.
, Mantova, Triestina
and Atalanta
, where he won the Serie C1
championship in 1981-82 with the latter.
Following the good results during his stint with Atalanta
, Avellino approached Bianchi to guide them for the 1983-84 season where they finish the season with an 11th place in the Serie A, and then the following season Bianchi moved to newly promoted Como
where he managed to reach a mid-table position. The following season, Bianchi joined Maradona's Napoli, who won his first Scudetto in 1986/87. With Bianchi on the bench the Napoli won the Coppa Italia
in 1987, and the UEFA Cup
in 1989.
After four successful season with Napoli, Bianchi moved to Roma, where he won again the Coppa Italia
in 1991, and managed to reach the UEFA Cup
final, where the club finish as runners up to Inter
.
After the adventure with the giallorossi
, where in November 1992, Bianchi replaced Claudio Ranieri
to take over the helm of Napoli, managing to transform a relegation-threatened zone team for a team challenging for UEFA Cup
place. The next year Bianchi was appointed as a technical director, guiding Marcello Lippi
after the team lost several important players such as Gianfranco Zola
, Careca and Giovanni Galli
due to financial difficulties.
The following season he was a coach again, this time at Inter
. The first season was a successful one with the victory over their rivals in the Derby della Madonnina
being the highlight of the season. But a year later, despite the arrival of Javier Zanetti
and Roberto Carlos
, the team struggled to maintain the good forms where he was given the sack by Massimo Moratti
after the team lost to his ex-club Napoli at Stadio San Paolo
.
Seven years later, Bianchi was called to save relegation troubled Fiorentina
in 2002 without success both as a coach and as chairman of club, succeeding outgoing Ugo Poggi until the end of the season.
Napoli:
Roma:
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
former football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player and coach.
Biography
Bianchi was born in BresciaBrescia
Brescia is a city and comune in the region of Lombardy in northern Italy. It is situated at the foot of the Alps, between the Mella and the Naviglio, with a population of around 197,000. It is the second largest city in Lombardy, after the capital, Milan...
. During his playing days, he has won two caps for Italy
Italy national football team
The Italy National Football Team , represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation , the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles , just one fewer than...
, and played for a number of teams, including Brescia
Brescia Calcio
Brescia Calcio , known simply as Brescia, is the largest football club in the Lombard city of Brescia, where it was founded in 1911.In the 2009–10 season, in the return leg of the Serie B playoff final, they defeated Torino 2-1 at home , returning to Serie A after a 5-year absence...
, Napoli
S.S.C. Napoli
Società Sportiva Calcio Napoli, commonly referred to as Napoli, is a professional Italian football club based in Naples and founded in 1926. The club has spent most of its history in Serie A, where it currently plays its 2011–12 season....
, Atalanta
Atalanta B.C.
Atalanta Bergamasca Calcio, commonly known as just Atalanta, Atalanta Bergamo or the abbreviation Atalanta BC, is an Italian football club based in Bergamo, Lombardy.They are nicknamed the Nerazzurri and the orobici...
, Milan
A.C. Milan
Associazione Calcio Milan, commonly referred to as A.C. Milan or simply Milan , is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Lombardy, that plays in the Serie A. Milan was founded in 1899 by English lace-maker Herbert Kilpin and businessman Alfred Edwards among others...
and Cagliari
Cagliari Calcio
Cagliari Calcio is an Italian football club based in Cagliari, Sardinia. The club was formed in 1920 and currently plays in Italian Serie A, having spent a large part of recent years mainly in Serie A and Serie B....
.
