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| | Friday 23 May, 2008 | | Blog: Viola is for… | | Fiorentina’s fourth place finish has got James Horncastle all nostalgic for the good old days at the Artemio Franchi |  |  | | Osvaldo wheeled away as the net bulged and ran under the Curva to unveil ‘la mitraglia’ – the machine gun – a celebration of a bygone era that brought back memories of Fiorentina’s legendary hitman Gabriel Batistuta. The 22-year-old of Argentine descent, had just scored the Viola’s winner in Torino, a sublime bicycle kick deserving of applause and the Champions League place it secured.
Fiorentina haven’t graced Europe’s premiere club competition since 2000, their 3-3 draw against Bordeaux marked the end of their Champions League adventure and the beginning of an unbelievable tumble into Serie C2 that left their fans in a purple daze. Six years ago Fiorentina didn’t exist, they had no name, were abandoned by players and stripped of an illustrious 80-year history. The Gigliati’s two Scudetti, six Coppa Italias, and Cup-Winners Cup were gone, taken away by the sporting justices.
This makes the job done by Diego and Andrea Della Valle all the more remarkable. The family that bought Florentia Viola in 2002, who nurtured the club to good health and gave it back its identity, deserve a hell of a lot of credit for taking such a risk. They have made Fiorentina – an outfit renowned for its profligacy and largesse under the Cecchi Gori dynasty – into a model club.
A friend of mine who works for the Italian FA told me, in no uncertain terms, that Fiorentina are the best-run club in Italy – and it shows. While the Italian Press liken their practices to Arsenal, I believe the Viola have developed their own unique style. Their director of sport, Pantaleo Corvino, scours Europe and South America for fresh talent, but is equally enthusiastic about giving young Italians a chance in stark contrast to Europe’s other top clubs.
Fiorentina’s first team often features six players who could start for the Azzurri, and successfully blends the old with the new – Christian Vieri’s stint at the club has helped Giampaolo Pazzini as Fabio Liverani’s has Riccardo Montolivo.
This makeup clearly lent itself well to the Viola’s UEFA campaign, which ended somewhat unfortunately in the semi-finals, but that experience will stand them in excellent stead in next year’s Champions League, as will the sensible purchases of World Cup winners Andrea Barzagli and Alberto Gilardino. The Viola, in my opinion, are the best in the transfer market, they, unlike Juventus and Milan – see Amauri – buy players they need and have a shrewd wage structure.
But above all, I have been impressed by the values inculcated by Cesare Prandelli – the best Coach in the League – exemplified in the ‘Terzo Tempo’, the Fiorentina inspired fair-play initiative. The Viola’s honesty and endeavour this season has been as refreshing and satisfying as their victories at Juventus and Everton. They are my team of the season.
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