Angelo Alessio has been appointed Kilmarnock manager. It’s an ambitious appointment by the Rugby Park side that could pay dividends for them.
The Italian was Antonio Conte’s assistant manager at Chelsea, Juventus and the Italian national team. He has taken a step into the manager role, having spent time as a boss at SPAL, Massese and Imolese.
Alessio is Killie’s new boss. (Photo by Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images)
It’s his first job as manager though since his spell with SPAL in 2008, minus a spell as Juve caretaker. Regardless, fans should still be excited by the appointment.
Alessio suits Kilmarnock
This an ambitious pick by Killie. The fact the club can now attract people who have held roles with some of the biggest clubs in the world is a credit to how well they’ve done over the past 18 months.
The big fear when Steve Clarke came in was he’d always been an assistant. Could he make the step up? Another question that will be asked of Alessio is whether he knows Scottish football.
Alessio has similarities to the current Scotland boss. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
Why should that matter? Just because he isn’t Scottish doesn’t mean he can’t learn and adapt to the game up here. Clarke didn’t have any experience in management when it came to the Scottish game before joining Killie. Look how that ended up.
He’s not worked with a tight budget recently, but neither had Clarke when he joined. What seen him through was his management skills, budgets were irrelevant. If Alessio has successfully coached some of the best players in the world, he can surely make the likes of Rory McKenzie better footballers?
Under Clarke, Kilmarnock were defensive and hit teams on the counter. They also kept possession where possible and pressed at every opportunity. These are traditional Italian styles that Alessio will no doubt be able to implement.
He can carry on Clarke’s good work. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
On paper this is a great appointment. They’ve brought in a coach with an impressive CV. The exciting times Killie have had recently could continue under their new Italian regime.