Gattuso-Gandini: TFC about to speak a little more Italian?





Following Toronto FC's fourth straight loss, rumours have been flying on social media about a changes at the helm.

 With a wage bill that's just shy of $20 million, and with the likes of Sebastian Giovinco, Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore among their ranks, questions are being asked of the coaching staff's ability to corral such firepower. The main target is none other than 40 year-old coach Greg Vanney.

 According to a source that's close to Toronto FC and Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, changes will need to take place at the upper brass level before any supposed coaching change.

 One of the names that has recently come to the fore is that of Umberto Gandini. Dr. Gandini is currently a director at AC Milan and vice chair of the European Club Association (ECA), a body which represents 214 football clubs to safeguard and promote their interests on European club football matters. Gandini is the quintessential European football executive: coming through Berlusconi's MediaSet empire, Gandini has been involved in professional football organization at the highest levels for the last 20 years, occupying executive positions at the ECA (and its former incarnations), AC Milan and UEFA.

 The decision to hire an executive for Toronto FC, be it a club director of football or president - choose your label - is that Tim Leiweke is set to take leave and TFC needs an experienced executive to champion its cause. Gandini could be this man.

As club president, Gandini would have his input on technical matters as well. Enter a potential coaching change. According to the same source none other than Gennaro Gattuso could replace Vanney as TFC coach. 

 Currently unemployed after a tumultuous time at Greek club OFI that featured an infamous press conference, the former Milan midfielder is being billed as the man most likely to replace the 40 year-old. Gattuso's English is far from perfect, but he learned it while playing for Glasgow Rangers, a team that TFC's first coach, Mo Johnston played on from 1989 to 1991.

 Gattuso and Gandini: both involved in the AC Milan organization. But the "Gattuso connection" doesn't stop there. In fact, Gattuso's agent at the time he was a player was none other than Andrea D'Amico - in short, the mastermind behind Sebastian Giovinco's transfer to Toronto FC.

Gattuso would be loved and welcome equally by the large Italian (and Calabrese) community of Toronto, which notwithstanding their soccer faith would be behind a supposed arrival of Ringhio to the Reds. 

In Oshawa, the Calabrese community already celebrates the "Gattuso Day" on June 25. Who knows, Gattuso might be TFC's coach by then...

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