He is best remembered for being the coach of Napoli from 1985 to 1989, a team consisting of great players such as Diego Maradona
Diego Maradona
Diego Armando Maradona is a retired Argentine football player and widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time. Over the course of his professional club career Maradona played for Argentinos Juniors, Boca Juniors, Barcelona, Napoli, Sevilla and Newell's Old Boys, setting...
and Careca, which won its first of two Serie A titles in the 1986-87 season. He also led the team to the Coppa Italia
Coppa Italia
The Coppa Italia is an Italian football annual cup competition. Its first edition was held in 1922, but the second champions were not crowned until 1936. Roma and Juventus lead the way with nine wins. Roma has contested more finals, 16, while Torino and Juventus follow with 13...
title in 1987, and the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
title in 1989.
Other teams he has coached include Como
Como Calcio 1907
Calcio Como S.r.l. are an Italian football club, based in Como. The club was founded in 1907. The team's color is blue.Como have last been in Serie A in 2002–03; this was followed by three consecutive relegations that brought the team down in Serie C2 at the end of the season 2004–05 after having...
, Atalanta, Roma
A.S. Roma
Associazione Sportiva Roma, commonly referred to as simply Roma, is a professional Italian football club based in Rome. Founded by a merger in 1927, Roma have participated in the top-tier of Italian football for all of their existence but one season in the early 50s...
, Inter
F.C. Internazionale Milano
Football Club Internazionale Milano, often referred to as Internazionale or simply Inter, is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Italy. Outside Italy, the club is often called Inter Milan. They are the reigning FIFA Club World champions and Coppa Italia holders.Inter have always...
and Fiorentina
ACF Fiorentina
ACF Fiorentina, commonly referred to as simply Fiorentina, is a professional Italian football club from Florence, Tuscany. Founded by a merger in 1926, Fiorentina have played at the top level of Italian football for the majority of their existence; only four clubs have played in more Serie A...
.
Playing career
He played for BresciaBrescia Calcio
Brescia Calcio , known simply as Brescia, is the largest football club in the Lombard city of Brescia, where it was founded in 1911.In the 2009–10 season, in the return leg of the Serie B playoff final, they defeated Torino 2-1 at home , returning to Serie A after a 5-year absence...
youth system, and then made his debut with his boyhood team in the Serie A in 1965. In 1966, Bianchi was transferred to Napoli, the club with whom he played for five consecutive championships. In addition to these, Bianchi had stints with Atalanta
Atalanta B.C.
Atalanta Bergamasca Calcio, commonly known as just Atalanta, Atalanta Bergamo or the abbreviation Atalanta BC, is an Italian football club based in Bergamo, Lombardy.They are nicknamed the Nerazzurri and the orobici...
, Milan and Cagliari
Cagliari Calcio
Cagliari Calcio is an Italian football club based in Cagliari, Sardinia. The club was formed in 1920 and currently plays in Italian Serie A, having spent a large part of recent years mainly in Serie A and Serie B....
and finished his playing career with SPAL
Spal 1907
SPAL 1907 is an Italian football club, based in Ferrara, Emilia-Romagna. The club was founded in 1907 as Società Polisportiva Ars et Labor and was refounded in 2005....
.
Bianchi has also made two appearances for the National football team
Italy national football team
The Italy National Football Team , represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation , the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles , just one fewer than...
, where he made his debut on 1 November 1966, in a friendly match against the USSR
USSR national football team
The Soviet Union National Football Team was the national football team of the Soviet Union. It ceased to exist after the break up of the Union...
in Milan where the hosts won 1-0.
Coaching career
He began his coaching career at lower division clubs such as SienaA.C. Siena
Associazione Calcio Siena is an Italian football club based in Siena.The club currently plays in Serie A, having gained promotion from Serie B at the end of the 2010-2011 season....
, Mantova, Triestina
U.S. Triestina Calcio
Unione Sportiva Triestina is an Italian football club based in Trieste, in the region of Friuli Venezia Giulia.It is in the season 2010-11 from Serie B, having returned there in 2002 after 11 seasons in Serie C and Serie D, the club was relegated to Lega Pro Prima Divisione.-History:The club was...
and Atalanta
Atalanta B.C.
