FRANCO SCOGLIO'S 3-5-2 UNBREAKABLE DEFENSE

FRANCO SCOGLIO'S UNBREAKABLE DEFENSIVE TACTIC

Franco Scoglio - Biography and Career Highlights
Franco Scoglio, an Italian football manager renowned for his tactical acumen and charismatic leadership, made significant contributions to Italian football, particularly during his time at Genoa. Born on April 1, 1938, in Messina, Scoglio began his coaching career in the lower leagues before gaining prominence in the Serie A.
Scoglio's notable achievements include his successful stint with Genoa in the late 1980s. Under his guidance, Genoa secured promotion from Serie B to Serie A in the 1988-89 season. His innovative tactics and motivational skills played a crucial role in transforming Genoa into a formidable team. In the subsequent 1989-90 season, Genoa not only adapted impressively to Serie A but also delivered some remarkable performances, making a strong impact in Italy's top flight.
Tactical Analysis of Genoa 1988-89 and 1989-90
Genoa 1988-89 (Serie B Championship)
In the 1988-89 Serie B season, Genoa, led by Franco Scoglio, utilized a distinctive tactical approach that emphasized aggressive pressing and a robust defensive structure. The team played in a 3-5-2 formation, which featured a solid defensive line with three center-backs. The key tactical element was the "zona sporca" (dirty area), where the libero, Aldo Signorini, played a pivotal role. Signorini, operating as a sweeper, was crucial in managing the defensive organization and cleaning up any threats that bypassed the two center-backs.
Genoa 1989-90 (Serie A Performance)
In the following 1989-90 Serie A season, Genoa continued with the 3-5-2 formation but adapted their tactics to the increased competition. The defensive line remained anchored by Signorini as the libero, supported by the two central defenders (Onofri and Ruotolo), who provided a more traditional defensive role. Scoglio’s approach in Serie A maintained the pressing intensity from Serie B, but with a greater emphasis on strategic positioning and exploiting transitional play.
Zona Sporca and the Role of Signorini
The concept of the "zona sporca" was integral to Scoglio’s strategy. Signorini's role as the libero allowed him to control the defensive area effectively and cover spaces left by the braccetti, who were more engaged in man-marking opponents. This tactical setup not only strengthened Genoa’s defensive solidity but also facilitated quick transitions and counter-attacks. Signorini’s ability to read the game, intercept passes, and initiate play from the back was essential for the team’s success.

 

Emulating Franco Scoglio's Tactics in Football Manager 2024

To recreate Franco Scoglio’s Genoa tactics in Football Manager 2024, I followed these guidelines based on the analysis above:


1. Formation and Roles:
○ Formation: 3-5-2 setup.
○ Defenders: three central defenders with the central defender (libero) as Aldo Signorini, playing a libero role with freedom to cover and sweep. The other two central defenders should be set as standard center-backs.
○ Wing-Backs: Employ two wing-backsi with defensive duties, providing width and supporting both defense and attack.
○ Midfield: Use a defensive midfielder in front of the defense, with roles for a roaming playmaker and a central midfielder (support)
○ Attack: Position the two strikers as a centravanti (target man) and a trequartista (attacking midfielder) or consider a seconda punta supporto (supporting second striker) for Aguilera.

2. Instructions in Possession:
○ Width: Set to "fairly narrow" to maintain compactness.
○ Passing Style: Use "slightly more direct" passing.
○ Tempo: Set the tempo to "higher" for a faster pace.
○ Crosses: Opt for "mixed" crosses to exploit different crossing opportunities.
○ Pass into spaces: exploit spaces with passes
○ Overlap left and right: use the wing-backs to provide support to the attack

3. Instructions in Transition:
○ Counterpress: Implement gegenpressing
○ Counter-Attack: Enable "counter" to capitalize on quick transitions.
○ Goalkeeper Distribution: Use "distribute quickly", "distribute to wing-backs" and “throw it long”.

4. Defensive Instructions:
○ Defensive Line: "higher" for a more advanced line.
○ High pressing line: press high
○ Step up more: compress the field and apply pressure on the opposition
○ Prevent short GK distribution: with two strikers it’s easier to do
○ Trap outside: to use the sideline as an additional defender

Player roles and personal instruction

Braglia (GK): goalkeeper-defend: simple goalkeeper in defend, there was not the concept of Sweeper keeper in that period in Italy. Probably the first coach to introduce this concept was Zdenek Zeman with his Foggia in the early 90s. Franco Mancini was the first example of a sweeper-keeper in Italy.

Collovati-Caricola: Central defenders-defend: close down more, take fewer risks, stay wider
Signorini: Libero-defend: mark specific position (the opponent striker)
Torrente-Eranio: wing-backs (defend): no instructions
Ruotolo: defensive midfielder (defend): no instructions
Ruben Paz: roaming playmaker (support):
Davide Fontolan: central midfielder (support): shoot more often, move into channels, close down more, get further forward
Aguilera: deep-lying forward (support): mark specific position (right central defender)
Skuhravy: central forward (attack): stay wider, mark specific position (left central defender).