From the Premier League in Wales to the
coming back to Campania. It is not the route taken by a player who
has failed to break through in Great Britain, but that of a young
insider who is making up his career in football world. We are talking
about Danilo Stavola, who has got the license issued to a scout from
the Italian Football Federation. After serving for two years as a
scout for Italy for the Academy U21 of Swansea and as a technical
consultant for the first team of Garry Monk always for Italy, this
summer Stavola began working with Aversa Normanna, that only two
years ago was fighting in the third Italian division and now plays in
Serie D, the fourth Italian division. For Il Solito Calcio, I
interviewed the talent scout, who does not lack future prospects but
the experience neither, despite his age.
From Swansea to Aversa Norman: what has
changed for Danilo Stavola?
“Actually,
not much has changed for me. Yesterday like today, I work everyday in
football and watch matches. I don’t live this like a step back. In
Aversa I'm lucky to work with a serious, healthy, with a young
project club and, above all, along with two extraordinary people as
the sporting director Orabona and the coach Chianese. I think I can
learn so much from this experience”.
What memories do you keep of your
adventure as a scout of the Swans?
“It 's been a fantastic adventure and
I will always thank Mr. Monk for giving me this opportunity.
Unfortunately Garry has gone away from Swansea and the club changed
the managerial asset. Today there are few people still there among
the ones with whom I shared this experience. But a piece of my heart
will always jack army”.
Talking about your job, what this
experience has enriched you?
“I learned to work in a more
practical, streamlined and straightforward way. I will explain this.
In Wales specific tasks were given to me. I had to look for players
of a certain age with certain technical and physical characteristics.
And they demanded short and concise reports without extra frills”.
What differences have you found in the
way of making scouting in Italy and the United Kingdom?
“I must say that since I had the
opportunity to learn and apply everyday the method of 'tactical role’
by Professor Marco Zunino, the differences were attenuated. Certainly
there are some differences and preferences. In UK they prefer more
physical and structured players, even at the expense of technique. In
Italy, however, we still prefer short-limbed and good technically
footballers”.
What the Italian workers should learn
from the British ones?
“I answer you with three words that
contain the essence of my deep love for English football and British
lifestyle: professionalism, competence, meritocracy”.
How the Italian league can try to fill
the gap with the Premier League?
“Repeating sounds corny, but as long
as we understand the importance to equip ourselves with sports
centers, as well as club-owned stadiums, and until we focus on more
intense training, we will not do very well”.
But why the British players have so
much problems to emerge and assert themselves in Serie A?
“Good question. I have asked that
myself many times. I think the exasperated tactics of the Italian
football make things hard for them. But physically and technically,
they have nothing to envy to the many foreigners who live in Italian
championship”.
Luca Iannone