Thiago Motta, the accomplished Bologna manager, has quickly become one of the most sought-after coaches in European football. His potential to make history with the Rossoblu has caught the attention of top clubs like Manchester United and Juventus.
When Xavi announced in February that he would be stepping down as Barcelona coach at the end of the season, the question arose whether Thiago Motta could take his place. Surprisingly, Barcelona’s sporting director, Deco, admitted that he didn’t regularly follow Motta’s work at Bologna. This admission was surprising, given Motta’s impressive work at Bologna, which has attracted interest from top European clubs.
Manchester United and Juventus have both reportedly increased their interest in hiring Motta in recent weeks. Motta is on the brink of leading Bologna to the Champions League—a feat they haven’t achieved in over two decades since participating in the Intertoto Cup.
Thiago Motta: A Promising Future
While expressing his wish for Xabi Alonso to take over as Liverpool boss this summer, Jurgen Klopp acknowledged the potential of the “next generation” of great coaches. Motta, like Alonso, displayed leadership on the field during his playing career, according to former Paris Saint-Germain boss Laurent Blanc, who trusted Motta to implement his footballing philosophy.
After his retirement in 2018, Motta was appointed to lead PSG’s Under-19 team. Although he didn’t win any titles during his tenure, he earned praise for the attacking style of play he developed with a group of young players competing above their age group.
However, not everyone in the football world embraced Motta’s innovative methods. His description of his 4-3-3 formation as a 2-7-2 led to some skepticism and ridicule. Though Motta explained that he was visualizing the formation vertically and including the goalkeeper in his system, his tenure at Genoa ended abruptly after just two months and 10 games.
Despite these setbacks, Motta’s work at Bologna has solidified his reputation as a talented and forward-thinking coach. His success with the club has piqued the interest of prestigious teams like Manchester United and Juventus, and his future in European football looks promising.
