13 Facts About Francesco Guidolin

Francesco Guidolin is an Italian football manager and former player, most recently the manager of Premier League team Swansea City.

Internationally, Francesco Guidolin played for the Italy national under-21 team between 1976 and 1977.

The next season, Francesco Guidolin joined Serie B side Vicenza and restored them following a period of decline.

Francesco Guidolin took them to the third round of the UEFA Cup, where they were eliminated by Galatasaray.

Francesco Guidolin returned to management with Palermo in January 2004, midway through the Serie B season.

In October 2005, Francesco Guidolin succeeded Didier Deschamps at Ligue 1 club Monaco.

Francesco Guidolin signed a two-year contract in his first managerial post outside Italy.

On 30 May 2006, in a surprise move, Francesco Guidolin was re-hired by his former club Palermo.

In October 2007, Francesco Guidolin declined to take up an offer to coach struggling English Championship side Queens Park Rangers after failing to agree personal terms.

On 26 November 2007, with Palermo having been eliminated from the UEFA Cup in the first round and slipping to ninth place in Serie A, Francesco Guidolin was unexpectedly re-appointed by Palermo for a record fourth time, replacing Colantuono.

Francesco Guidolin kept his promise of "dancing like Boateng" if they qualified, and did a little jig in the middle of the pitch.

On 20 May 2014, Francesco Guidolin took the decision to leave coaching, but maintained a link with Udinese by becoming the technical supervisor for the club's chairman Giampaolo Pozzo, thereby overseeing his two other clubs, Spanish side Granada and English team Watford.

At the time of his appointment, Francesco Guidolin was virtually unknown to the English game and club captain Ashley Williams later admitted that he had to "Google" his new manager.