Alessandro Diamanti called time on his memorable career at the end of 2022-23 but the Italian great still calls Australia home as he continues his coaching journey. The Melbourne City youth head coach speaks to aleagues.com.au about his methods and his approach at Casey Fields.
Alessandro Diamanti coined the phrase: ‘Poi Bo’.
As a player, he lived by the Italian social expression which means spread smiles and positivity. One of the A-Leagues’ finest imports, the former Italy international is still living by the phrase during the early stages of his coaching career.
A Western United legend, Diamanti is currently head coach of Melbourne City’s senior youth side in VPL1 – the second tier of Victorian football – and he is bringing plenty of experience and energy to the club’s academy.
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“My first quality all my life is my passion for the game,” Diamanti told aleagues.com.au.
“I’m one of them when they play because in the end, a coach is more involved in training than in the game because in the game it’s up to them more than me.
“We can adjust some things but most of the work is during the week. I try to help them outside. I’ve always tried to be a motivator – like I was as a player. I want to give them energy and show my passion. This is what I try to do during the game. I’m a big participant.”
Even after retiring, Diamanti still calls Australia home, having left Europe to head down under in 2019.
There was that trademark laugh as Diamanti joked: “I’m almost Aussie”.
“I love Melbourne. I’m a citizen and bought a new home.”
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A captain and Championship winner with Western United, it is Melbourne City where the iconic Italian has taken his first steps in coaching.
Diamanti arrived at Casey Fields as the club’s senior academy coach ahead of the 2023-24 season.
“I’m enjoying it a lot,” Diamanti reflected. “I like it a lot. It’s not very different but a bit different from something I’ve done for all my life. For me, when you are inside the pitch everything is natural. I’m involved like a player.”
A 17-time Italy international, who also played for the likes of Fiorentina, Bologna, Palermo, Livorno and Atalanta in Serie A, as well as Premier League sides West Ham and Watford, Diamanti added: “A lot of my ex-teammates they always told me during my career you’re not a coach.
“When you are captain for 15 years, it’s pretty similar the job. You have to mange your teammates, you have to speak with the coach, director, media and supporters. It’s huge work.
“I always try to help inside the pitch. I always have my idea. I’ve always been a coach in my career as a player. Now I’m doing my official work.”
During a storied career, Diamanti played for managers like legendary Italian Marcelo Lippi, Gian Piero Gasperini, Stefano Pioli, Vincenzo Montella and Cesare Prandelli.
But the 41-year-old is on his own coaching path. He is also happy in Melbourne, despite interest from elsewhere.
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“Already I have some opportunities overseas but I’m not in a rush,” he said. “I want to learn and I have a lot to learn and study.
“This opportunity I got last year is helping me a lot to do what I want. Of course I’m very ambitious and I always have been. Everything I do, I do for success. This is why I work hard. This is who I am. The only way to success is to work hard. At the moment I’m happy here.
“I’m learning a lot every day. I’m in no rush. This is my university so I can get the best I can get. Then we will see. We never know what happens in life.
“Of course my background is in Europe (but) that doesn’t matter, I love to be here. I love to coach the guys and be around. Our environment is very good. I’m very happy. I’m just enjoying the moment.
“I can no longer be the youngest coach in the world because I finished playing at 40 years old, so it’s impossible (laughing). I want to work every day and improve. I’m very hungry.”
Diamanti completed his coaching course over two years ago in his native Italy.
It was a gruelling six-week course, with 10 hour days. He was joined by the likes of Alessandro Del Piero – the Italian legend who also played for Sydney FC – another World Cup winner in former France international Franck Ribery and more.
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“We have one of the best schools in the world. It was very busy and very hard. But this is what you have to do if you want to grow and learn,” Diamanti said.
He is back in Melbourne with his in-form City climbing up the standings of the semi-professional competition in Victoria.
City are fifth in the standings and five games unbeaten, having won four in a row.
“I treat my players like Serie A players, nothing different,” said the Prato-born star. “I explain to them at 17, 18, 19 years old, in Europe they play starting XI so there’s no excuses.
“The motivation and confidence I give to them is just to be a Serie A player. This is how I treat them because they understand everything. They have the physicality, the talent to be there. It’s up to them.
“We prepare every game like a World Cup final because every game and training counts, especially at that age. This is who I am. Sometimes when I first start, they keep telling me this is young and old.
“For me, there is no young or old. For me, there is good, no good or ready, not ready. I go from there. I don’t want to know the age. They know me now. They don’t tell me the age (laughing).”
The work at City goes beyond results in VPL1. It is about the development and emergence of young stars through to the Isuzu UTE A-League team at Casey Fields.
This off-season alone, Jayden Necovski, Medin Memeti, Harry Shillington, Lawrence Wong and Peter Antoniou have graduated to scholarship contracts.
“I’m very happy and very proud,” Diamanti said. “It’s not only on me but all my staff and the people working to develop.
“My job is very easy for me. I’m a big brother for them. I was lucky enough to play with the best players in the world, and against the best players in the world. 10-15 of them are my best friends. I know how they work, how they think and eat, how they recover and train. I know everything about them.
“I’m sharing my experiences then it’s up to them. I give every information they need to be successful as a player. Then the responsibility on them. My motto is tactics very important, the technique is very important but the big difference in the end is the mentality you have. I’m just pushing a lot about mentality.
“Every day I say it’s hard to be a footballer player because if you see the numbers of those who become players, it’s very hard. I tell them to work hard. It’s on them – the responsibility. How much they want it.
“Since I started, the approach of the game they have is fantastic. It’s work hard from us but it’s more about the work they’re doing every day and how much they listen.”
