It has been no great surprise to us that Paulo Di Canio has returned to England once again to take on the footballing world, yet it is his “second home”. But, most others would have expected a return to West Ham United, not now League 2 team Swindon. Yet, interim Chairman Jeremy Wray has really pulled one out the bag and landed the Italian great. A verbal agreement was made last Friday between the too and the Italian should be unveiled manager on Monday. A stroke of genius maybe, time will tell Paolo has no managerial experience as yet. League 2 will be his first taste of what its really like out there.
The appointment seems to have gone down very well with the fans, it’s the change Swindon Town needed as previous boss Paul Hart was a massive failure. 1 win in 11 games is really no record any manager can be proud of. Paulo will always be remembered for his push on referee on Paul Alcock in September 1998. This landed him an 11 game ban.
Since that moment though Paulo secured some rewards he could have been proud of, that fabulous volley he scored against Wimbledon in the 1999-2000 season, voted Goal Of The Season. It is also considered by many the best goal ever scored in Premier League history. In 2001, Paulo was awarded the FIFA Fair Play Award for his act of good will versus Everton where he turned down a goal scoring opportunity while Everton keeper Paul Gerrard lay injured.
Its really no surprise he is Italian really, he has that flair that really stands out – its in his genes. One of the many reasons the West Ham fans took a shine to him
Di Canio 42, has already stated he would have ‘given everything’ to return to West Ham. He was also heard saying “I am very saddened by West Ham’s relegation, the team has always been in my heart”. “I even have a Hammers tattoo”.
But, we will have to wait till next season to find out just how good Paulo Di Canio really is at being the manager not the player? He clearly has West Ham in his blood yet he has been over-looked – maybe the Chairmen have a bigger name in the frame? Just a few names to have been talked up are Chris Hughton, Sam Allardyce, Martin O’Neill and Roberto Di Matteo but I very much doubt any of these men or any others would ever have that passion Di Canio holds deep in his heart.
So I ask now, have West Ham chairman David Sullivan & David Gold made a catastrophic error in NOT appointing the talented Italian?
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