Manlio Scopigno (20 November 1925 – 25 September 1993) was an Italian professional football player and coach. Known as "il Filosofo" (the Philosopher),[1][2] he is best known for coaching Cagliari to win their only Serie A title in 1970.
Playing career
Born in Paularo, in the province of Udine, he moved to Rieti at a young age.[2] He began playing as a right-back for Rieti between the Serie C and Serie B.[3]
He moved to Salernitana, with whom he played in the Serie B; in the 1948–49 season, Scopigno played as a goalkeeper against Lecce due to Aldo De Fazio's injury; he conceded four goals.[4]
In 1951, he joined Napoli.[3] After scoring his first Serie A goal against Como, Scopigno suffered a knee injury in 1951; this ultimately ended his career, as he only played a few more games for Napoli and Catanzaro.[3]
Managerial career
After having coached Rieti, Todi and Ortona, Scopigno was appointed assistant coach of Vicenza in 1959.[3] He became head coach in 1961, remaining in charge until 1965.[3]
Scopigno had a short experience with Bologna in the 1965–66 Serie A, before being appointed head coach of newly-promoted side Cagliari in 1966.[3] In 1967, Cagliari participated in the United Soccer Association as the "Chicago Mustangs"; Scopigno led his side to a third-place finish.[5] He helped Cagliari win their first Serie A title in the 1969–70 season.[3] Scopigno left in 1972.[3]
Scopigno ended his coaching career having also taken charge of Roma in 1973 and Vicenza between 1974 and 1976.[3]
Honours
Manager
Cagliari
References
- ^ Marrocu, Luciano; Bachis, Francesco; Deplano, Valeria (2015). La Sardegna contemporanea. Idee, luoghi, processi culturali (in Italian). Roma: Donzelli. p. 649. ISBN 978-8868432447.
- ^ a b "Cagliari Calcio Hall of Fame" (PDF) (in Italian). Cagliari Calcio. p. 28. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 September 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Camedda, Paolo (12 April 2020). "Manlio Scopigno, l'allenatore filosofo cacciato da Cagliari per una pipì". Goal.com. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
- ^ Vitale, Giovanni (2010). Salernitana storia di gol sorrisi e affanni (in Italian). International Printing Editore. p. 127. ISBN 978-88-7868-094-4.
- ^ "Con Scopigno negli States 47 anni fa". La Nuova Sardegna (in Italian). 30 May 2014. Retrieved 17 February 2022.