Zago, are you still used to coming to China? Zhuo Yang hugged assistant coach Siriak Sforza again.

Although they haven't seen each other for more than three years, Zhuo Yang and the 38-year-old Sforza are indeed old acquaintances. When he was still in the third division of Madiburg, the first world-class star that Zhuo Yang encountered in professional football was the captain of the 'Red Devils' Kaiserslautern, Sforza. It was still in the quarterfinals of the German FA Cup, and it was also the first strong opponent that the Six Musketeers encountered. Later, after Zhuoyang led Madiburg to promotion to the Bundesliga, he also dealt with Sforza and Kaiserslautern.

Sforza is an amazing man, not only has he played for Kaiser for ten years, experienced and participated in the 'Red Devil myth', but also traveled to first-tier teams such as Bayern Munich and Inter Milan in his career, and he has also achieved good results.

What's even more legendary is that in the three seasons of 02-05, Sforza was ordered at a critical juncture in the league, as a player and interim head coach to lead the aging and crippled Kaiserslautern to the shore safely.

At the end of the 04-05 season, interim coach Sforza, who once again led Kaiserslautern to narrow relegation in a dangerous situation, bid farewell to his playing career at the age of 35 and chose to retire as a full-time head coach. Three years of experience as a firefighting coach made him feel good, and the old injuries and illnesses accumulated over the years forced him to be so decisive.

However, at that time, the chaotic Kaiserslautern club did not have much recognition of Sforza, who was the savior of the crisis three times, and did not value his coaching ability, and the management was only willing to give him a job contract as an assistant coach of the youth team or a coach of the echelon team. Angered, Sforza turned away from Kaiser and returned to his native Switzerland to become the head coach of Swiss league FC Lucerne.

A season later, Sforza led FC Lucerne back to the Swiss Super League. This year, Kaiserslautern finally failed to escape the doom of 'no more than three', and in the 05-06 season they finished third from the bottom of the Bundesliga, relegated to the Bundesliga. And in that season, Kaiserslautern's two successive coaches, Genk and Wolfgang, were both dismissed halfway through the course under the 'curse of Zhuoyang'. Without Sforza's miraculous redemption, Kaiserslautern would still be in the Bundesliga this year.

Sforza's excellent coaching performance was also noticed by Swiss giants Zurich Grasshopper, who became Zurich's new coach in the summer of '06 and led the club to the Swiss Super League title that season.

However, due to the unsatisfactory results in the league and the Champions Cup in the following year, the most important thing is that there are serious differences with the Zurich management on the management idea, and Sforza resigned as the head coach of the Zurich Grasshopper at the beginning of this year and became the coach of the Swiss Under-21 national team. However, after failing to turn the tide at the European Youth Championships, Sforza failed to get Switzerland's Under-21s into the Beijing Olympics, and this summer, he left his post again to hang the seal.

In fact, after receiving the news of the selection of the coach of the Chinese national team, Sforza had an idea, and he, like Rijkaard, was keenly aware of the key role that Zhuo Yang would play in it. But just as he was about to leave for Milan to talk to Zhuo Yang in detail, Sforza hesitated.

Although he had a little friendship with Zhuo Yang back then, after all, he hadn't been in contact for more than three years, Zhuo Yang was no longer what it used to be, did he still remember that bit of the past. And although Sforza is very confident in his coaching ability, his resume is really a bit thin and a little bit unproductive, can Zhuo Yang look at it?

After much hesitation, when Sforza came to Milan in hesitation, he saw an interview with Zhuo Yang in the newspaper declaring his support for Rijkaard. With a long sigh, Sforza stayed in Milan, and after thinking alone for two days, he still went to visit Zhuo Yang.

Zhuo Yang was very happy to see Sforza, and he was very impressed with this amazing brother, not only because Sforza was the first world-class star he met in his career, but also because he recognized his coaching ability. If Sforza can come one step ahead of Rijkaard, Zhuo Yang will definitely be willing to support him as the national team manager.

When Sforza euphemistically offered to introduce him to Rijkaard's coaching staff, he was even more indispensable. No matter how much he admires Rijkaard, it is still unknown whether he can fit in with the national team, and Zhuo Yang needs to have a 'spare tire' in his hand. Moreover, it is a bit unpleasant to say 'mixed sand', but having someone on the coaching staff who introduces himself can be regarded as a rainy day.

Rijkaard was indeed very good, and he readily agreed to Sforza's arrival. After a detailed discussion between the two, Sforza officially became a member of the coaching staff, and he will be responsible for data collection, analysis and assistance in tactical planning, and his physical reserves are also under his control.

"I really like my new job and I love China." Sforza said to Zhuo Yang.

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"Brother Kidnapper, your spirit is good." Zhuo Yang and Attilio Lombardo greeted each other again.

Rijkaard is indeed very good, and after accepting Sforza, he took the initiative to ask Zhuo Yang to help him find an assistant coach who can adjust the backline. Rijkaard has been coaching for many years, how can he not have a few defensive coach options at hand? This is clearly a move to get closer to Zhuo Yang, and it is also a sign to Zhuo Yang that he will not create a small circle of private kingdoms in the coaching staff.

It's better to be respectful than to obey! Zhuo Yang agreed, but he did not have any connections in this area, so he went to consult Robert Baggio, who was an official in the coaching department of the Italian Football Federation. So, Big Brother Baggio recommended Lombardo to him.

When it comes to the popularity of the entire coaching staff in China, in addition to the head coach Rijkaard, it is this Lombardo, because he was the main right midfielder of Sampdoria at the peak of the 'mini-World Cup' period, with his iconic bald head and unique running posture, Lombardo has gained a lot of fans among the older generation of Chinese fans.

The 43-year-old Lombardo was known as the 'Kidnapper Meteor' in the former football world, or 'Kidnapper' for short. In his career, he played for Samp, Juventus, Lazio and other Serie A giants, and also drifted north of Crystal Palace in the Premier League for two years, including one year with Crystal Palace to League One, and became teammates with Fan General Zhiyi and Sun Jihai.

In the 97-98 season, there was "civil strife" in the management of the Crystal Palace club, and when the team was in internal and external difficulties, Lombardo, who was still a player, was ordered to reluctantly agree to be the team's player and coach. However, the team's results did not improve. At the end of the season, Crystal Palace were relegated and Lombardo stepped down from his part-time coaching position.

In 2002, at the age of 36, Lombardo officially retired and immediately became Sampdoria's Under-19 coach, but was sacked a year later due to poor results. In the years that followed, Lombardo coached a number of low-level teams, ranging from a year to a few months, without much mental performance, and he understood that he was not a manager. So, Brother Kidnapper became an assistant coach with peace of mind.

Prior to being recommended by Baggio, Lombardo had just left the Serie B Legnano coaching staff to accept an offer from his old friend and teammate Fausto Salsano to join the Italian Under-19 coaching staff. But it is clear that going to China will be a more interesting experience, Rijkaard is also more appealing than Salsano, and Baggio has a bigger face.

In the same Italian football world, Lombardo has dealt with Zhuo Yang a few times before, he has a good personal relationship with Maldini's gang, and he has chatted with Zhuo Yang at several parties, and Zhuo Yang has called him Brother Kidnapper very early.

Atilio Lombardo will be in charge of the midfield and defensive training in the midfield, as well as the development of defensive awareness in the back line.

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