You Can-not be serious
Relive Paolo’s maddest moments
FALL GUY ... Alcock takes a tumble after Di Canio loses his rag
Published:
01st
April 2013
MAVERICK Paolo Di Canio is today back in the big time after landing the Sunderland job.
The Italian is one of football’s most colourful characters and his appointment as boss has split fans.Here, SunSport charts Di Canio’s maddest moments.
I can’t work with these people — Celtic (July, 1996)
Celtic days ... DiCanio during his spell with The Hoops in the mid 90s
He quickly became a firm fans’ favourite but the Italian was not as impressed with the Hoops as they were with him.
After storming out of training because his team-mates were not up to his calibre, he then refused to join the squad at a Dutch training camp and was threatened with a three-year ban.
Shove off — Sheffield Wednesday (September 26, 1998)
PERHAPS Di Canio’s most infamous moment came during his Sheffield Wednesday days.Having been shown a straight red card for kicking Arsenal’s Martin Keown, the Italian then lost his temper and shoved referee Paul Alcock in the chest.
Not one to pass up his moment in the limelight, Alcock whipped out his best jelly legs, crumpled in a heap and Di Canio was banned for 11 games.
Fined... and again... and again — Sheff Wed (Dec, 1998)
COUGH UP ...The striker was hit with multiple fines at the end of his Sheffield Wednesday career
He claimed he was suffering from stress and depression when he failed to return from a break in Italy — but that did not stop him being suspended for two weeks without pay.
Di Canio then received a similar punishment when he failed to appear for a home game against Leicester on Boxing Day — and was hit with a third two-week suspension in January.
Fair play my son — West Ham (December 16, 2000)
LESS than two years after his referee misdemeanour, Di Canio was officially hailed as the most sporting footballer IN THE WORLD.
Playing against Everton, Di Canio decided to catch the ball rather than shoot when opposition keeper Paul Gerrard was lying on the ground injured.
The striker was given the FIFA Fair Play award with football’s governing body calling his actions a “special act of good sportsmanship”.
Paolo’s a right winger — Lazio (2004-05)
ULTRAS ... Di Canio salutes Lazio's right-wing fans
The Rome-born star had links to the club’s feared Ultras and was fined for making on-pitch straight-arms salutes.
He admitted: “I am a facist, not a racist.”
Pitch battle — Swindon (August 30, 2011)
DI CANIO called time on Leon Clarke’s Swindon career after 11 DAYS following an amazing on-pitch row.Clarke aimed a verbal volley at his boss following the Robins’ League Cup defeat to Southampton.
The pair rowed on the touchline and Di Canio said: “Fortunately, he’s out now even if he’s under contract. He’s never going to play with my team, never.”
Striker Clarke left for Chesterfield three weeks later.
Sub standard — Swindon (September 2, 2012)
CANNON FOD-DER ... Di Canio hauls off Foderingham after 21 minutes
But their relationship turned sour — when the rookie stopper was subbed against Preston after just 22 minutes!
Swindon were already 2-0 down and went on to lose 4-1. And Di Canio said: “He’s the worst professional I’ve ever seen.”
Despite their bitter row, Foderingham eventually regained the No1 jersey.
Photo finish — Swindon (February 22, 2013)
GROUND FOR CONCERN ... Di Canio was accused of sneaking back into Swindon
But he was accused of returning to the County Ground three days later — to pinch club-owned photos in a midnight raid.
Robins security changed the locks and a club insider told SunSport: “Even by Paolo’s standards this was a crazy thing to do.”-------------- The Sun
