Premier League - Di Canio's pride at Hammers link

Eurosport - Sat, 06 Sep 22:51:00 2008

Former West Ham favourite Paolo Di Canio has revealed his "pride" at being linked with the Upton Park managerial vacancy and claimed the claret and blue shirt "still feels like a second skin".

FOOTBALL Paolo Di Canio - 0

The 40-year-old Italian, who played for the Hammers between 1999 and 2003, is one of the names being touted as Alan Curbishley's successor following his resignation on Wednesday.

Di Canio, who gained his UEFA coaching licence in April, told the Sun: "West Ham is a unique club and history means something. The fact we've had so few managers and the fact the vast majority were former players is important.

"For me the shirt still feels like a second skin and I've followed West Ham as a fan ever since I left. I saw them play twice last season and know some of the players personally.

"Of course, as a professional, I'm going to consider every offer. But the fact that I've been linked to the West Ham job is a huge source of pride for me."

Di Canio is a controversial figure but he insists his career can follow the same path as Roy Keane, who is now a respected manager at Sunderland after a fiery career on the pitch.

"When you grow older, if you're intelligent, you learn your role and adjust," he continued.

"Look at Roy Keane. As a player, people talked about the red mist descending, they said he could channel it on the pitch but that he was simply too intense to be a manager.

"Well, look at him now. He has embraced his job and his responsibility. He's doing a great job at Sunderland and you can see he is calm and controlled during and after games.

"Why? Because he's an intelligent guy who has grown into a different role. I like to think it can be the same with me."

Sporting Life / Eurosport

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  1. Come now, is Di Canio really a fascist? As far as I­ know all that he did was a fascist salute in the rome­ derby a couple of years back and this is simply because­ he is a @#$% stirrer! I mean is Mark Bosnich a nazi­ because he did a hitler salute at spurs? Of course not­ he just lost his head and did something to piss the­ spurs fans and owners off.

    From dylan, on Sun 7 Sep 1:47AM

  2. no wonder WH is at the bottom half of the league. Its­ fans touting for a facist to save them. Facists­ didn't win the war ... they were resoundly beaten­ and this little Italian facist is going to get his @#$%­ kicked again. Pick him as the manager no one is afraid­ ..booo what a threat...please!

    From graham, on Sun 7 Sep 12:59AM

  3. Political and religion views are PART of football!! ­ Celtic and Rangers hate each other mainly cause of­ religion and politics!! Football should still­ recognise a bad egg when its offered to it.

    From Betty b, on Sat 6 Sep 8:02PM

  4. what the @#$% has di canio's political views got to­ do with football anyway!! if he could get us playin­ good football then that should be all we could want and­ not worry about political views

    From paddy, on Sat 6 Sep 4:30PM

  5. Funny loving fascist?!?He was great player alright,but­ theres a statue of Benito Mussolini in his living­ room,cmon!

    From theclashcityrocker, on Sat 6 Sep 3:42PM

  6. roy keane is an absolute legend,how can anyone compare­ di canio to him???????????

    From K, on Sat 6 Sep 3:31PM

  7. what does facism mean then?

    From stupot, on Sat 6 Sep 2:45PM

  8. Di Canio admitted that he is fascist and he also has a­ big tattoo to prove it. Leaving aside his controversial­ political views the guy is simply a legend. I wish­ there were more people in football like him that love­ the team that they play for and give everything they­ have in every single match!!!

    From Mladen86, on Sat 6 Sep 1:55PM

  9. THIS IS SO GREAT SO MANY SPIES AROUND, WHAT WITH SEEING­ HARRY REDKNAPP MEETING THREE BLOND MEN IN PUB IN­ CHIGELL., AND SOMEONE SEEING GEORGE GRAHAM COMING OUT­ OF WEST HAM SMILING AND SHAKINGHANDS WITH THE CHAIRMAN,­ PLEASE DO WE HAVE ANY MORE SPIES AROUND.

    From SOPHIE B, on Sat 6 Sep 1:42PM

  10. You lot are just so fickle, of course he doesnt regret­ his salut, as somebody said he is proud to be a­ facist!! You lot most probably dont even know the­ meaning of the word facist and dont also understand­ what facism stands for. Anyways there is no way he is­ going to be manager, its just gossip. If he does, its­ will be a sad day for English football!!

    From Jason T, on Sat 6 Sep 1:40PM

  11. I agree with you totally opowicz. Good on you,

    From Jason T, on Sat 6 Sep 1:36PM

  12. I think Paulo is being compaired with Keane player­ wise, who shows passion, not anything else. Yeh we all­ know he done the salute, thats history and I'm sure­ he regrets it, there is no point going on about it.­ Anyway back to the topic re: Paulo being West Ham­ manager! I am a West Ham fan and think it would be­ great to see him bk @ Upton Park, he loves the club and­ showed alot of passion during his time @ upton park,­ the only concern I have is that he does not have any­ experience, but there is no-one else! I'd welcome­ him with open arms!!

    From Marie B, on Sat 6 Sep 1:30PM

  13. opowicz is that polish for idiot - at the moment we are­ grateful that Di Canio amongst a few others is actually­ interested in coming to West Ham

    From Tim, on Sat 6 Sep 1:26PM

  14. he's a motherf*cking fascist pig and you guys think­ thats alright in what kind of a f¨*cked up country do­ you live in I didn't know England was so fascist­ but it will probably be just the west ham fans
    and who­ can blame them with a owner like that i wouldn't­ like anything foreign either (no just kiddin i would­ never be a xenofoob ) but hey i doesn't matter­ he'll go there the'll still be playing bad and­ he will get fired
    maybe you should go for a manager­ with a proven trackrecord
    united united united
    and to­ all you punks saying i am not a real fan because i am­ not english well i save up all yhear just so i can go­ watch games in england (in the stadium or uselly on the­ bloody telly ) so dont even @#$% think about it

    From opowicz, on Sat 6 Sep 1:18PM

  15. hope to see west ham get di canio what a legend love­ what he is all about

    From chrispac2004, on Sat 6 Sep 1:17PM

  16. Di Canio is very proud of his facsist roots in a­ democratic world he should be allowed to express­ anything he likes

    From Bromley Blue, on Sat 6 Sep 1:02PM

  17. yeah Buda I have actually, Capello should stick to the­ Italian leagues to, cause I certainly dont want him as­ our national coach...should have been Redknapps if it­ wasn't for the coppers!!

    From Jason T, on Sat 6 Sep 12:52PM

  18. Any of you guys out there who talk trash about­ foreigners coming into the English game and ruining it­ got anything to say about the fact that you have a­ foreign coach for YOUR NATIONAL SIDE? Ha ha ha But good­ luck.

    From buda, on Sat 6 Sep 12:47PM

  19. thats more likely - George Graham.

    From Jason T, on Sat 6 Sep 12:22PM

  20. My only concern with Di Canio is whether he would turn­ up for games in north of England or contract some­ mysterious illness whenever a fixture came up which­ meant going anywhere north of Birmingham as happened­ when he played for us.

    From Ethan Moore, on Sat 6 Sep 12:18PM
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