Atalanta Bergamasca Calcio, commonly known as just Atalanta, Atalanta Bergamo or the abbreviation Atalanta BC, is an Italian football club based in Bergamo, Lombardy.They are nicknamed the Nerazzurri and the orobici...
, where he won the Serie C1
Serie C1
Lega Pro Prima Divisione is the name of the third highest football league in Italy. It consists of 36 teams, divided geographically into two divisions of 18 teams each. Until 2008 it was known as Serie C1....
championship in 1981-82 with the latter.
Following the good results during his stint with Atalanta
Atalanta B.C.
Atalanta Bergamasca Calcio, commonly known as just Atalanta, Atalanta Bergamo or the abbreviation Atalanta BC, is an Italian football club based in Bergamo, Lombardy.They are nicknamed the Nerazzurri and the orobici...
, Avellino approached Bianchi to guide them for the 1983-84 season where they finish the season with an 11th place in the Serie A, and then the following season Bianchi moved to newly promoted Como
Como Calcio 1907
Calcio Como S.r.l. are an Italian football club, based in Como. The club was founded in 1907. The team's color is blue.Como have last been in Serie A in 2002–03; this was followed by three consecutive relegations that brought the team down in Serie C2 at the end of the season 2004–05 after having...
where he managed to reach a mid-table position. The following season, Bianchi joined Maradona's Napoli, who won his first Scudetto in 1986/87. With Bianchi on the bench the Napoli won the Coppa Italia
Coppa Italia
The Coppa Italia is an Italian football annual cup competition. Its first edition was held in 1922, but the second champions were not crowned until 1936. Roma and Juventus lead the way with nine wins. Roma has contested more finals, 16, while Torino and Juventus follow with 13...
in 1987, and the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
in 1989.
After four successful season with Napoli, Bianchi moved to Roma, where he won again the Coppa Italia
Coppa Italia
The Coppa Italia is an Italian football annual cup competition. Its first edition was held in 1922, but the second champions were not crowned until 1936. Roma and Juventus lead the way with nine wins. Roma has contested more finals, 16, while Torino and Juventus follow with 13...
in 1991, and managed to reach the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
final, where the club finish as runners up to Inter
F.C. Internazionale Milano
Football Club Internazionale Milano, often referred to as Internazionale or simply Inter, is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Italy. Outside Italy, the club is often called Inter Milan. They are the reigning FIFA Club World champions and Coppa Italia holders.Inter have always...
.
After the adventure with the giallorossi
A.S. Roma
Associazione Sportiva Roma, commonly referred to as simply Roma, is a professional Italian football club based in Rome. Founded by a merger in 1927, Roma have participated in the top-tier of Italian football for all of their existence but one season in the early 50s...
, where in November 1992, Bianchi replaced Claudio Ranieri
Claudio Ranieri
Claudio Ranieri, is an Italian football manager, currently in charge as head coach of Internazionale.He has also managed many other well-known clubs in Europe, including Cagliari, Napoli, Fiorentina, Valencia, Atlético Madrid, Chelsea, Parma, Juventus and Roma.-Early life:Ranieri attended St...
to take over the helm of Napoli, managing to transform a relegation-threatened zone team for a team challenging for UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
place. The next year Bianchi was appointed as a technical director, guiding Marcello Lippi
Marcello Lippi
Marcello Lippi, Commendatore OMRI is a former Italian World Cup-winning football manager and former player. He served as Italian national team head coach from 16 July 2004 to 12 July 2006 and led Italy to win the 2006 FIFA World Cup. He was re-appointed as Italian head coach in the summer of 2008...
after the team lost several important players such as Gianfranco Zola
Gianfranco Zola
Gianfranco Zola, OBE, Ufficiale OMRI is a retired Italian footballer and manager, who most recently managed West Ham United from 2008 to 2010, after having been assistant manager of the Italy U-21 under Pierluigi Casiraghi...
