Stefano Cusin (born 28 October 1968[3]) is a Canadian soccer coach and former player who is the manager of the Comoros national team.[4] He gained international prominence as coach in Europe: France, Italy, Bulgaria, England; in Africa: Cameroon, Congo and Libya; In Asia: Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates.[5][6][7] He was most recently assistant manager of Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Football League Championship and coach of Shahr Khodro in Persian Gulf Pro League.[8]
 Stefano Cusin, during the final match of West Bank Cup in Palastine, with Ahli Al-Khaleel. | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Stefano Cusin | ||
| Date of birth | 28 October 1968 | ||
| Place of birth | Montreal, Quebec, Canada | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Comoros | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1980–1985 | U.S Annemasse | ||
| 1985–1987 | S.C Toulon | ||
| 1987–1988 | Etoile Carouge | ||
| 1988–1989 | Servette de Genève | ||
| 1989–1990 | Saint-martin | ||
| 1990–1991 | A.S Roanne | ||
| Managerial career | |||
| 1996–2002 | Arezzo | ||
| 2002–2003 | Montevarchi | ||
| 2004–2006 | Acada Sports | ||
| 2007–2008 | Congo | ||
| 2008–2009 | Botev Plovdiv | ||
| 2008–2009 | Al Ittihad Tripoli | ||
| 2010–2011 | Al Nassr (assistant) | ||
| 2011–2012 | Al-Nasr (assistant) | ||
| 2013 | Fujairah[1] | ||
| 2013–2014 | Al Jazira (assistant)[2] | ||
| 2014–2015 | Ahli Al-Khaleel | ||
| 2016 | Al-Shaab | ||
| 2016–2017 | Wolverhampton Wanderers (assistant) | ||
| 2018 | Black Leopards | ||
| 2018–2019 | Ermis Aradippou | ||
| 2019–2020 | Ahli Al-Khalil | ||
| 2020–2021 | Shahr Khodro | ||
| 2021–2023 | South Sudan | ||
| 2023– | Comoros | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Career
editCameroon 2003–2006
editThe first experience was a real success and Mr Henry Njalla Quan the chairman of The Njalla Quan Sports Academy (Acada Sports)[9] based in Limbé asked him to keep on working as the Technical Director of Cameroon[10] for the following three years, in joint venture with one of the best Club in Italy for the youth programme, Empoli Football Club.[11][12]
In occasion of the World Cup in Germany 2006, he was filmed by the ARD the Deuch T.V. His Africa story became the little movie "Kick to Goal".[13]
Congo
editIn 2007, he signed a two years contract as the National Technical Director of the National Team of Congo.[14][15] He was responsible of all the National Teams (under 17 to Olympique Team); in 2007 the Congo Team won the under 20 Africa Cup with coach Hudansky and play the World Cup under 20 in Canada. In March 2008 he left Congo because the Federation wasn't paying his salary.[16]
Botev Plovdiv
editIn 2008, he moved to Bulgaria to train the Bulgaria Premier League Team, Botev Plovdiv for a 6-month contract. The Team played a pretty good football during the camp in Italy against important teams of the Italian Serie A (Catania, Siena,[17] Empoli, Foggia[18][19]). During the game Botev Plovdiv – Catania, played in Assisi on 24 July 2008, he met "the legend of Inter" Walter Zenga, the former head coach of Catania Team.[20]
Al Ittihad Libya
editIn November 2008 he signed a year contract for Al Ittihad Team, Tripoli Libya.[21][22] When he arrived in November, the Team was only fifth classed. Minus 9 from the first .....eight months later: Al Ittihad won the championship,[23] He also managed the team during the "Arabic Champion Cup" in the semi-final against Club African from Tunisia and the African Champion's League. The Italian newspaper "Corriere dello Sport" selected Stefano Cusin as one of the Italian top Coach in the world, on 2 October 2009.[24]
Arabic Countries success
editAs a result of his experience in Arabic countries, Cusin receive many proposals from Arabic countries and Africa. He was contacted by Walter Zenga, "the Inter legend" in order to train over the Persian Gulf countries. He accepted to be Walter Zenga's assistant to co-work in Saudi for two years.[25]
Al Nasr
editIn November 2011 he played in Dubai the "all star" match. A benefit match for the Libyan's Children;[26] part of his team were Materazzi, Zanetti, Madjer, Koller, Muntasser, Nedved, Pires, Fadiga, Zwey, Aboud and Zenga. On 23 December 2011, during the derby of Dubai against Al Wasl, Cusin met the Argentinian Football Legend Diego Maradona ( Coach of Al Wasl), the match finish 2–2.
