The coach has already saved his job at Cagliari. Carlo’s son has just left Botafogo.

Alberto Gilardino’s position is shaky. Stefano Moreo’s last-minute goal saved Cagliari from yet another defeat (it would have been their eighth) and, above all, from the dismissal of the coach, which was already on the club’s mind. But the decision seems only to have been postponed, and another defeat will most likely be fatal for the 2006 World Cup winner. And since the next game will be against Juventus at the Arena, the chances of a turnaround are very high. That’s why Pisa has already moved ahead and is working on a successor. With a decidedly original idea: to give young Davide Ancelotti, son of Carlo and fresh from his experience (his first as head coach) with Botafogo in Brazil, his debut in Italy.
Gilardino is mainly being criticized for the results, even though the team has not been particularly strengthened compared to last season in Serie B. The only success was the home win against Cremonese, and the penultimate place with the safety zone at 3 points is a meager result for a team that perhaps could not have done more. The upcoming transfer market comes to the rescue, and it is no coincidence that Pisa is working on several options to strengthen the team. But this also includes a change of coach. The usual names of coaches waiting for a new job have been evaluated but have not really excited the owners. The opportunity to take on a big name such as Ancelotti Jr., who grew up in his father’s shadow and has now taken off on his own career, has had a very different effect.

Europe—  Davide had a very short career as a soccer player (Borgomanero in Serie D) and then always followed his father around Europe. From PSG to Real Madrid, then to Bayern Munich, Napoli, Everton, and back to Madrid until last season, with a sensational series of trophies. Then the Ancelottis’ paths diverged. In truth, Davide had remained by his father’s side even in his first game with Brazil, then he had the opportunity to coach Botafogo. After finishing sixth in the league and qualifying for the preliminary round of the Copa Libertadores, Ancelotti Jr. was sacked last week. He took the decision in his stride, partly in the style of his father, and partly because the Pisa option was already taking shape.
Coincidence—exactly thirty years ago, his father Carlo made his debut on the bench at Reggiana, also at the age of 36. The team got off to a bad start and was bottom of the table after seven games, but slowly climbed back up the table and at the end of that season narrowly secured promotion to Serie A, finishing fourth. That’s pretty much what Pisa should ask of his son: not to win, but to stay in the league they just won after 34 years of waiting. At this point, staying up would be like winning another promotion. Davide Ancelotti, following in his dad Carlo’s footsteps. The most successful of them all.