MONTECATINI - Walter Mazzarri received the Tommaso Maestrelli award for the 2012/13 season during a ceremony held at Montecatini's Lido le Panteraie this evening. The prestigious prize, named after the coach who led Lazio to their first Scudetto in 1973/74, was given to the current Nerazzurri coach for the following reasons:
"Not only because he puts into practice some of the qualities shown by the Lazio coach whose name our award has borne for over 30 years, such as his effective training methods, attention to detail and standing by his players whatever the circumstance. But also because football has changed a great deal over the last 40 years and Walter Mazzarri is not only up with the times but ahead of them: he believes in the work of a group to build a team, running work on and off the ball, a sense of belonging, passion in victory, exploiting young players' potential, learning tactical manoeuvres off by heart but also the need to be flexible and adopt different tactics so as to be able to switch mid-game. He is a perfectionist, a professional whose touch was immediately visible at Inter, where he is considered by many to have been the best signing. In the space of two months, he has enhanced the team, getting them back into shape, boosting confidence and providing a clear tactical setup. This is a true 'working culture'. Dedication, tension, ambition, sacrifice, mutual respect, remaining true to his word: these are all a part of his personality. Mazzarri is an icon of the modern game, a coach projected into the future of the most beautiful sport in the world."
