Vincenzo MONTELLA

'It's not up to me give you an answer but I think it's basically just a matter of time. I'm still young and sooner or later I'll probably have my chance. However I know that my role is a very delicate one always subject to ups and downs. I'll try to keep the right balance and, meanwhile, during the next World Cup I'll cheer our Team as any other Italian fan'.
Are you completely honest or there is some disappointment in you?
'I swear. Right now I'm just concerned about Sampdoria's future'.
However someone says that Boskov calls Maldini every day.
'If it's true I can't do anything else than thank him but he was one of those who taught me to prove my talent by playing and not by talking. Therefore I want to convince Maldini just through my performances'.
Is there an ideal Coach for Vincenzo Montella?
'A good coach can shape his team but we shouldn't forget how hard is to manage more than 20 players at the same time'.
Why do foreign coaches find so tough to impose themselves in our League?
'If you are talking about Menotti I think he still remains a great one who wasn't given enough time to get acclimatized to our football. However it's not true that he was sent away by the players, we had a good relationship and I'm sure that with a little more time results could improve'.
Have you felt more at your ease with Mancini or with Signori?
'They both are great champions. Mancini is more creative but Signori is a better sprinter and we are quickly getting on well together. However any teammate is good to me, I just want my team to win. Football is a team-game and I prefer to see Sampdoria to qualify for the next UEFA Cup reather than myself to finish as the top-scorer of this season'.
You are just 24 and have already scored 83 goals. 25 more than Vialli at the same age.
'This is a lucky period but bad moments will come and goals will become harder to score. About Vialli and Mancini I don't want to be irreverent because I really don't know if I'll ever be able to accomplish as much as they did and how long I will take. They are unforgettable idols for Sampdoria's fans while I was born yesterday'.
Is there any favourite goal in your career?
'Usually the last one but I can remember all of them. Even the first one that I scored in Serie C1 against Spezia'.
Do you have any bugbear?
'I don't want to give any advantage to my opponents, but yes there are some foes harder to overcome. Sottil is one of them'.
When did you realize that you could become a star and how did you happen do succed?
'To be honest I have always felt I was a great scorer even if, still a child, I had fun playing as a goalkeeper, but I wasn't tall enough and I quit'.
Did you have any idol, any favourite player?
'Van Basten was my favourite one but I watched every forward trying to learn his moves and plays'.
What about Maradona, would you like to have played with him?
'He was the greatest ever, even better than Pele, but now it's over and we can't go back'.
Who is Vincenzo Montella out from the football field?
'I'm a very reserved guy who spends the most part of his free time with his wife Rita and his old friends. An ice-cream, a pizza, and a walk along Nervi's sea-front. Then I go back home and I focus on the next day's challenges. In this job we always have new challenges'.
How important is you wife?
'We met when I still was in Empoli and, now, without her, I would feel like a table without its legs. In our house nothing moves before she decides it. She transmits me a lot of confidence, balance and tranquillity. Family is very important to me. I'm the last one of 5 very united brothers. We always call each other and they know that they can always count on me'.
How do you like Genova?
'I live between Nervi and Quinto in a sort of paradise for those who look for tranquillity. Once again was Rita to decide and she was right. Genova took a minute to win our hearts".
What to you think about the press and about its judgements?
'The press is terrible. Today you are described as a champion and tomorrow you suddenly become a second-rate player. They should use more balance and shouldn't put words we never said into our mouths. About their marks I still don't understand how is possible that after the same game you receive a 7 from some newspapers and a 4 from others. There is something wrong. Finally I think they show too many replays and talk too much about discussed actions. People should have the opportunity to decide by their own minds without being so deeply conditioned'.
You still have 3 years left on your contract with Sampdoria.
'I have a contract until 2001 but I don't know what is going to happen later. However I think that we all have a fate we can't escape'.
Vincenzo Montella is the new idol of Sampdoria's fans. A champion with memories to tell and a promising future to live. A future in Europe and with the National Team. A future as a star. On the other hand what would you expect from a guy who wanted to become an actor?

VINCENZO MONTELLA was born the 18th of June 1974 in Castello di Cisterna (Napoli). He is 1.74mt. tall and weighs 64kg. His first team was US San Nicola Castelcisterna, where he made his debut as a goalkeeper. Being 13 he moved to Empoli and in 1990-91 made his first appearance in Serie C1. The next year, with coach Guidolin, he played 7 games scoring 4 times. In 1992-93 he played 13 games scoring 5 goals. After skipping a whole season because of breaking his perone and because of a viral infection he finally exploded in 1994-95 by scoring 17 goals over 30 games in Serie C1. The next year he went to play with Genoa (Serie B) and had another bright season scoring 21 goals in 34 games and winning the Anglo-Italian Cup in Wembley. In 1996-97 he successfully made his debut in Serie A with Sampdoria scoring 22 goals over 28 games, second only to Filippo Inzaghi.