He trained in suburban courts and is now the best in Canada

It was 2010: Vanni Sardini, a former second-tier goalkeeper, had established himself in the first division and decided to start his career as a coach, taking control of Messana, a team from Prato. Attacker Pansy, captain Targeti and defender Gabrielli were supporting elements in a young team that needed redemption. After twelve years, the Florence coach who left Prato is Canada’s new soccer idol. His Vancouver Whitecaps, who finished last in last year’s race and made it all the way to the playoffs in the Mls (Canadian Top League), won the Canadian championship against a Toronto battleship bolstered by the grafts of Azzurri insignia Bernardeschi. and Criscito.

After regular time ended 1-1, the incredible victory came on penalties. Twelve years ago, Sardini would not have dared to dream, when his main concerns were stopping the era’s Marchiseppe and Petrossi del Malichetti, Impavita Vernio’s Barzotti or Comiana Bicenzio’s Ferrari. Since that year, the life of the coach born in 76 has completely changed. First a collaboration with Davide Nicola in Livorno, then an adventure in Bari, then landing at FIGC to pursue International Relations at the Coverciano Study and Research Center. This is where ties to Canada are born, and from which comes the invitation to become a federal coach of coaches. Then came an offer from Vancouver in 2020, when then-coach Mark dos Santos asked him to be an assistant. Later mentored the under-23s and, with dos Santos sacked, a first-team debut. Saltini took full advantage of the opportunity of a career, immediately becoming popular in Canada, sports results focused on salvation and playoffs, but because many people noticed a certain resemblance to Rowan Atkinson, the famous actor who gave birth. Mr. Bean they are. So quickly he earned the nickname Mr. Bean from Florence. “Vancouver is an amazing city,” Sartini told Calciomercato.com.

“I live by the sea, but you can reach the spectacular mountains of the 2022 Winter Olympics in 40 minutes. I don’t like the lack of typical Italian warmth. My wife Barbara thinks about food at the table, but there are many. Italian restaurants. The only thing that is sent to me from Florence is oil, ours does not beat. Sardinia and Italy is thinking about returning. After all, such a famous coach in Canada can try to make his opinion even in our own profession. “I like it,” he continues. “But I always put my life experience forward. Tomorrow, if a good economic proposal from Italy and the opportunity for a new challenge in Japan, perhaps even more attractive, come, I will leave everything to accept the second”. In fact, Sardini has another dream in the drawer. “I want to become a screenwriter,” he concludes. “Who knows, One day I’ll win an Oscar for best screenplay.”

Stefano de Bias