Thiago Motta, a former footballer with an impressive resume, has transitioned into management with success at Bologna. Despite a rocky start with Genoa, Motta rebounded by keeping Spezia in Serie A against the odds before taking over at Bologna. Initially met with skepticism, Motta gradually earned the trust of fans and guided the team to a ninth-place finish in his first season. With the support of Bologna’s technical director and owner, Motta has implemented his tactical ideals, which have proven effective on the field.
Motta’s coaching philosophy revolves around the idea of the goalkeeper as the first attacker and the striker as the first defender, emphasizing possession and building play from the back. This approach is reflected in Bologna’s defensive work rate and chance prevention, making them one of the strongest defensive teams in Europe. Motta encourages his centre-backs to push forward and act as pivot players, creating passing options and free men to progress the ball through the thirds. His emphasis on collective technical trust and possession has led to Bologna maintaining a high share of possession and patiently working to create scoring opportunities.
Bologna’s playstyle features dynamic positional rotations, third-man combinations, and off-ball running, reminiscent of Marcelo Bielsa’s tactics. The team focuses on central progression through the likes of Lewis Ferguson and Joshua Zirkzee, who have developed a potent partnership in attack. Zirkzee, despite his goal-scoring prowess, is valued for his ability to bring others into play and contribute beyond just scoring goals. Motta’s system promotes quick, incisive attacks that capitalize on turnovers and exploit defensive vulnerabilities, as seen in Bologna’s recent goal against Empoli.
As Bologna battles for a top-four spot in Serie A, Motta’s contract is set to expire in the summer, raising questions about his future with the club. Despite interest from top European clubs, Bologna’s CEO remains hopeful that Motta will stay on and continue his successful tenure. Motta’s ability to transform struggling teams into competitive forces and implement his tactical vision on the field has solidified his reputation as one of the most promising young managers in European football. Wherever his coaching career takes him next, Motta’s track record of success suggests that he will continue to thrive and leave a lasting impact on the teams he leads.
