Italian coach Gianni De Biasi has returned to memory one of the most historic periods of Albanian football, confessing the journey that led him from a frustrating period in Italy towards the ornaments of the Albanian National and later to the extraordinary qualifications at Euro 2016.
Former Albanian National coach protagonist on the Italian medium’s radio show ? Tuttomercaveweb. comHe has shown that he had not initially thought his next adventure would be exactly with Albania.
I had a disappointing experience in Udysse and said that I no longer wanted to work in Italy. Then I received an offer from Albania. I went to Milan to meet with the leaders. A journalist later told me that I had been selected but was not ready. Lecce loved me in Serie A, but I would have broken my word. Finally, we reached an agreement and began my journey as a coach, first declared De Biasi.
A trip that would last six years and permanently change the history of the Albanian National. De Biasi took Albania’s lead in a period of major changes, when the team was searching for its identity and a new generation of football players was knocking on the national doors.
I arrived at a time of generation change. I went without thinking, but I wanted to get back on track. In the first two years, we did well, then in the second two years, we were able to raise our level.
Albania in Euro 2016 filled with players from Kosovo
But one of the most significant moments of his confession relates precisely to Kosovo Albanian footballers, who in that period still could not represent Kosovo, since it was not recognised by FIFA.
The Italian coach stressed that their arrival was one of the elements that helped Albania grow significantly, both in number and in quality, gradually building up the team that would write history.
I was able to bring the Kosovars, who had not yet been recognised by FIFA, to the national team. We grew in quantity and quality, and I was able to impress on them the idea that a miracle was possible, climaxing with the Euro 2016 qualifications, the Italian coach concluded.
And that’s exactly what happened.
From a nation that had been away for decades, Albania, under the direction of De Bias, achieved its historic qualifications at the European Championship in 2016, participating for the first time in a grand tour. /Telegraphy/