, Careca and Giovanni Galli
Giovanni Galli
Giovanni Galli is an Italian former football goalkeeper and currently a politician.-Club:Galli started his professional career with ACF Fiorentina, where he played nine seasons. In 1986–87, he joined A.C. Milan, being first choice for three of his four years...
due to financial difficulties.
The following season he was a coach again, this time at Inter
F.C. Internazionale Milano
Football Club Internazionale Milano, often referred to as Internazionale or simply Inter, is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Italy. Outside Italy, the club is often called Inter Milan. They are the reigning FIFA Club World champions and Coppa Italia holders.Inter have always...
. The first season was a successful one with the victory over their rivals in the Derby della Madonnina
Derby della Madonnina
Derby della Madonnina, or the Milan Derby as it is sometimes known, is a football match between the Italian clubs Associazione Calcio Milan and Football Club Internazionale Milano. It is a hotly contested local derby and is one of the most followed derbies in football...
being the highlight of the season. But a year later, despite the arrival of Javier Zanetti
Javier Zanetti
Javier Adelmar Zanetti is an Argentine footballer who plays for Serie A club Inter. Javier Zanetti has played for Inter since 1995, taking the captain's armband from 29 August 1999. Known for his versatility, he is adept on both the left and right wing, having played on both flanks as a fullback...
and Roberto Carlos
Roberto Carlos
Roberto Carlos may refer to:*Roberto Carlos , Brazilian singer**Roberto Carlos *Roberto Carlos , Brazilian footballer*Roberto Carlos , Spanish footballer...
, the team struggled to maintain the good forms where he was given the sack by Massimo Moratti
Massimo Moratti
Massimo Moratti is an Italian oil tycoon. He is the owner and President of Italian football team Football Club Internazionale Milano, and Chief Executive Officer of Saras S.p.A.-Life and career:...
after the team lost to his ex-club Napoli at Stadio San Paolo
Stadio San Paolo
Stadio San Paolo is a multi-purpose stadium in the western suburb of Fuorigrotta in Naples, Italy, and is the third largest football stadium in Italy after the San Siro and Stadio Olimpico. For the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, it hosted the football preliminaries. It is currently used mostly for...
.
Seven years later, Bianchi was called to save relegation troubled Fiorentina
ACF Fiorentina
ACF Fiorentina, commonly referred to as simply Fiorentina, is a professional Italian football club from Florence, Tuscany. Founded by a merger in 1926, Fiorentina have played at the top level of Italian football for the majority of their existence; only four clubs have played in more Serie A...
in 2002 without success both as a coach and as chairman of club, succeeding outgoing Ugo Poggi until the end of the season.
Honours
Atalanta:- Serie C1Serie C1Lega Pro Prima Divisione is the name of the third highest football league in Italy. It consists of 36 teams, divided geographically into two divisions of 18 teams each. Until 2008 it was known as Serie C1....
(1): 1981-82
Napoli:
- Serie ASerie ASerie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
(1): 1986-87Serie A 1986-87The 1986/1987 Serie A season ended with S.S.C. Napoli doing the "domestic double", winning their first Scudetto and third Coppa Italia, spurred on by their talismanic captain Diego Maradona.... - Coppa ItaliaCoppa ItaliaThe Coppa Italia is an Italian football annual cup competition. Its first edition was held in 1922, but the second champions were not crowned until 1936. Roma and Juventus lead the way with nine wins. Roma has contested more finals, 16, while Torino and Juventus follow with 13...
(1): 1986-87 - UEFA CupUEFA CupThe UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
(1): 1988-89
Roma:
- Coppa ItaliaCoppa ItaliaThe Coppa Italia is an Italian football annual cup competition. Its first edition was held in 1922, but the second champions were not crowned until 1936. Roma and Juventus lead the way with nine wins. Roma has contested more finals, 16, while Torino and Juventus follow with 13...
(1): 1990-91