FROM the foothills of the Italian Alps comes Davide* Simoni, Adelaide University Soccer Club’s own Italian maestro.
The fitness and football aficionado has embraced a change of lifestyle from the mountainous terrain of North Italy to lead the AUSC Blacks as technical director and head coach of the Blacks men’s first squad here in Adelaide.
With a wealth of knowledge gained working with professional Italian clubs and world-class players, Davide said he was proud to lead The Blacks, who are one of the oldest and most competitive teams in the South Australian Amateur Soccer League.
“Everybody must be proud of the top and the badge we wear when we play,” Davide said.
“Pride, commitment, mentality – any goal is possible with those ingredients.”
With an UEFA-B licence and experience coaching in the third tier of professional football in his home country, Davide said he wants to play the most suitable style of football to fit with the players on the AUSC roster.
“I’m the tailor and players are the fabric,” he said.
“What I ask during the training is organisation and awareness.
“I don’t like improvisation, I think every player should know what to do once on the pitch.”
With the Men’s first, second and third teams at times lacking a collective bond in recent years, Davide said he strongly believes that the three squads are equally a part of the same team.
“I hope we’ll be able to create that sense of unit,” he said.
“We want to have an evenly weighted balance between enjoyment and competitiveness, where the players will enjoy their football at all levels, aspire to make the A team and strive to do their best when they are given these opportunities.”
Davide has already proved himself as a great communicator, leading The Blacks’ men and women’s training last year in his coaching director role.
Men’s manager David Storey said Davide’s infectious attitude has already rubbed off on the whole of the AUSC.
“He’s very professional and he’s passionate,” he said.
“He has a great philosophy and everyone is really looking forward to what 2014 brings for the club.”
But, why has Davide come to South Australia you ask? His fiancée Valeria is completing her PhD at the University of Adelaide.
“Honestly, we feel very comfortable in ‘Oz’, Davide said.
“We probably miss some good Italian food but we’re finding our ‘barbie’ very enjoyable.”
2014 preseason training for the first, reserve and thirds (C) men starts on January 21. New players are welcome.
*(pronounced Dev-id-ay)
Davide Simoni – Coaching Career
2003-2007
Assistant coach/strength & conditioning coach for A.S.Biellese 1902 (Italian Lega Pro)
2007-2009
Assistant coach/strength & conditioning coach for A.C. Sangiovannese (Italian Lega Pro)
2009-2012
Coach for ASD Junior Biellese (Italian semipro) / Director of coaching and coach for AC Marano (Italian semipro)
2013
Director of coaching AUSC
Famous players or former players worked with in experience as a coach
Federico Marchetti: goalkeeper, Lazio (Italian SERIE A) / Italian national team
Abdel Kader Ghezzal: striker, Levante (Spanish Liga BBVA) / Algerian national team
Eddy Baggio: former striker of Pisa, Ascoli, Catania and Sangiovannese
Aldo Firicano: defender, former captain of Fiorentina, Cagliari and Udinese
Nicola Caccia: former striker of Atalanta, Genoa, Napoli and Piacenza
Francesco Baiano: former striker of Italian national team, Fiorentina, Foggia, Derby County (English Premier League) and Sangiovannese
