Gian Piero Gasperini took charge of Atalanta in June 2016, and since then, he has consistently led the team to European qualification and top-half finishes in Serie A.
Last year, he achieved a 4th-place finish and guided Atalanta to the Europa League title, defeating previously-unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen 3 - 0 in the final.
Despite these impressive accomplishments and the significant progress Atalanta have made under Gasperini during his 8-year tenure, he still seems somewhat overlooked compared to some of his Serie A and European counterparts.
Managerial Story So Far
Gasperini's managerial career began in the youth systems of one of Italy's giants, Juventus, where he coincidentally started his career as a player. He soon jumped into senior management with Serie C1 side Crotone and found his first success with the club as he took them to Serie B with successive promotions.
After almost three years at Crotone, Gasperini climbed the ladder another rung to take the reigns of Genoa, who impressed immediately, taking Genoa to a third-place finish and automatic promotion to Serie A alongside traditional giants Napoli and Juventus.
The following year, "I Rossoblu" were considered favourites to be relegated as expected, but through Gasperini's tactical skills and management of new signings, he did the unthinkable and took them to a 5th place finish, their highest finish in 19 years, and a place in the Europa League.
Through his impressive exploits at Genoa, Gasperini was given the opportunity at Inter Milan seven months after his time at Genoa came to an end. This was a dream job for many managers, but the job soon became a nightmare, and a poor string of results led to his departure after just three months in charge.
His spell at Palermo came next before a return to Genoa for 3 years from 2013-2016 to repair the reputation that he built up in his first spell at Genoa.
His move to Atalanta in 2016 led to his redemption and moulded Atalanta into one of the most exciting teams in Europe. Most recently, he picked up his first career trophy aged 66.
Impact On The Club & Community?
Despite playing exceptional football, Atalanta was often considered a side that wasn't meant to win silverware. However, they broke that perception by coming into a Europa League final as underdogs against a stronger Bayer Leverkusen and picking up their first European title in the club's history.
Gasperini's contributions to Italian football deserves more than silverware; often the benchmark people perceive to make a great manager, such as Pep Guardiola or Carlo Ancelotti. After all of Gaspeirni's hard work, the Europa League was the least Atalanta deserved.
In lockdown, the small city of Bergamo was one of the worst COVID-affected places as the pandemic in Europe had first taken place in the region of Lombardy, and whilst the town was painted in a particular image because of this, Atalanta helped change that and bring hope to a community in need advancing to the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
This made the world look at Bergamo in a new light and gave the city a more positive identity at a time when it had many negative headlines. Gasperini's Atalanta provided people with a more positive identity and an escape.
When more eyes began watching Gasperini's Atalanta, the perceptions of Italian football changed; having long been associated with a defensive brand of football, Italian football started to be viewed as progressive, modern and more attacking football.
Atalanta represented Italy at the highest level when they were minutes away from beating Paris Saint Germain in the Champions League Quarter-Final, and even though they received criticism, Gasperini's side sent a message that under his guidance La Dea will not bend or break and certainly will not deter from their tactical identity.
Whilst Gasperini may not have the silverware like some of his Serie A and other European counterparts, he has proven that the success of a football club is more than just physical achievements.
It's about inspiring those around you, whether that's his players to believe in his tactical abilities or giving the supporters something to be proud of it has to be said that is just as special, and for a team that seemed destined to not win, they have already begun to prove doubters wrong, especially in a region of Italy that is usually overshadowed by the two teams in Milan, Gasperini has certainly brought Atalanta into the picture.
This season, Atalanta have had an incredible start after 13 games and a win against AS Roma at Stadio Olimpico.
They find themselves 2nd in the table and one point behind league leaders Napoli; they are more than ready to get their elbows out in the hunt for their first ever Scudetto and with an unbeaten record in the Champions League so far, they have the test of Real Madrid next week; can they join fellow Lombardy side AC Milan in causing a Madrid upset?
While it may still be too early in some ways to know exactly how Atalanta's season will go, under the watchful eye of Gasperini, anything is possible. For both the Champions League and Scudetto race, they should be a side to keep an eye on, as when they are often overlooked, that is when they become the best version of themselves.
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