Mario Beretta

Mario Beretta
Personal information
Date of birth 30 October 1959 (1959-10-30) (age 52)
Place of birth Milan, Italy
Playing position Manager (former midfielder)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Pro Sesto
Teams managed
1982–1984 Abbiategrasso (youth team)
1984–1989 Monza (youth team)
1989–1991 Como (youth team)
1991–1994 Monza (youth team)
1994–1995 Corsico
1995–1996 Pro Patria
1996–1997 Saronno
1997–1998 Como
1998–1999 Lumezzane
1999–2002 Varese
2002–2004 Ternana
2004–2005 Chievo Verona
2005–2006 Parma
2006–2007 Siena
2007–2008 Siena
2008–2009 Lecce
2009–2010 Torino
2010 PAOK
2010–2011 Brescia
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Mario Beretta (born October 30, 1959 in Milan) is an Italian association football manager, last serving as head coach of Brescia in the Serie A league.

Career

Beretta had a short career as footballer, playing only for Pro Patria of Serie D.

Coaching career

In 1982, aged 23, he became a coach for amateur team Abbiategrasso's youth squad, and 1984 for Monza's. He was also a successful School Teacher in the mid eighties for Istituto Gonzaga and Istituto Leopardi in Milan. His first team role came in 1994 for amateur side Corsico, whereas his first professional appearance came the next year for Pro Patria, followed by Saronno, Como and Lumezzane. After three successful seasons with Varese of Serie C1, Beretta was signed by Ternana of Serie B. An exciting debut in 2002–2003 was followed by a sacking the next season. In 2004–2005, Serie A club Chievo Verona called him to replace Luigi Delneri. Despite a strong starting, Beretta's Chievo slowly but continuously fell down the table, and he was fired three matchdays to the end of the season, with Chievo fully involved in a tough relegation battle, to be replaced by caretaker Maurizio D'Angelo.

In 2005–2006 he coached successfully Parma, ending in tenth place, then turned out to be seventh following the 2006 Serie A scandal which consequently led Parma to a UEFA Cup qualifying. Then he coached Siena for the 2006–2007 season, but he suffered in the relegation fight until the last matchday. Siena kept its place in Serie A after a dramatic win over S.S. Lazio. Some days later he agreed to leave the club, being replaced by Andrea Mandorlini; however he was reappointed at the helm of the Tuscan side after Mandorlini was sacked on November 12, 2007 following a 2–3 home loss to Livorno.[1]

On May 18, 2008, after Siena's 2–2 draw against Palermo in the final matchday, Beretta said in his press conference that he was quitting Siena. This was confirmed by the club a few days later; he left Siena after a very impressive season ended with a record 44 points, the best result in Robur's time in the Italian top flight.[2] He was successively announced on June 23 as new head coach of Lecce, newly promoted in the 2008–09 Serie A.[3] He was sacked on March 9, after a 0–0 home draw against bottom-placed Reggina in the Week 27 of Serie A that left Lecce in second-last place.[4]

On November 29, 2009, Beretta agreed to replace Stefano Colantuono at the helm of Serie B outfit Torino F.C.[5] and in January 2010 Torino have fired the coach,[6] who was replaced by his predecessor Stefano Colantuono.[7]

In June 2010, Beretta signed a two-year contract with Greek side PAOK, with this being his first experience outside his homeland. However on July 22, 2010, just a month after his appointment at the helm of the squad, PAOK chairman Thodoris Zagorakis decided to sack him due to poor pre-season results and rumoured complaints from some players. Mario Beretta was immediately replaced by Pavlos Dermitzakis.[8]

On 6 December 2010 Beretta was announced as new head coach of Serie A relegation-threatened Lombardians Brescia, replacing Giuseppe Iachini at the helm of the Rondinelle.[9] His tenure as Brescia boss lasted less than two months, as he was dismissed on 30 January 2011 after a 0–3 home loss to relegation-battling rivals Chievo.[4]

References