Renzo Gobbo´s path, winding through Serie A, Serie C, and even a brief flirtation with the Kazakhstan national team job, is a testament to his enduring passion for football.
PART ONE
Born on 13 January 1961 in Castelfranco Veneto, Gobbo started with Montebelluna, a club where many young Italians cut their teeth in the sport. However, it was his move to Como in 1980 that saw him enter the top tier of Italian football. Making his Serie A debut, he faced the daunting challenge of playing against some of the most formidable sides in the country. Furthermore, his performances earned him a call-up to the Italian U-21 team in 1981, a nod to his potential and growing reputation.
Nevertheless, Como was not the platform for sustained success. As a result, Gobbo found himself navigating the labyrinth of Serie B and Serie C football, moving between various clubs, searching for a place to call home on the pitch. His career, spanning 15 years, saw him take to the field for a multitude of teams, each experience sharpening his understanding of the game.
Retirement often marks a crossroads for former players, and in 1996, Gobbo chose to remain in football, stepping into coaching. His first test came with amateur side Sondrio, where he gained valuable experience at the grassroots level. However, it was at Canzese that he made a significant impact, securing two consecutive promotions that propelled the club to Eccellenza.
Gobbo’s coaching credentials were further bolstered when he obtained his UEFA license with a top score of 110/110 in 2001—an academic triumph that underlined his tactical acumen. Yet, football is rarely predictable, and his next venture at Serie D side Usmate ended in relegation, a reminder that the touchline is as ruthless as the pitch.
Despite the setback at Usmate, Gobbo’s reputation as a stabilizer saw him appointed by Serie C2 outfit Pro Vercelli in November 2002. The club was teetering on the brink of relegation, but under his guidance, they managed to avoid the drop. Similarly, in April 2004, Carrarese called upon him to work his survival magic, and once again, Gobbo succeeded in steering the team away from the abyss.
The following season, he remained at Carrarese, but football’s unforgiving nature struck again. Despite a respectable campaign that saw them narrowly miss out on the promotion playoffs, he was dismissed after just five matches in the 2005–06 season. It was a harsh lesson in the cutthroat reality of management.
PART TWO
In 2006, Gobbo’s managerial path took an unexpected turn when he was considered for the Kazakhstan national team job. However, instead of heading to Central Asia, he found himself in Sicily as assistant coach to Francesco Guidolin at Palermo. The Serie A experience was a valuable one, but it was also fraught with turmoil.
On 23 April 2007, amid Palermo’s struggles, Gobbo and Rosario Pergolizzi were thrust into the hot seat as interim managers following Guidolin’s sacking. However, the role was short-lived, as Guidolin was reinstated just three matches later, returning Gobbo to his assistant role. The managerial merry-go-round continued the following season when Stefano Colantuono took charge, only for Gobbo and the entire coaching staff to be dismissed in November 2007.
After a year away from management, Gobbo returned in December 2008, taking charge of Montichiari in the Lega Pro Seconda Divisione. Although his first season ended in relegation, he redeemed himself by leading the club back to the professional ranks as champions in 2009–10.
His next challenge arrived in July 2010, when he was appointed head coach of Ternana in the Lega Pro Prima Divisione. However, his tenure was abruptly cut short, as he was sacked on 12 October 2010 after just a few months at the helm. Football, as ever, proved merciless.
Gobbo’s last managerial role came in 2012 with Sambonifacese, though it lasted barely three weeks, from 28 February to 19 March. It was a brief and unremarkable chapter in a career that had seen him navigate the heights of Serie A and the depths of the Italian football pyramid.