Italian Gianluca Zambrotta was today unveiled as the new head coach of Delhi Dynamos and the 2006 World Cup winner straightaway declared that his side would gun for the title this Indian Super League season.
The 39-year-old Zambrotta, who was part of Italy's 2006 World Cup winning team, replaces another World Cup winner Roberto Carlos of Brazil at the helm of affairs.
Zambrotta is the third coach of Delhi Dynamos in as many years and he has signed a two-year contract. Dutchman Harm van Veldhoven was the coach of Delhi Dynamos in the inaugural season before Carlos' stint last year.
"I am delighted to be part of the Delhi Dynamos family. It's a great opportunity for me to be coach of this side. The objective is, as Prashant Agarwal (Delhi Dynamos president) wants it, is to win the ISL title and create history. I would love to do my bit in taking Indian football to the next level," Zambrotta told reporters at a press conference after his unveiling as the head coach.
"My contract is for two years and I look forward to a great stint at the club. There is a lot of work to do and we will do it professionally. The home stadium is beautiful and I would promise you that Delhi Dynamos will play attractive, attacking football with good defence and organisation," said Zambrotta who is regarded as one of the best full-backs of his generation in the world.
Welcoming Zambrotta as head coach of his team, Prashant said, "We are proud to welcome another champion in our midst. Zambrotta comes with tremendous experience and a formidable reputation. We trust him to lead our Lions (Delhi Dynamos) to victory."
Zambrotta had a two-year coaching stint with Swiss club Chiasso before coming here and he said former national team-mate and marquee player of Delhi Dynamos in the first season, Alessandro del Piero gave him a lot of encouragement to go to India.
"I heard a lot about the ISL from Alessandro who is my friend and former team-mate. He gave me a lot of insights into Delhi Dynamos' vision and philosophy. I liked what he told me and I did not need to think twice when Prashant brought up the proposal," Zambrotta said.
"Carlos is a living legend and he did very well to take Dynamos to the semifinals last year. I know the expectations from me will be high. But I am confident of taking those last two extra steps with the team. We will do our best to bring people to the stadium," said Zambrotta who has won 98 caps for the Italian national team between 1999 and 2010.
Delhi Dynamos finished fifth in the inaugural season in 2014 and reached the semifinals last year.
The structure of Indian football may take a new shape next year with the ISL likely to become the sole top-tier league of eight-month duration instead of just over two months currently and Zambrotta is well aware of it, saying that he would want the Dynamos to play in the Asian tournaments.
The winning team of the top tier league in the country automatically qualifies for the AFC Cup.
"I would love to be winning the Indian championships and taking the side to Asian tournaments," he said when asked about the new proposals by the All India Football Federation to make ISL the top tier league from next year onwards.
He also said that there's enough time to build a good team for this season, likely to begin in October.
"Just like in Italy or any other place, two months is a good time to build a team," said Zambrotta who had plied his trade with some of biggest clubs in the world like Juventus, Barcelona and A C Milan.
Asked how much he know about Indian football and ISL, he said, "I followed ISL and Indian football a bit, mostly with inputs from friends and Alessandro. I want Delhi Dynamos to do well. I love challenges and I love to know places and new cultures."
On Italy's loss to Germany in the Euro 2016, Zambrotta said, "Italy played beautiful football and the team could have played in the final and won the tournament. But the team lost to Germany. It is like a lottery in the penalty shootout.
"I don't know who will win the Euro but I hope for a fairytale ending to the tournament."
Zambrotta started his career at Italian club Calcio Como in 1994 and later moved to AS Bari. But the major breakthrough in his career came when he joined Italian giants Juventus in 1999. The same year he made his debut for the national team.
During his seven seasons with Juventus, Zambrotta won two consecutive Serie A titles in 2002 and 2003. He later spent two seasons with Barcelona in 2006-2008, before returning to Italy to play for AC Milan, where he won his third Serie A title in 2011. He ended his career after a season with Swiss club Chiasso in 2014, whom he later went on to coach.
At international level, he won 98 caps for the Italian national team, playing at three World Cups, three European Championships, and the 2000 Olympics. He was part of their side that reached the Euro 2000 final. He was a key member of the starting lineup of the Italian squad that won the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
