The history of tattooed coaches in Serie A From Luciano Spalletti to Cesc Fabregas
Luciano Spalletti is about to become the new coach of Juventus. A decision that was expected and, for some fans, divisive — because of one of the coach's tattoos. Specifically, the design is a tear on the left forearm inside which there is an Italian Tricolore with a black number 3 drawn in the center of the white stripe and above it the Napoli crest. A tattoo Spalletti got a few hours after winning the Scudetto with Napoli in the 2022/23 season, a moment awaited for 33 years and therefore celebrated with an indelible mark on the skin.
A tattoo that can now cause embarrassment. Certainly it is a topic of discussion between those who believe Spalletti should not have accepted the offer from Napoli's greatest sporting rival precisely because of that tattoo, and those who don't see anything wrong with it. The point here is another one. Namely, that tattoos in football were once the prerogative of players but now, partly because some of those tattooed players have in the meantime become coaches, they are a trend on the bench as well.
Spalletti like Pioli and Mourinho
Speaking of trends, the most recent one involves coaches who have won a trophy and celebrate the moment with a tattoo. As already mentioned, Luciano Spalletti falls into this category alongside Stefano Pioli and José Mourinho. The former also has on his forearm the symbol of a won Scudetto, a Tricolore with the number 19, so as to forever carry on his skin the memory of having led AC Milan to the Scudetto victory in the 2021/22 season.
The Special One, on the other hand, got a tattoo that celebrated both a team success and a personal milestone. With the Conference League victory with Roma in the 2021/22 season, Mourinho became the first coach to win the three main UEFA club competitions. For this reason his right shoulder became the canvas on which to depict the silhouettes of the Champions League, the Europa League and, indeed, the Conference League.
Former players
The transition of dozens of former players from the field to the bench has facilitated the move of tattoos off the pitch. The most notable case, at least regarding Serie A, was undoubtedly Daniele De Rossi while this season the main exponent is Fabio Pisacane. With De Rossi the tattoos covered exclusively the arms, whereas the Cagliari coach broadens the scope with small designs that can also be seen on his hands and neck. So far, however, he has hidden his arms by always wearing long-sleeved shirts or long-sleeved t-shirts.
Another former player turned Serie A coach who now wears tattoos on the bench is Alberto Gilardino; the most visible is undoubtedly the star drawn on his right elbow, along with a series of colorful designs scattered over the biceps and triceps of both arms. Cesc Fàbregas has a tribal design on his right elbow and a script on the back of his forearm. When he wore a polo, Thiago Motta showed the final details of a samurai silhouette that fills his left arm, while Gabriele Cioffi, when he rolled up the sleeves of his trademark white shirt, displayed a design of an ancient Roman statue — the latest in a series that fill his left arm. The same situation but on the right arm applies to Fabio Cannavaro, while Alessio Dionisi has an ideogram on his right arm.
Other examples of tattooed coaches in International football undoubtedly include Jorge Sampaoli and Enzo Maresca. Luis Enrique also bears a noticeable tattoo — an X on his left forearm — in memory of his daughter Xana who died in 2019. The next coach who may become famous for his tattoos on the touchline could be Fernando Torres. A long list of examples that is likely to grow over the coming seasons as more players leave the field for the bench or as other coaches choose to carry the symbol of a victory on their skin forever.
