The following is a guest post from Mayowa Koleosho – You can follow him on Twitter
The comparisons are inevitable. Neither man can escape the other’s shadow, and perhaps both will be inextricably linked by their accomplishments for many years to come.
On one hand, Antonio Conte is the former Juventus player turned coach, who rose to prominence by bringing the team out of a dark period, and turning them into champions.
Allegri on the other hand, was the coach of Juventus’ rivals, AC Milan, who had won both a title and an Italian super cup with them before unceremoniously being fired two years ago.
Theirs is a tale of two coaches, though the comparisons might be unfair, as both men are quite different, even down to their sideline demeanor.
Antonio Conte depending on who you to talk to, is generally known as a fiery and passionate character. A student and player of the legendary Juventus Coach Marcello Lippi, his style of coaching is one that rubs opponents the wrong way, yet delivered 3 straight titles to Turin.
According to Andrea Pirlo, “Conte’s words assault you. They crash through the doors of your mind, often quite violently, and settle deep within you”. Whilst the description paints a vivid image, one need only watch videos of Conte giving speeches to his troops to get a better understanding of what his former star midfielder was saying.
When Conte took over the job, Juventus was trying to return to winning ways. After Conte left, the squad was undoubtedly the best in Italy. There are some who may say Allegri is winning with Conte’s squad, but that is only telling half the story. Conte was able to cultivate a ‘we against the world’ type mentality during his tenure. Positioning Juventus as public enemy number one and drumming a siege like type mentality into his troops, to the effect that any opposition coming into the Juventus Stadium knew they were going into one of the toughest places to win in Europe talk less the Serie A. Unfortunately for Conte, whilst his team dominated in the league, the same did not apply to European competitions. A point that would eventually lead to him resigning from the position.
Enter Allegri, who unlike his predecessor, is a different type of character. Whereas Conte wore his passion on his sleeves, and would emphatically demonstrate on the sidelines, Count Max as he is fondly called, his more of a serene type character. Rarely is he fazed, nor does he show when he is. Allegri who up until a season ago was out of a job, has come into a situation that could potentially have been disastrous for his reputation, yet excelled whilst taking the team to new heights. As of writing this, the team is in line for a treble. The league was wrapped up officially a few weeks ago, though from earlier in the year, the fact was all but mathematical.
Whilst this current crop of players have not broken any domestic league records set by Conte’s teams, they have shown a flexibility in style that the previous ones have not.
Conte favored the 3-5-2 system and rarely deviated from it. Allegri on the other hand as shown when need be, he can have his team trying out different formations, opting for a more fluid and dynamic style of play. The results are clear, as in a few weeks’ time, the team will be challenging Barcelona for the champions league trophy.
For a team like Juventus, Europe has always been the benchmark. To be considered one of the best in Europe, success in the champions league is paramount. You hear it a lot from club patrons and management. The goal is to excel not only domestically but also globally. Allegri has reinstalled that belief, and no matter the outcome in June, the club can once again rear its head amongst the elite of Europe.
Conte’s departure was jarring and unexpected. Memories of the dark days that preceded his hiring were looming above, but with the hiring of Allegri, sunny days are here to stay in Turin. Whilst Conte brought the team back to credibility, Allegri is forging a new path, taking the team to new heights. It would be a disservice to discredit the work of either men. They both deserve to be praised for the excellent work they have done and continue to do.