In January 2012, During the African Cup of Nation 2012 he worked as the "expert of the African Football" for the famous Italian Calciomercato.com.[27] At the beginning of the competition he declared that the Zambia national team was the serious outsider for the title; Zambia won the African Champion in February 2012.[28]
Ahli al Khalil – Palestine 2015
editThen, Ahli al Khalil were promoted to the Palestinian Cup Final, after a victory against the current holders, Taraji Wad al-Nis, who played at the AFC Cup this season. They won also the last Derby against Shabab (the city rival), becoming one of the best teams in the league.[29]
A team of 30 people including Italian football manager Stefano Cusin, 21 football players and technical, administrative and press members entered Gaza, after both teams were given the necessary permission while crossing the West Bank and the Gaza Strip to play in the Palestinian Cup.[30]
The first game between the two teams was played at Yarmouk Stadium in Gaza on Thursday and the match ended 0-0. Around 7,000 fans packed Gaza's Yarmouk stadium, which was decked with Palestinian national flags.[31]
The return match, originally scheduled on 9 August, was postponed to 14 August, due irregularities on some visas of four players and three executives of Shujaiyeh. The "historic match" eventually ended and was won by Ahli al-Khalil coached from Italian Stefano Cusin. The team of Hebron beat 2-1 Ittihad Shujaiyeh of Gaza, with the winning goal scored in the first minute of extra-time, on free kick, by Ahmad Maher.[32]
While Ahli Al-Khalil's small stadium was overflowing with fans, hundreds of thousands watched on television and bustling Gaza fell quiet as Shejaia supporters willed their team on from afar in cafes and restaurants.[33]
On 11 September 2015 Stefano and his team gained their fourth trophy in just eight months by beating 3-2 the Shabab Aldahreya opponent, granting him the victory of Supercup for West Bank Clubs.[34]
After this great period Stefano Cusin, has decided to stop for personal reasons his experience by thanking players, staff, supporters and everybody involved in the team.[35]
On 19 October 2015, he enrolled in the "First Class Coach – UEFA Pro" course.[36]
Al Shaab
editIn his debut vs Dibba Al-Fujairah Club in President Cup, he won an important match by 4–1.[37]
Wolverhampton Wanderers
editOn 30 July 2016, the English club announces Stefano Cusin as vice of Walter Zenga.[38] The transfer was possible through Jorge Mendes, the famous football agent. Cusin signs a contract that binds him to Wolves until 30 June 2017.
The debut was against Rotherham, with a draw of 2-2, on 6 August 2016.[39]
The highlights of the season were the home victory on 13 August against Reading (2-0),[40] and away wins on 20 August against Birmingham (1-3)[41] and on 17 September defeating Newcastle (0-2), team that after will win the Championship later that year, in front of an audience of 52000.[42]
In September 2016 Cusin got UEFA PRO License by presenting his thesis entitled "Coaching abroad in the world".[43]
Black Leopards
editOn 4 July 2018, the South African team have appointed Stefano Cusin as club's new technical director.[44]
During his first press conference, Cusin said that he will make a contribution to the club in terms of growth and improvement of results, trying to emphasize the African style of play rather than following the European one.[45]
Managerial record
edit- As of match played 18 November 2024
| Team | Nat | From | To | Record | Ref. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | Win % | |||||
| Comoros | 2 October 2023 | present | 18 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 50.00 | ||
| Career Total | 18 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 50.00 | — | |||
References
edit- ^ "Fujairah SC - Players, Ranking and Transfers - 23/24". footballdatabase.eu.
- ^ Thomas, Martyn. "Al Jazira focussed on win with outside chance of Cup semi at stake - Sport360 News". sport360.com.
- ^ "Classe '68, Cusin è nato in Canada, a Montreal".
- ^ "ROMUALD FÉLIX RAKOTONDRABE - " La victoire constitue une obligation "". 22 May 2024.
- ^ "LITTLE ITALY il bohemien Cusin: 'Libia, Congo... E con Zenga...'". Calciomercato.com | Tutte le news sul calcio in tempo reale. 5 November 2011.
- ^ Italian Coach In The World at mistercottone.com
- ^ "Organo mensile dell'Associazione Italiana Calciatori at assocalciatori.it".
- ^ Stefano Cusin riparte e torna in Palestina
- ^ "From Arezzo The Football In Cameroon at viaroma100.net".
- ^ "The Italian Adventure For Stefano Cusin And His Players From Acada Sport (Cameroon) at arezzonotizie.it". Archived from the original on 8 July 2012. Retrieved 26 March 2012.
