Nicola Salerno (sporting executive)

For the Italian Lyricist, see Nicola Salerno.

Nicola Salerno, born in Matera, Italy, on August 3, 1956, is an Italian Sporting Director who most recently worked for Leeds United FC. Before joining leeds united fc his last role up until June 2014 was working as Sporting Director at Serie A side Cagliari Calcio.

Career

Son of Senator Carmelo Francesco Salerno, former president of Matera, he started his football career in Serie C2 as sporting director from 1983-1984 until 1985-1986. He later worked as sports director and market manager at Ravenna, the Licata, with whom he landed in Serie B in season 1988-1989, and then at Trieste from 1989 to 1993.

After serving an initial disqualification as sports director of Messina from 1997 to 2002. Salerno was touted as one of the architects of the revival of the Giallorossi as they climbed in a few years from the National Amateur Championship to Serie B. In 2002-2003, after new leadership at Messina, Salerno left to join Catania, also in Serie B.

The following season he moved to Serie A side Cagliari Calcio where he started his working relationship with the then Cagliari owner Massimo Cellino,[1] who won the championship of Serie B for 2003-2004, and he stayed until 2006.

After one season as sporting director at Foggia in Serie C1 from 2006 to 2007, where the Apulian side earned promotion to Serie B in the last minute of the playoff final against Avellino.

Salerno then went back to Cagliari in 2007, but was dismissed in February 2008.

On 12 October 2009 he became the sports director of U.S. Salernitana 1919; after his resignation on 11 February 2011 subsequent to the start of the new owners at the helm of the club.

After the summer of 2011, after the experience with Salernitana, after having being in touching distance of a return to Serie B until losing the play-off final against Hellas Verona F.C.. Salerno made a brief return to Messina (who had fallen to Series D), where he served as the technical advisor. In November 2011, he was appointed as the new sporting director of Grosseto in Serie B.

In the summer of 2012, he was appointed sporting director of Catania, where he prepared to compete in Serie A 2012-2013, returning to the top flight again after experiencing Serie A with Cagliari.

On July 5 2013, he returned for the third time to Cagliari after five years away, becoming the first head of the technical team and the business of football. When owner Massimo Cellino sold the club in June 2014, to concentrate on the ownership of Leeds United, Salerno left Cagliari straight away.

In June 2014, Salerno turned down the role of Sporting Director at Serie A side Palermo.[1][2] On On 11 July, owner Massimo Cellino revealed Salerno would be joining Leeds on a 2-year deal.[3]

On the 2nd April Salerno mysteriously suspended Steve Thompson, Leeds Assistant Manager who was credited with lifting Leeds from a place above relegation to 10th in the Football Championship. Leeds had won 6 out of the previous 10 matches. On the 9th April 2015 Leeds United's suspended owner, Massimo Cellino, informed the press that Salerno has resigned.[4]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Nicola Salerno set to join Leeds president Massimo Cellino as Italian sporting director hints at move after snubbing Palermo". Daily Mail (Daily Mail and General Trust). 24 June 2014. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  2. ↑ "Italian sporting director Nicola Salerno set to join Leeds United". Sky Sports. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  3. ↑ "Leeds United President Massimo Cellino on new signings, McCormack, Elland Road & buying a bus". BBC Sport. 11 July 2014. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
  4. ↑ "Leeds United suspend assistant manager Steve Thompson". The Guardian (The Guardian). 2 April 2015. Retrieved 2 April 2015.