Italian Champions League winner keen on Hartlepool manager’s job

An Italian Champions League winner is said to be keen on the Hartlepool United manager’s job after Dave Challinor quit for Stockport County.

Former Middlesbrough striker Fabrizio Ravanelli has emerged as a surprise candidate for the vacant position and has declared his interest in the job.

The Northern Echo understands that Ravanelli’s representatives have made contact with the League Two club’s officials to express an interest in the role.

Pools’ board of directors are currently conducting their search for a new boss, and are said to be taking their time instead of rushing to get their man.

The former striker has declared his desire to manage in England and has previously appealed to Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson to be considered for the manager’s job in 2017.

The 52-year-old has previously gained management experience with French outfit Ajaccio in 2013 and Ukrainian side Arsenal Kyiv in 2018. He currently works as an ambassador for his former team Juventus.

As a player, Ravanelli made 50 appearances for Boro, scoring 32 goals, and helped the Teessiders reach both the FA Cup and League Cup finals.

Ravanelli started and ended his playing career at hometown club Perugia Calcio, and also played for Derby County, Reggiana, Lazio, Dundee, Juventus and Marseille. He won five titles with Juventus, including a Serie A championship in 1995 and a Champions League title in 1996 where he scored in the final.

In all, during his career he played with twelve clubs from four countries; his native Italy, England, France and Scotland. Nicknamed ‘The White Feather’, he earned 22 caps for the Italian national team, scoring 8 goals, and was a member of the Italian squad that took part at UEFA Euro 1996.

As a player, Ravanelli was a quick, dynamic, physically strong, and hardworking left-footed striker, with notable temperament, who was known for his eye for goal, as well as his energy and defensive contribution off the ball, which often saw him drop back into deeper positions in order to help his team win back possession.

Although he was initially not the most naturally talented or skilful player, he was able to improve his technique and movement significantly during his time with Juventus, where he established himself as a top striker.

A prolific goalscorer, who was good in the air, and who possessed a powerful and accurate shot, in addition to his ability to score goals, Ravanelli was also capable of playing off his teammates, due to his link-up play, which, combined with his other skills, made him a complete forward.

This also enabled him to play in a supporting role, as a second striker or even as a winger, positions in which he often utilised his ability in the air to get on the end of high balls and create chances for other strikers by providing them with headed assists from knockdowns.

Ravanelli’s signature goal celebration involved him pulling his shirt over his head and running around the field. He was therefore a strong opposer of the new FIFA regulation, which impeded players from removing their shirts during post goal-celebrations, and which punished any violators with a yellow card.

“Half of the squad hated him and the other half loved him,” midfielder Craig Hignett told FourFourTwo when describing his new team-mate as the 90s equivalent of Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo when it came to talent alone.

“He worked hard and he was one of the best finishers I’d seen, but as a man he rubbed people up the wrong way. He was selfish in everything he did”.

“A football spectacle at the Riverside Stadium”

On this day in 1996, Ravanelli and Juninho were at their entertaining best for @Boro… pic.twitter.com/MN5mjfL9JO

— Premier League (@premierleague) September 7, 2017

Fast forward to November 2021, and he is seemingly a candidate for the role at Hartlepool United, being listed in the Sky Bet bookies market.

Andy Woodman – 2/1
Ross Turnbull – 2/1
Pete Wild – 5/1
Tommy Miller – 5/1
Anthony Sweeney – 14/1
Fabrizio Ravanelli – 14/1
Clint Hill – 16/1

Fans reacted with the Italian Champions League winner keen on the Hartlepool manager’s job…

@HallyHUFC: Jeez I hope not

@Teds_Tours27: That’s got disaster written all over it!

@IanD1977: WTF! I agree with you mate, can’t see that one ending well!

@SportsPaulH: Juninho as assistant?

@Jonah1876: This would be brilliant if true and would help the atmosphere of the club and hopefully consolidate form. #HUFC

@ScottCunno86: Would love to see him in a managerial job. For a bloke that only spent a small amount of time on teeside he sure loves the place.

@paulkeay: This would be an absolute disaster and a horrific appointment.

@SuddenD08826073: He has always said he would like to manage the Boro one day.

@TheEightball80: If Pools have any sense they won’t go anywhere near him. They need someone who knows that league inside out like Michael Flynn.

@PaddySisyphus: Hopefully he’ll get the Hartlepool job and we can observe from a safe distance to see if he’s vaguely capable, and if he is then it’s a natural stepping stone towards achieving his dream job as Boro boss.

@Sami1982Sweeney: I would love to see this, hes desperate to manage in England and with his attacking mind i think he will do well at Pools.

@grahamo39: Not for me thanks we have done the Boro old boys to death now time to go in a different direction than across the Tees

@sturnbull6: Don’t do it..

@Adam_Johno85: The kind of thing you only ever expect to see 8 seasons into a @FootballManager save

@BSaundersSport: Him and Nobby Solano has to be the dream team, surely!

https://t.co/00DkgwgI3T pic.twitter.com/YiWkHIzu7j

— Espleypotter (@Marcespley) November 4, 2021