Leonardo Pavoletti: "Now there's family. And fabulous years with Gasperini"

Retired striker Pavoletti discusses life after football, praising Gasperini's coaching and Ranieri's leadership while focusing on family and new ventures in sports management.

Leonardo Pavoletti, who retired at 38, reflects on his career and life after football in an extensive interview. The former Cagliari captain discusses his playing days, including memorable clashes with Koulibaly and Chiellini, and highlights his European record of nine headed goals in 2018.

He emphasizes that stepping away from the game has been difficult but he is now focused on three priorities: his family (wife Elisa and three children), a sports director course at Coverciano, and his Prolab gym and training facility.

Pavoletti speaks warmly of his time under Gasperini at Genoa, calling it "two fabulous years," and praises the coach's ability to build attacking football and develop strikers. He also expresses deep respect for Claudio Ranieri, crediting the manager with keeping Cagliari up and describing him as embodying "charisma and competence."

On current Serie A matters, he backs Inter for the title despite their derby loss, highlights Frosinone as a positive surprise, and believes Cagliari will secure survival under Pisacane through hard work and humility.

Regarding international football, Pavoletti supports the FIGC's choice of Ranieri to lead Italy but notes the national team needs time to rebuild after missing the World Cup for a third consecutive time.