Francesco Guidolin

Guidolin made his professional debut in 1975 with the Serie A club Hellas Verona, with whom he spent the majority of his career, save for loan moves to clubs Sambenedettese, Pistoiese and Bologna. After spending two seasons with Serie C2 club Venezia, he retired in 1986. Internationally, Guidolin played for the Italy national under-21 team between 1976 and 1977.

Lower Italian leagues

Guidolin's managerial debut came in 1988 as head coach of Serie C2 team Giorgione, the main club of his native city, Castelfranco Veneto. Between 1989 and 1993, he then coached Treviso (Serie C2), Fano, Empoli and Ravenna, all in Serie C1.

Atalanta

Leading Ravenna to promotion to Serie B earned Guidolin a move to become head coach of Serie A club Atalanta on 1 July 1993, although he was sacked after just ten matches.

Vicenza

The next season, Guidolin joined Serie B side Vicenza and restored them following a period of decline. After gaining promotion to Serie A at the end of the 1994–95 Serie B, his club finished mid-table the following Serie A season. During the 1996–97 season, Vicenza led the league for a period, eventually achieving an eighth-place finish in Serie A, and won the 1997 Coppa Italia, defeating Napoli 3–1 on aggregate in the two-legged final. It was the club's first domestic trophy. As a result, the following season Guidolin had his first European campaign (and Vicenza's second ever), reaching the 1997–98 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup semi-final before losing to eventual winners Chelsea. However, in the league season, Vicenza finished just one place above the relegation zone. The club was also defeated by Juventus in the 1997 Supercoppa Italiana.

Udinese

After managing Vicenza, Guidolin accepted the head coach position at Serie A side Udinese for the 1998–99 season. Their previous third-place finish had…

Having won the Panchina d'oro award in 2011, Guidolin was considered one of the best Italian and Serie A coaches of his generation. He was initially known for using a Sacchi-inspired 4–4–2 formation (or its variant, the 4–4–1–1) towards the beginning of his coaching career. Later, he became known for his versatility and tactical prowess, as well as his ability to adopt systems which were most suitable to his players. He has also made use of 4–3–2–1, 3–4–1–2, 4–3–3, 4–5–1, 3–4–3 (or 3–4–2–1), 3–1–4–1–1, or 3–5–2 (or 3–5–1–1) formations throughout his career. Giovanni Cornacchini, who played under Guidolin at Vicenza, described him as the best coach he ever had, and as the manager who was the most prepared on the pitch. At Vicenza, Guidolin used several systems, but predominantly fielded a fluid 4–4–2 formation with overlapping full-backs, and switches of play to utilise the width of the pitch. His wingers were not only required to beat opponents in one on one situations and cross from the touchline, but also cut inside and shoot on goal. He favoured a more defensive approach at the club, and a gameplay in which his players often played the ball first-time, taking few touches when attacking. His team would occasionally bypass the midfield, with the defenders, or the defensive midfielder Domenico Di Carlo, who would often drop deep, playing long balls to look for centre-forward Pasquale Luiso. Second striker Lamberto Zauli would often play in a more withdrawn central role,…

Manager

Ravenna Serie C1: 1992–93 Vicenza Coppa Italia: 1996–97 Palermo Serie B: 2003–04

Individual

Panchina d'Oro: 2011