Giuseppe Papadopulo (Greek: Ιώσηπο Παπαδόπουλο; born 2 February 1948) is an Italian football manager and former player who played as a defender. He was last in charge as head coach of Torino.

Giuseppe Papadopulo
Personal information
Date of birth (1948-02-02) 2 February 1948 (age 76)
Place of birth Casale Marittimo, Italy
Position(s) Defender
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1966–1969 Livorno 27 (0)
1969–1972 Lazio 69 (0)
1972–1974 Brindisi 71 (1)
1974–1976 Arezzo 57 (0)
1976–1977 Salernitana 34 (1)
1977–1979 Bari 54 (0)
Managerial career
1987–1988 Sorrento
1988–1989 Licata
1989–1991 Monopoli
1991–1992 Perugia
1992–1994 Acireale
1994–1995 Avellino
1995–1996 Livorno
1996–1998 Fidelis Andria
1998–1999 Lucchese
1999–2000 Cremonese
2000–2001 Crotone
2001–2004 Siena
2004–2005 Lazio
2006 Palermo
2006–2008 Lecce
2009 Bologna
2011 Torino
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Early life and playing career

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Papadopulo was born in Casale Marittimo, Pisa to Italian parents. His paternal family is of Greek descent. His surname is derived from the most common Greek surname, Papadopoulos (Greek: Παπαδόπουλος, IPA: [papaˈðopulos]; meaning "son of a priest").
Papadopulo began his playing career at Livorno. Then later moved to Lazio, which he helped win the Cup of the Alps in 1971. He later played for Brindisi, Arezzo, Salernitana and Bari.

Managerial career

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Papadopulo started his coaching career in 1984 at Cecina, a minor amateur team of Tuscany. Then, after two years as assistant coach for Casertana, he debuted at the professional level in 1987 for Sorrento. In 1989, he coached of Licata, a small Sicilian Serie B team at the time.

After two other coaching experiences for Monopoli and Perugia, Papadopulo in 1993 drove Acireale to a surprising promotion to Serie B. He then coached Avellino, Livorno, and led Fidelis Andria to another Serie B promotion.

But, after two other short times with Lucchese and Crotone, Papadopulo finally had his luckiest success for A.C. Siena (2001–2004), leading the team from the relegation zone in Serie B to its first Serie A spot ever, and even maintaining the top division the next year. Papadopulo was nicknamed il Papa (The Pope) by Siena fans during his period in the team, that he led from Serie B to survival in the Italian top division.

During the 2004–2005 season, Papadopulo was appointed as new coach of Lazio, replacing Domenico Caso; however, he left his managing position at the end of the season. On 29 January 2006, Papadopulo has been called back to Sicily in order to replace Luigi Delneri at the helm of U.S. Città di Palermo, and debuted with a surprising 3–0 win against AC Milan for a match of Italian Cup. After a series of impressive results which led Palermo off the lower places in the standings, and despite a one-year renewal signed before the end of the season, Papadopulo was dismissed from the rosanero, in order to be replaced by Francesco Guidolin.

On 28 December 2006, he became the new manager of Serie B club Lecce. In his second season with the giallorossi, Papadopulo obtained a third place in the Serie B final table, and then managed to defeat Pisa and AlbinoLeffe in the promotion playoffs, thus securing promotion to the top flight. Despite this, he left the club weeks later, after failing to reach an agreement with the club, who eventually decided to appoint Mario Beretta at his place.[1]

On 14 April 2009, he was appointed new head coach of Bologna, after Siniša Mihajlović's dismissal.[2]

On 20 October 2009, Papadopulo was fired as head coach of Bologna replaced by Franco Colomba.[3]

On 9 March 2011, he was named new head coach of Serie B fallen giants Torino in place of Franco Lerda.[4] His tenure at the helm of Torino turned out to last only a bare eleven days, marked with two defeats that convinced club chairman Urbano Cairo to remove Papadopulo from his managerial duties on 20 March and reinstate Lerda at the head coaching position.[5]

Honours

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Player

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Lazio

Manager

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Siena

References

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  1. ^ "Beretta nuovo allenatore del Lecce" (in Italian). US Lecce. 23 June 2008. Archived from the original on 26 June 2008. Retrieved 23 June 2008.
  2. ^ Official: Bologna Sack Sinisa Mihajlovic, Appoint Giuseppe Papadopulo
  3. ^ Bologna, via Papadopulo Al suo posto c'è Colomba
  4. ^ "Papadopulo è il nuovo tecnico del Torino" (in Italian). Torino FC. 9 March 2011. Archived from the original on 12 March 2011. Retrieved 9 March 2011.
  5. ^ "Esonerato Giuseppe Papadopulo" (in Italian). Torino FC. 20 March 2011. Archived from the original on 23 March 2011. Retrieved 21 March 2011.