He grew up watching Fiorentina inside the Stadio Artemio Franchi with his father, and he says he was in love with the elegance of club legend Giancarlo Antognoni. He says his favourite ever match was in November 1983, a 3-3 draw with Juventus in which the aforementioned classy midfielder scored a header. This could be the reflection of any 50-year-old Viola supporter, but these are the words of Leonardo Semplici, a man who will return to that stadium this Sunday with his SPAL side, who are battling to avoid relegation.
In an interview published on Friday morning with La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Coach jokes that his friends have asked him not to study how to beat Fiorentina and to concentrate instead on the next match. Of course, there is no question that such a serious professional would ever dream of doing this, especially as every match counts for SPAL with only seven games remaining to beat the drop. But just to be sure, Semplici has banned anyone he knows from sitting behind his bench. “I must concentrate,” he says.
It won’t be easy for SPAL to overcome their opposition this weekend, a fact that their Florentine boss knows all-too-well. Since the death of their Captain Davide Astori, the Viola have won five consecutive matches including an impressive 2-0 victory over Roma away from home last weekend. “It was a tragedy that touched the hearts of everyone,” Semplici continued in the same interview. “During these times, my Florence became a unique city in the world.”
He continues to explain that the Guelphs and the Ghibellines – a term used to describe an internal divide in homage to warring factions that split the city in Medieval times – don’t exist at Fiorentina anymore since the death of Astori. “The Della Valles [the club’s owners] have returned to the stadium,” he explains. “[Coach Stefano] Pioli is doing extraordinary work and the city of Florence lifts a squad which has important qualities.”
It is really no surprise that Semplici has taken to life so well at SPAL since taking up the role of first team boss after moving on from the charge of the Fiorentina youth side in 2014. The Ferrara-based outfit have a core of vocal, loyal and passionate supporters, smaller in scale but similar in ethos to their Florentine counterparts. Club president Walter Mattioli speaks of a family atmosphere that is omnipresent throughout his club, an ideology that fits in perfectly with the man he hired.
After leading SPAL back to Serie A following a 50-year absence, the side initially struggled, finding themselves in the bottom three for large parts of the season. As the season has progressed, they have been locked in a difficult battle, one of seven sides who could potentially fill two available relegation slots, sitting outside the drop zone – which also includes the already doomed Benevento – only on goal difference.
Yet Fiorentina won’t find it easy this Sunday, despite their incredible run of late. Semplici’s men have not lost since a 1-0 defeat to Napoli on February 18th, a streak that includes a 0-0 draw with Juventus. There won’t be any doubt that the boss will display the utmost professionalism on Sunday but it won’t be wasted on him that sitting in the stands will be Giancarlo Antognoni – now Fiorentina Vice President – the man that Semplici used to admire with his father as a boy.
