Tottenham Hotspur have made a positive start to the summer transfer window this year with the additions of Ivan Perisic, Fraser Forster and Yves Bissouma... but Antonio Conte could be about to make his most important signing yet.
Spurs are in advanced talks with specialist set-piece coach Gianni Vio to join Conte''s staff ahead of next season. The widely-hailed veteran coach has worked with the Italian national team, as well as previous spells at AC Milan, Leeds United, Brentford and Fiorentina, being praised widely for his innovative approach to set pieces and helping sides maximise goalscoring opportunities from dead ball situations.
Here is all you need to know about Gianni Vio, including who he is, what he does and why Spurs fans should be excited about his appointment.
Who is Gianni Vio?
Gianni Vio is a former banker-turned-coach who is currently working at Italian Serie B side SPAL.
The 69-year-old spent much of his time in the lower leagues in Italy before making the jump into Serie A, which was followed by spells in England and with the Italian national side, where he gained prominent recognition after helping the Azzurri win Euro 2020 last summer.
Vio spent more than 20 years studying the numerous variations in free-kick routines and has reportedly designed 4,830 different routines. He has even launched a website on his findings and released a book titled That Extra 30 Per Cent, which refers to “how much set pieces can improve a team’s goal tally”, as he once said.
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Career so far
After transitioning from his day job as a banker to a technical coach with Catania in 2008, Vio went on to work for Palermo, US Triestina, Fiorentina, AC MIlan, Brentford, Leeds, Cagliari, SPAL and Italy’s national team, building up an impressive reputation with his work over the years.
It was during his time at Catania, having been hired by former Italy goalkeeper Walter Zenga 14 years-ago, that Vio earned the nickname 'the little wizard' as 17 of the team's 44 goals that season were scored from set-plays as they escaped relegation to Serie B.
Spells at Fiorentina, AC Milan, Brentford and Leeds enhanced his skills in Serie A and on English soil, but the biggest feather in his cap is arguably with Italy last summer. Vio was credited with making the Azzurri a force from set pieces as they won Euro 2020, in which Roberto Mancini's team were able to utilise a number of his 4,830 different routines from free-kicks and corners.
Why should Spurs be excited
Besides helping Italy win an international tournament almost 12 months ago, Vio has proven that his knowledge and expertise in the field of set-pieces can work on the biggest stage, which gives off the impression that he can work his magic for Spurs next season as they look to made giant strides in domestic and European competition.
Vio adapts his free-kicks to the strengths of the individual players available at each club, of which he explained his ideas in an interview with Italian publication La Nuova di Venezia in September 2021, following Italy’s Euro 2020 success.
Vio said: “You need to analyse the players you have and find solutions tailor-made to their skillset. There are players whose reading of the game is special. At the highest level, Sergio Ramos comes to mind. Wherever you put the ball, you can bet he’ll find a way to get on the end of it. Timing is the most important thing when it comes to finishing off a set-piece."
While Manchester City and Liverpool were the top two goalscorers from dead ball situations last season, Spurs ranked only 14th. As Conte looks to close the gap on that duo, the arrival of Vio, and a greater output from set-plays, could prove crucial.
