Leonardo Semplici
Semplici with SPAL in 2017
Personal information
Full name Leonardo Semplici[1]
Date of birth (1967-07-18) 18 July 1967 (age 56)
Place of birth Florence, Italy
Position(s) Defender
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1987–1988 Lucchese 1 (0)
1988–1989 Sorso 33 (2)
1989–1990 Cecina 19 (1)
1999–2000 Sangimignano
2000–2002 Poggibonsi 32 (2)
2002–2003 Grosseto 8 (0)
Managerial career
2004–2005 Sangimignano
2005–2009 Figline
2009 Arezzo
2010 Arezzo
2010–2011 Pisa
2014–2020 SPAL
2021 Cagliari
2023 Spezia
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Leonardo Semplici (born 18 July 1967) is an Italian professional football coach who was most recently manager of Spezia.

Playing career

His playing career mostly consisted of amateur and minor league players with Tuscan teams such as Lucchese.

Coaching career

In 2004 Semplici took over from Eccellenza Tuscany club Sangimignano, bringing them back to Serie D. He successively took over at Figline, bringing the Eccellenza amateurs all the way up to Lega Pro Prima Divisione in his four years at the helm of the team. He then had two short stints as head coach of two more Tuscan teams, Arezzo and Pisa, before Fiorentina decided to appoint him as their new youth coach.

In December 2014[2] he took over at SPAL, guiding the Lega Pro club to Serie B promotion in 2016 and then to a surprising run for a Serie A promotion spot in his first Serie B season. On 13 May 2017, SPAL became the first team to win promotion from the 2016–17 Serie B, thus ensuring a spot in the 2017–18 Serie A, the first time in the top flight since 49 years for the small Ferrara-based club.[3] The club remained in Serie A for the 2018–19 season, finishing in 13th position with 42 points. The following season proved difficult for the club, however, and after achieving just 15 points after twenty-three Serie A matches, Semplici was sacked as SPAL coach on 10 February 2020.[4]

On 22 February 2021, Semplici was appointed manager of Cagliari.[5] Appointed to replace Eusebio Di Francesco following a dismal first half of the season, Semplici succeeded to turn the Sardinians' fortunes and save Cagliari from relegation, being then confirmed in charge for the 2021–22 Serie A season. However, after achieving one point in the first three games of the season and following a 2–3 home loss to Genoa, Semplici was relieved from managerial duties on 14 September 2021.[6]

Managerial statistics

As of 11 June 2023
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team Nat From To Record
G W D L GF GA GD Win %
Sangimignano Italy 1 July 2004 30 June 2005 30 18 8 4 44 21 +23 060.00
Figline Italy 30 June 2005 1 July 2009 146 77 48 21 211 112 +99 052.74
Arezzo Italy 1 July 2009 17 November 2009 18 9 5 4 22 15 +7 050.00
Arezzo Italy 19 April 2010 25 May 2010 4 2 0 2 4 5 −1 050.00
Pisa Italy 30 November 2010 21 February 2011 10 3 2 5 13 16 −3 030.00
SPAL Italy 8 December 2014 10 February 2020 219 91 53 75 294 259 +35 041.55
Cagliari Italy 22 February 2021 14 September 2021 19 7 5 7 28 28 +0 036.84
Spezia Italy 23 February 2023 30 June 2023 16 2 6 8 13 26 −13 012.50
Total 462 209 127 126 629 482 +147 045.24

References

  1. ^ "Comunicato Ufficiale N. 196" [Official Press Release No. 196] (PDF). Lega Serie A. 5 April 2019. p. 6. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  2. ^ "Semplici è il nuovo allenatore della Spal" (in Italian). La Nuova Ferrara. 8 December 2014. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  3. ^ "Spal in A, Semplici: "Ci davano per retrocessi. Dedicato a mio padre"" (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. 13 May 2017. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
  4. ^ "LEONARDO SEMPLICI SOLLEVATO DA RESPONSABILE DELLA PRIMA SQUADRA SPAL". S.P.A.L. - Società Polisportiva Ars et Labor (in Italian). 2020-02-10. Retrieved 2020-02-10.
  5. ^ "Official: Semplici new Cagliari coach". Football Italia. 22 February 2021.
  6. ^ "Club statement". www.cagliaricalcio.com. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
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