Stefano Cusin

Stefano Cusin

Stefano Cusin, during the final match of West Bank Cup in Israel, with Ahli Al-Khaleel.
Personal information
Full name	Stefano Cusin
Date of birth	(1968-10-28) 28 October 1968 (age 56)
Place of birth	Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Comoros
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1980–1985	U.S Annemasse
1985–1987	S.C Toulon
1987–1988	Etoile Carouge
1988–1989	Servette de Genève
1989–1990	Saint-martin
1990–1991	A.S Roanne
Managerial career
1996–2002	Arezzo
2002–2003	Montevarchi
2004–2006	Acada Sports
2007–2008	Congo
2008–2009	Botev Plovdiv
2008–2009	Al Ittihad Tripoli
2010–2011	Al Nassr (assistant)
2011–2012	Al-Nasr (assistant)
2013	Fujairah[1]
2013–2014	Al Jazira (assistant)[2]
2014–2015	Ahli Al-Khaleel
2016	Al-Shaab
2016–2017	Wolverhampton Wanderers (assistant)
2018	Black Leopards
2018–2019	Ermis Aradippou
2019–2020	Ahli Al-Khalil
2020–2021	Shahr Khodro
2021–2023	South Sudan
2023–	Comoros
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Stefano Cusin (born 28 October 1968^[3]) is a Canadian soccer coach and former player who is the manager of the Comoros national team.^[4] He gained international prominence as coach in Europe: France, Italy, Bulgaria, England; in Africa: Cameroon, Congo and Libya; In Asia: Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates.^[5][6][7] He was most recently assistant manager of Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Football League Championship and coach of Shahr Khodro in Persian Gulf Pro League.^[8]

The first experience was a real success and Mr Henry Njalla Quan the chairman of The Njalla Quan Sports Academy (Acada Sports)^[9] based in Limbé asked him to keep on working as the Technical Director of Cameroon^[10] for the following three years, in joint venture with one of the best Club in Italy for the youth programme, Empoli Football Club.^[11][12]

In occasion of the World Cup in Germany 2006, he was filmed by the ARD the Deuch T.V. His Africa story became the little movie "Kick to Goal".^[13]

In 2007, he signed a two years contract as the National Technical Director of the National Team of Congo.^[14][15] He was responsible of all the National Teams (under 17 to Olympique Team); in 2007 the Congo Team won the under 20 Africa Cup with coach Hudansky and play the World Cup under 20 in Canada. In March 2008 he left Congo because the Federation wasn't paying his salary.^[16]

In 2008, he moved to Bulgaria to train the Bulgaria Premier League Team, Botev Plovdiv for a 6-month contract. The Team played a pretty good football during the camp in Italy against important teams of the Italian Serie A (Catania, Siena,^[17] Empoli, Foggia^[18][19]). During the game Botev Plovdiv – Catania, played in Assisi on 24 July 2008, he met "the legend of Inter" Walter Zenga, the former head coach of Catania Team.^[20]

In November 2008 he signed a year contract for Al Ittihad Team, Tripoli Libya.^[21][22] When he arrived in November, the Team was only fifth classed. Minus 9 from the first .....eight months later: Al Ittihad won the championship,^[23] He also managed the team during the "Arabic Champion Cup" in the semi-final against Club African from Tunisia and the African Champion's League. The Italian newspaper "Corriere dello Sport" selected Stefano Cusin as one of the Italian top Coach in the world, on 2 October 2009.^[24]

As a result of his experience in Arabic countries, Cusin receive many proposals from Arabic countries and Africa. He was contacted by Walter Zenga, "the Inter legend" in order to train over the Persian Gulf countries. He accepted to be Walter Zenga's assistant to co-work in Saudi for two years.^[25]

In November 2011 he played in Dubai the "all star" match. A benefit match for the Libyan's Children;^[26] part of his team were Materazzi, Zanetti, Madjer, Koller, Muntasser, Nedved, Pires, Fadiga, Zwey, Aboud and Zenga. On 23 December 2011, during the derby of Dubai against Al Wasl, Cusin met the Argentinian Football Legend Diego Maradona ( Coach of Al Wasl), the match finish 2–2.

In January 2012, During the African Cup of Nation 2012 he worked as the "expert of the African Football" for the famous Italian Calciomercato.com.^[27] At the beginning of the competition he declared that the Zambia national team was the serious outsider for the title; Zambia won the African Champion in February 2012.^[28]

Then, Ahli al Khalil were promoted to the Palestinian Cup Final, after a victory against the current holders, Taraji Wad al-Nis, who played at the AFC Cup this season. They won also the last Derby against Shabab (the city rival), becoming one of the best teams in the league.^[29]

A team of 30 people including Italian football manager Stefano Cusin, 21 football players and technical, administrative and press members entered Gaza, after both teams were given the necessary permission while crossing the West Bank and the Gaza Strip to play in the Palestinian Cup.^[30]

The first game between the two teams was played at Yarmouk Stadium in Gaza on Thursday and the match ended 0-0. Around 7,000 fans packed Gaza's Yarmouk stadium, which was decked with Palestinian national flags.^[31]

The return match, originally scheduled on 9 August, was postponed to 14 August, due irregularities on some visas of four players and three executives of Shujaiyeh. The "historic match" eventually ended and was won by Ahli al-Khalil coached from Italian Stefano Cusin. The team of Hebron beat 2-1 Ittihad Shujaiyeh of Gaza, with the winning goal scored in the first minute of extra-time, on free kick, by Ahmad Maher.^[32]

While Ahli Al-Khalil's small stadium was overflowing with fans, hundreds of thousands watched on television and bustling Gaza fell quiet as Shejaia supporters willed their team on from afar in cafes and restaurants.^[33]

On 11 September 2015 Stefano and his team gained their fourth trophy in just eight months by beating 3-2 the Shabab Aldahreya opponent, granting him the victory of Supercup for West Bank Clubs.^[34]

After this great period Stefano Cusin, has decided to stop for personal reasons his experience by thanking players, staff, supporters and everybody involved in the team.^[35]

On 19 October 2015, he enrolled in the "First Class Coach – UEFA Pro" course.^[36]

In his debut vs Dibba Al-Fujairah Club in President Cup, he won an important match by 4–1.^[37]

On 30 July 2016, the English club announces Stefano Cusin as vice of Walter Zenga.^[38] The transfer was possible through Jorge Mendes, the famous football agent. Cusin signs a contract that binds him to Wolves until 30 June 2017.

The debut was against Rotherham, with a draw of 2-2, on 6 August 2016.^[39]

The highlights of the season were the home victory on 13 August against Reading (2-0),^[40] and away wins on 20 August against Birmingham (1-3)^[41] and on 17 September defeating Newcastle (0-2), team that after will win the Championship later that year, in front of an audience of 52000.^[42]

In September 2016 Cusin got UEFA PRO License by presenting his thesis entitled "Coaching abroad in the world".^[43]

On 4 July 2018, the South African team have appointed Stefano Cusin as club's new technical director.^[44]

During his first press conference, Cusin said that he will make a contribution to the club in terms of growth and improvement of results, trying to emphasize the African style of play rather than following the European one.^[45]

As of match played 15 October 2024

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