Italy and Albania got their Euro 2024 campaigns underway on Saturday night and any eagle-eyed Arsenal fans might have spotted a familiar face on the Kuqezinjte’s bench.
Reigning champions Italy kicked off the defence of their European Championship title at the home of Borussia Dortmund. The Azzurri and Albania fought at the Westfalenstadion for an early advantage in the group of death. UEFA drew the two countries with Spain and Croatia.
Albania made their European Championship debut at Euro 2016 and returned in Germany at Euro 2024 with a familiar face to Arsenal fans in charge. The Kuqezinjte have an old Gunners star at the helm in Sylvinho, a name who will also be familiar to Manchester City supporters.
Italy take Spain on next on June 20 before clashing with Croatia with a place in the knockout stages potentially at risk on June 24. Albania, meanwhile, will face Croatia on June 19 before meeting Spain in their final tie on June 24, bidding for a place in the last 16 for the first time.
Former Arsenal star Sylvinho became Albania’s manager in January 2003
Sylvinho took charge of Albania in January 2023 and transformed their fortunes to secure a spot at Euro 2024. The Kuqezinjte finished top of their qualifying group ahead of the Czech Republic. Albania even forced Poland to go through the play-offs as the third-ranked nation.
Poland beat Albania in Sylvinho’s first game in charge. But he rallied the Kuqezinjte to win in four and draw three of their eight qualifiers. The Red and Black even recorded the joint-best offensive record with 12 goals scored and penned the best defence with only four conceded.
His time in charge of Albania is proving to be Sylvinho’s best tenure to date after brief spells in charge of Lyon and Corinthians. The Brazilian got his head coaching debut at Les Gones in 2019 but only lasted 11 matches, yielding three wins and four draws before he got the sack.
Sylvinho only lasted 141 days at Lyon and only returned to a dugout in 2021 at Corinthians. While his time at the Brazilian side lasted longer with 43 games, it was also not a successful spell. The Sao Paulo native only won 16 and drew 14 games back with his hometown team.
Albania ultimately picked former Arsenal star Sylvinho to be their manager 11 months after he left Corinthians. It marked only his third position as a head coach, having also worked as an assistant with squads including Sport Recife, Corinthians and Inter Milan plus with Brazil.
Sylvinho played for Arsenal, Barcelona and Manchester City
Eagle-eyed Arsenal fans might have recognised Albania coach Sylvinho when his side faced Italy at Euro 2024 following his days at Highbury. The left-back became the first Brazilian to sign for the Gunners back in 1999 when Arsene Wenger raided Corinthians for his services.
Sylvinho even replaced fans’ favourite Nigel Winterburn as Arsenal’s main wing-back as the Gunners finished second to Manchester United for the 1999/2000 Premier League title. He secured a prominent presence in north London by providing marauding runs from the back.
Ultimately, Ashley Cole emerging out of Arsenal’s academy cost Sylvinho his spot and he left for Celta Vigo in 2001. The Brazilian left after 80 appearances and his days in Spain even led to a spell with FC Barcelona from 2004 to 2009 before Sylvinho also joined Manchester City.
His year for the Citizens, returning 15 appearances, marked Sylvinho’s final campaign before retiring in 2010. Now, the defender is utilising his experiences from winning two Champions League titles and La Liga three times with Barcelona to mould Albania’s efforts at Euro 2024.
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