06-09-2008, 09:22 AM
Quote:PDC convinced that he could do the job...
from The Sun
THE shirt, he says, still feels like a second skin.
And even though Paolo Di Canio’s West Ham days ended five years ago, his love for the claret and blue did not.
He may be older and wiser but the passion which set Di Canio the player apart from others still burns brightly.
Di Canio still says ‘we’ when he speaks of his former club and hebelieves those who have managed West Ham United are privileged.
So is it now the turn of one of their greatest players to be the boss?
He said: “West Ham is a unique club and history means something. Thefact we’ve had so few managers and the fact the vast majority wereformer players is important.
“For me the shirt still feels like a second skin and I’ve followed West Ham as a fan ever since I left.
“I saw them play twice last season and know some of the playerspersonally. Lee Bowyer, Scottie Parker and Valon Behrami wereteam-mates of mine. Mark Noble was a kid when I was there but you couldalready tell he would go on to great things.
“I’m sorry for Alan Curbishley. He was my boss at Charlton and he’s a good man and a good manager.
“I wish him all the best and am confident he’ll land a new job verysoon. But that’s football — people come and go and you don’t alwaysknow what exactly went on.”
The manner of Curbs’ departure does not worry Di Canio.
And neither is he lacking in confidence about his ability to manage.
He graduated with his UEFA coaching licence from Italy’s prestigious Coverciano Academy in April.
Of the 53 students he came — you guessed it — top of the class. Now he wants to put his theory into practice.
Di Canio, 40, added: “When I was a player, I never thought I’d beinterested in management. I thought that when I retired I’d look aftermy other interests — fine wines, my clothes shops.
“But then the idea of studying and living the game from the outside,thinking not just about improving your own performance but that of thesquad as a whole, really grabbed me.
“I didn’t think I had it in me but, instead, I found that I thrived inall the aspects like planning training sessions, w*rking withindividual players and giving teams a tactical identity.
“West Ham have the tradition of appointing people who have a historywith the club. In the modern era you have to be open to new ideas andnew ways of doing things.
“That may mean appointing an outsider who has no West Ham link.
“That makes sense if you can get a truly great manager, a Jose Mourinho, a Carlo Ancelotti.
“But if you can’t get someone like that, I would think twice beforebreaking with our traditions. I would lean towards someone who knowsand understands this club, its history and its supporters.
“Someone who can light up the hearts and minds of the players and the fans.”
During his four years as a player, no one did that quite like Di Canio.
Often brilliant, sometimes crazy but never ever less than committed. Sodoes Di Canio the manager reckon he could handle a player like him?Someone like Craig Bellamy?
He insisted: “When you grow older, if you’re intelligent, you learn your role and adjust.
“Look at Roy Keane. As a player, people talked about the red mistdescending, they said he could channel it on the pitch but that he wassimply too intense to be a manager.
“Well, look at him now. He has embraced his job and his responsibility.He’s doing a great job at Sunderland and you can see he is calm andcontrolled during and after games. Why? Because he’s an intelligent guywho has grown into a different role. I like to think it can be the samewith me.
“You need a strong and decisive dialogue between manager and players.
“Sometimes it can spill over and sometimes you’ll have rows. But it has to always be within the respect of the roles.
“I had that with Harry Redknapp for example. And I had it withCurbishley. We had our rows but he helped me grow and, I think, weenjoyed a bit of success together.
“The fact of the matter is that the manager has to be in control, he can’t allow a player to step over the mark.
“I’ve worn the captain’s armband at Sheffield Wednesday, West Ham, Charlton, Lazio and Cisco Roma.
“That wouldn’t have happened if the managers didn’t see some leadership quality in me.”
And Di Canio sees a lot potential in the current Hammers’ squad.
The Italian said: “With the players West Ham have right now, ifeveryone is healthy and w*rking together, a top-eight finish is theminimum result you would expect.
“As for passion, well, I don’t think anyone doubts my passion. But thefact is that passion alone won’t get you anywhere. You need to channelyour passion into discipline.
“And that means w*rking hard, respecting your team-mates, your managerand your role on the pitch. If you can combine passion and disciplineyou can achieve great things.
“Players will w*rk harder for each other, they will better execute whatthe manager tells them, they will get the most out of the supporters.
“Of course, as a professional, I’m going to consider every offer. Butthe fact that I’ve been linked to the West Ham job is a huge source ofpride for me.
“Look at the core of the side. Look at Lucas Neill, Scott Parker, DeanAshton and Robert Green, who is an outstanding goalkeeper.
“These guys are not just good players, they are leaders. They allunderstand what it means to play for West Ham, to put on that shirt.Just like I do.”
