Francesco Farioli has resigned as the head coach of Turkish Super Lig outfit Alanyaspor a few months after emerging as a target for Scottish Premiership giants Rangers, as reported by Goal.
Farioli, it seems, felt that the dizzying highs of 2021/22 just could not be repeated. And you can’t really blame him, either.
Rangers, according to The Athletic, ‘met’ with the 33-year-old Italian before handing the reigns to Mick Beale the other side of Christmas. Farioli, who idolises Pep Guardiola and a remains disciple at the Marcelo Bielsa temple, guided Alanyaspor to fifth place last season; their best season ever in the Turkish top flight.
Any hopes he may have had of building on that outstanding campaign went up in smoke, however. The club’s financial problems leading to the sale of star strikers Famara Diedhiou and Emre Akbaba.
And, with the relegation zone just three points away, Farioli opted to jump before risking the push. He now walks away with his reputation unscathed; a man who turned Alanyaspor into European chasers can now argue that his good work was undone by the harshness of circumstance. Alanyaspor have lost five of their last seven league games.
Former Rangers target Francesco Farioli leaves Alanyaspor
According to Fabrizio Romano, Farioli’s departure is by mutual consent. His contract has been terminated; thus allowing one of Europe’s most exciting young coaches to embark upon a new challenge in a more high-profile league.
The Rangers job is out of reach; Beale winning plenty of admirers at Ibrox despite Sunday’s League Cup final defeat to Celtic. But, Goal say, there are a number of Serie A clubs who may be willing to offer Farioli an opportunity in his homeland.
The Tuscany-born tactician, who once worked as a goalkeeping coach for Qatar, also has admirers in La Liga and the Premier League (Calciomercato).
“I see many of the same characteristics at Arsenal compared with that of my own team,” Farioli tells Sky Sports; his Alanyaspor side averaging some of the highest possession figures in the whole of Turkey.
“I will also mention Marcelo Bielsa.
“It’s important to build a team of players with passion for what they do. They must enjoy the ball, approach the game in a brave and proactive way. They need to show ambition because our demands are very high.
“I was really taken by Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona team. I loved that style of play.”
