Lazio target Jorge Sampaoli once sat on a tree to coach his team
With Lazio owner Claudio Lotit and director of sport Igli Tare having dinner with the former Chilean Coach last night in Rome, the sky blue half of the capital is extremely excited to pick up a Bielsista, a man who has always loved and admired (if not worked with) his predecessor at La Roja.
His love for an attacking 3-3-1-3 is seen as a good basis for Lazio's long-term future, and an entertaining style of play which will bring the fans flocking back to the Stadio Olimpico.
But who is Sampaoli? After his playing career was cut short at the age of 19 by a fractured fibula. Returning to civilian life as a clerk in a registry office, he still remained in touch with football, recording and obsessively listening to Coach Marcelo Bielsa's motivational speeches. Bielsa was coaching local team Newell's in Rosario, 70 km from Sampaoli's home in Los Molinos.
Known for his eccentric ways, few know that they arguably earned Sampaoli his first big gig. Sent off whilst coaching the Alumni Athletic Club of Buenos Aires, Don Sampa decided to improvise a bench on top of a nearby tree, so that he could keep yelling at his players.
This attracted the attention of Newell's president at the time, who gave him a job managing Argentino de Rosario, one of its satellite clubs. Very passionate about River Plate, Sampaoli would travel the 800 km round trip by train, bus or even lifts so that he didn't miss a game.
Sampaoli's 3-3-1-3 first attracted international attention when he coached Universidad de Chile to the 2011 Copa Sudamericana, earning the Chilean job. He would lead La Roja to the Copa America in 2015, beating home country Argentina on penalties in Santiago.
He has the motto "I don't listen to anybody and I go down my own path, because forbidden things make me feel alive", actually song lyrics from local band Los Callejeros whose singer is a great friend of his.
With Valencia and Espanyol also interest, all we can hope for is that Sampaoli chooses to go down an Italian path.
@AleDigio89, translated by @EdoDalmonte
