Age is a very important factor in football. Regardless of talented one is, it is simply simply important to peak at the right age. Same goes for managers and we will be looking at managers who won their first major trophy at old age.
Currently, Atalanta, Ademola Lookman and Gian Piero Gasperini are the talk of Bergamo and indeed all of football. Atalanta have just sown up the Europa league title, their first in 61 years and Gasperini’s first trophy at 66.
So, who else joins him on the list of managers who won their first major trophy at old age?.
Gian Piero Gasperini – 66
Thomas Frank talked about a football god giving his side justice against Manchester United earlier this season. Well, he, or she was at it again in the Europa League this season. The football gods smiled at the efforts and dedication of Gasperini over the years and decided it was time to reward him.
The path it took, beating Liverpool and then a Bayer Leverkusen side that no one has successfully gotten the better of this season, makes it even sweeter.
So, 66 years and a resounding victory to make the wait worth the while?.
2. Maurizio Sarri – 60
Maurizio Sarri will always be remembered for his meticulous approach to his team setups and his preference for midfielders that keep things ticking.
None of this yielded a trophy until 60 at Chelsea, against Arsenal in the Europa league, with the help of an inspired Hazard.
What is it with old Italian managers and the Europa League eh?.
3. David Moyes – 60
Alright, it now looks like to break a major trophy duck as a manager, your best chance is to do it in Europe.
David Moyes won the community shield at Manchester United in 2013, and that’s a given. But if you ask fans of English football, that doesn’t count as a major trophy, even in England.
David Moyes’ first major trophy then comes in form of the UEFA Europa Conference League in 2022/23 season.
He is leaving Westham just one year later but he has broken his duck and landed Westham their first major silverware in 43 years!.