- ^ "Two Special Coach at empolicalcio.it". Archived from the original on 4 September 2012. Retrieved 26 March 2012.
- ^ "Interiview With Stefano Cusin at empolicalcio.it". Archived from the original on 1 August 2012. Retrieved 26 March 2012.
- ^ Kick To Goal: The Dream Of Football Stardom at united-docs.com[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Partnership Congo Federation And Royal Trophy: 3 Tons Of Sports Equipment Has Arrived To Pointe Noire (Congo) at brazzaville-adiac.com".
- ^ "According To Stefano Cusin, For Best Results, The Movement At The Base Must Be Broader at brazzaville-adiac.com".
- ^ [The Big Challenges of Leon Alfred Opimbat at diablesrougescongo.com http://www.diablesrougescongo.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=2476 Archived 15 February 2015 at the Wayback Machine]
- ^ "Siena - PFC Botev Plovdiv 2-0 - Robur Siena - A.C. Siena calcio World Fan Club Robur 1904". www.robur1904.it.
- ^ "Foggia: Now Against The Bulgarian From Plovdiv at usfoggia.it".
- ^ "Apiro To An Award For U. S. Foggia at usfoggia.it".
- ^ "Quattroracing.com - Notizie automobilistiche, nuovi modelli e saloni dell'auto". www.quattroracing.com.
- ^ "UFFICIALE: Cusin sulla panchina dell'Al-Ittihad - TUTTO mercato WEB". archivio.tuttomercatoweb.com.
- ^ Official, Cusin Will Train Al Ittihad at footballpress.net[usurped]
- ^ "Un toscano vince lo scudetto del calcio libico - la Repubblica.it". Archivio - la Repubblica.it. 26 June 2009.
- ^ [Stefano Cusin, Al Ittihad Tripoli Fc Former Head Coach at meerdansport.nl http://www.meerdansport.nl/pdf/SCI%2009.06%2004-07.pdf Archived 8 December 2015 at the Wayback Machine]
- ^ "Italiani all'estero, Cusin 'Io e Zenga sbancheremo l'Arabia Saudita'". Calciomercato.com | Tutte le news sul calcio in tempo reale. 14 June 2010.
- ^ "Libyan children benefit from Dubai charity match". gulfnews.com. 9 November 2011.
- ^ "Coppa d'Africa 2012, Cusin a CM: 'Zambia outsider. Msakni, che giocatore!'". Calciomercato.com | Tutte le news sul calcio in tempo reale. 27 January 2012.
- ^ "Coppa d'Africa, Cusin: 'Caccia all'affare, lo Zambia non è solo Kalaba-Mayuka'". Calciomercato.com | Tutte le news sul calcio in tempo reale. 14 February 2012.
- ^ "Cattenacio Palestino – an Interview with Stefano Cusin". babagol.net. 4 May 2015. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
- ^ "The West Bank's Soccer Team Hasn't Played in Gaza in 15 Years. That's About to Change". vice.com. 5 August 2015.
- ^ "West Bank's Ahli plays out historic draw in Gaza". Al Jazeera. 7 August 2015.
- ^ "Cusin fa la storia in Palestina con il suo Ahli al-Khalil". gazzetta.it. 15 August 2015.
- ^ "Video: Ahli Al-Khalil beat Shejaia to win Palestine Cup". albawaba.com. 15 August 2015.
- ^ "Match Results". goalzz.com.
- ^ "CALCIO, CISGIORDANIA; AHLI AL-KHALIL: CUSIN SI DIMETTE". repubblica.it. 3 October 2015.
- ^ "CMASTER UEFA PRO: COMINCIA OGGI IL NUOVO CORSO". settoretecnico.figc.it. 19 October 2015.
- ^ "Dibba Al Fujairah – Al Shaab (Soccer, Presidents Cup 2015/2016)". sportstats.com. 26 February 2016.
- ^ "NEWS – Club Finalises Key Appointments". wolves.co.uk. 5 August 2016.
- ^ "Rotherham United 2-2 Wolverhampton Wanderers – BBC Sport". BBC. 6 August 2016.
- ^ "Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-0 Reading". BBC Sport. 13 August 2016.
- ^ "Birmingham City 1-3 Wolverhampton Wanderers". BBC Sport. 20 August 2016.
- ^ "Newcastle United 0-2 Wolves". BBC Sport. 17 September 2016.
- ^ "Figc News – Master UEFA Pro". figc.it. 7 September 2016.
- ^ "Black Leopards appoints new technical director". sabcnews.com. 4 July 2018.
- ^ "Stefano Cusin to promote African style at Black Leopards". kickoff.com. 9 July 2018.
External links
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