When Chelsea appointed Maurizio Sarri to replace Antonio Conte in 2018, few realized this managerial swap wasn’t their first rodeo. Over a decade earlier, the two Italian tacticians had already engaged in a bizarre coaching carousel at Serie B’s Arezzo—a season so chaotic it saw both men sacked and reinstated, only for the club to suffer relegation in heartbreaking fashion. Mostplay dives deep into this forgotten chapter of football history, featuring exclusive insights from a player who lived through it all.
A Season of Turmoil: Conte’s Rocky Start
Antonio Conte’s managerial career began in 2006 with Arezzo, a club fighting to stay in Italy’s second division. However, his debut campaign was far from smooth. Winless in his first nine matches, Conte’s intense, possession-focused approach—already a hallmark of his future philosophy—failed to yield results.
Walter Bressan, Arezzo’s goalkeeper at the time, recalls:
“Conte was obsessed with keeping possession. He never spoke about opponents—only our own game. You could see his leadership, but the results weren’t there.”
With the club languishing at the bottom, president Piero Mancini made a drastic decision: replacing Conte with Maurizio Sarri.
Antonio Conte’s first managerial role at Arezzo was a baptism of fire.
Sarri’s Arrival: The Banker-Turned-Tactician
Sarri, then a relatively unknown figure with a banking background, brought an analytical edge to Arezzo. His meticulous preparation and eccentric superstitions quickly became legendary.
Bressan remembers:
“He was like a sergeant—black shoes only, no hairbands. But his knowledge? Unmatched. He knew what the opposition had for breakfast!”
Despite impressive draws against Juventus and Napoli (then in Serie B) and a narrow Coppa Italia defeat to AC Milan, Sarri’s tenure was short-lived. A six-point deduction from the Calciopoli scandal—later overturned—left Arezzo doomed. Mancini sacked Sarri in March, reinstating Conte in desperation.
The returning Conte was a transformed coach. Implementing a dynamic 4-2-4 system, he led Arezzo to seven wins in nine games—title-winning form. Bressan notes:
“It was like five years had passed. He was a different animal. We played like a machine.”
Yet, fate intervened. On the final day, Spezia’s controversial last-minute winner against Juventus—Conte’s former club—condemned Arezzo to relegation. Conte’s fury was palpable:
“I respect Juventus’ fans, but not the team. Football talks, but the game isn’t clean.”
Conte’s Redemption and Heartbreak
Legacy: From Arezzo to the Top
Arezzo never recovered, eventually folding in 2010. Meanwhile, Conte and Sarri ascended—Conte winning titles with Juventus, Chelsea, and Inter; Sarri revolutionizing Napoli and lifting the Europa League with Chelsea.
Bressan reflects:
“Back then, I’d have bet on Conte. But both are geniuses—just in different ways.”
Now, as Sarri takes charge at Lazio and Conte eyes his next challenge, their parallel journeys remain one of football’s most fascinating subplots.
Relive the drama of Sarri and Conte’s intertwined careers with more exclusive stories only on Mostplay. Share your thoughts—who had the bigger impact at Chelsea?
