Former Arsenal and Chelsea star Cesc Fabregas has been placed in interim charge of Serie B side Como.
The Italian second tier outfit announced that Moreno Longo was leaving the club despite a 1-0 win away to Ascoli on Saturday and the team sitting sixth in the table. Como said they are looking to “embark on a new path” and were planning to make a permanent appointment soon.
And it means Fabregas, who has a minor ownership stake in the club alongside Thierry Henry, will step up from their underage team. In a recent exclusive interview with Mirror Football, Fabregas said that he had fallen out of love with football before taking the Como Primavera gig in the summer.
But the 36-year-old has now rediscovered the joy and admitted that he is aiming to climb the managerial ladder.
“It’s the best thing that could have happened to me,” Fabregas said. “Retiring after 20 years is not easy and I’ve never thought I’d love anything as much as playing football. But I don’t miss it thanks to coaching. It takes up 88 per cent of my life, 10 per cent is sleeping and I try to do what I can for my family.
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“But it’s definitely a step. I didn’t have a preference for [a first job] but I knew I wanted to do it right. Timing is really important and I’m still very young and I don’t want to rush anything. Every new experience will be welcome. I’m enjoying and learning 1,000 new things every day.”
But he admitted the transition to coaching was not completely smooth and he has considered his biggest challenge conveying his game plan to a group of young players.
He added: “I’m very demanding but if I make a mistake or do something that’s not right tactically, I’ll think about it and put my hands up,” he says. “We’re a family. They know I’ll be very demanding but they appreciate that.”
Confirming the departure of Longo, Mirwan Suwarso, who represents Como’s ownership group, said: “We thank Moreno Longo for all his hard work and dedication, especially after coming in following a difficult period last season.
Cesc Fabregas pictured with Marc Bircham, who is on the Como coaching staff. (Andrea Butti)“However, we would like to embark on a new path that hopefully will provide more excitement and entertainment for the fans in Como and beyond.
"We hope to make a new appointment for the head coach position in the near future. We thank the fans for understanding and their unwavering loyalty and support. As always, Forza Como.”
Dennis Wise, the former Chelsea captain, is Como’s club president, while former QPR midfielder Marc Bircham remains on the coaching staff.
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