Attacking is in his DNA: Hernan Crespo is the new Tricolor coach

Brazil and Argentina are two nations that nourish a long-lasting football rivalry in every sense. Their national teams are huge rivals, they compare Brazilian legend Pele to Argentinean icon Maradona, they aim to get one over their neighbours in any way possible. This is why it’s not very common to see a Brazilian coach working at a top club in Argentina and vice versa. But Hernan Crespo was never average.

It may come as a surprise to many, but the Sao Paulo FC president Julio Casares announced Crespo as the club’s new boss with great enthusiasm.

"After a very technical and careful evaluation, in which we consulted different professionals, we concluded that Hernan Crespo fits perfectly in our vision for the club. He has a winning history, was a great athlete and is a very promising coach. We wanted a winner because winning is in the DNA of Sao Paulo."

The lethal striker, who made his name playing in his homeland and notably in Italy, became a coach after hanging up his boots at Parma in 2012. He started his coaching career there, working with the youth teams before moving to Modena for his first managerial job at a senior side. In late 2018 he took charge of Banfield in Argentina, but it didn’t work and he was sacked after less than a year in the job. Crespo’s next position proved to be the most successful to date, as he led the brilliantly named club Defensa y Justicia (Defence and Justice) to the Copa Sudamericana crown, beating Lanus in an all-Argentinean final.

Crespo during his spell with Chelsea in 2006 (©Reuters)

Crespo will bring his own coaching and technical staff with him but is still unclear when he will lead the team for the first time. The 45-year-old will try to improve the club’s fortunes and build on the platform left by the previous tactician Fernando Diniz, who was often criticized for playing too carefully and not giving his players the freedom to attack. The Argentine’s style is one of high pressing and relentless attacks. He was an exciting player and he tries to make his teams play exciting football.

Sao Paulo are currently fourth in the Brazilian championship with 59 points, seven less than the leaders Internacional. Their recent form has been appalling as they failed to win any of their last eight games. Tricolor has four games to play in the championship, against Gremio, Palmeiras, Botafogo and Flamengo. Winning the title this season may be too big of an ask for the new boss, but he certainly has the ambition and mentality to try and win everything. When asked about his ambitions as manager last month, he set the bar high for himself.

Student and professor: Hernan Crespo with Marcelo Bielsa during the 2002 World Cup (©Reuters)

"I dream of becoming the head coach of the Argentina national team and achieving the thing I couldn’t do in three World Cups as a player – being the champion of the world. I admire the current Leeds United coach Marcelo Bielsa for the way he trains his players and makes them better. I’ll try to copy him."

An attacking-minded Argentinean coach with goal in his DNA and a huge club in need of fresh energy. We’re in for some exciting times.