Ballardini Returns…to Palermo

By: Jeremy | September 5th, 2008

Davide Ballardini was not out of a job long. Considering the short leash that many coaches are on, especially those coaches of teams that are typically in the bottom half of the table, good coaches are going to get the call from someone sooner then they think. Teams arent loyal to their coaches so the coaches feel no loyalty to the clubs. They are all hired guns, often for short periods of time because every team President feels like their team is underperforming and of course it has nothing to do with the players or the budget they are working with.

Ballardini knows this so after leading Cagliari to a miraculous survival last year, he wanted something that volatile owner Cellino was not willing to give. Was it money? Probably. Could it have been more player control? Maybe. Either way, he was willing to walk away leaving Cellino looking like the idiot he is, even if the fans loved him and wanted him back. Loyalty be damned. Ballardini knew it was only a matter of time before someone would come calling so he didnt take another job with a lesser club and just waited. I am sure even he didnt think he would get the call this quick. I even had him returning in about week 8 to Cagliari once Allegri was canned by Cellino.

His actions in Cagliari put him near the top of the available coaching list. He knew he would get a top level job at some point. With West Ham very interested in him for the EPL, Cellinos crazy cousin in Sicily had to act. He didnt like coach Colantuono as he expected UEFA Cup quality football from a team that sold Amauri and others and now is playing with a bunch of young players. You lose in the Copa and lose to a good team like Udinese in week one, and not wanting Ballardini to go elsewhere, Zamparini fires his coach so he can get him. Even Colantuono deserved better, but he knew the game so I am sure he leaves without much emotion. Cellino and Zamparini are both impulsive and crazy. Ballardini should be a perfect fit.

I continue to be amazed by teams that get rid of their coach so quickly after a bad start or because they cant take a team of less talented players and bring them higher in the table then their talent indicates or because they dont play like Brazil in the first few weeks of the season. If Zamparini was willing to fire the coach so quick, why didnt he get Ballardini to begin with once Cagliari made it clear they didnt want him back?

Ballardini is the perfect fit for this club. He can deal with a crazy owner without any loyalty to the club in his heart, but he will not last long if Palermo does not dramatically improve which they may not do simply because they lost too much talent. While their current talent level is not any better then Cagliaris team from the second half of last year, expectations are much higher so Ballardini has his work cut out for him. This could lead to a short stay for coach Ballardini. He did a great job in Sardinia last year, but the talent was clearly there to meet the objective of survival. I am sure he helped cultivate it and players often improve with confidence and experience so his achievements must be looked at with the performance of the players. Palermo does not want survival, they want European football. Mix that with a nut job owner and a reduction in talent and I think Ballardini was the only coach for the job.

I thought Allegri would be the first casualty of the Serie A season, but Zamparini showed us why he rivals and exceeds Cellino for the type of behavior that can cause a coach to be fired after week one. No matter how bad your team is and how the coaching carousel that is Serie A works, that looks bad.

I still think we might see Ballardini at the helm of Cagliari before the season is over. Until then, all Cagliari fans will watch Palermo and their antics where the seat is much hotter but the talent isnt that much better. Good luck Davide, this Cagliari fan is rooting for you.