Matteo Contini has revealed he would be open to moving abroad in the future as he continues his burgeoning management career.
The 40-year-old enjoyed a lengthy playing career in Serie A with the likes of Parma, Siena and Napoli, as well as an 18-month spell with Real Zaragoza in Spain.
Contini finished as a player with Pergolettese in 2018 and quickly took up a youth coaching role at the club for the 2018/19 season.
But the Italian's fortune changed in November 2018 when he was promoted to head coach. He would eventually guide the club to promotion from Serie D to Serie C during his first season in charge.
After poor results to start the 2019/20 season, Contini was sacked, only to be brought back to help the club in their relegation fight.
Contini was successful in keeping the club in Serie C, a feat he is greatly proud of, telling Tribalfootball.com: "I compare it with the victory of Napoli in Turin in the comeback from 2 to 0 to 2-3, an indescribable thing that has remained in the history of the club. In addition here there was a stay in Serie C at stake."
Asked if he had any qualms about returning to Pergolettese after being sacked, Contini continued: "I didn't have a moment of hesitation to try to lend a hand to the club that were in an emergency, but then I knew I was counting on a united group, I knew the players and I knew how much they wanted to keep stay up.
"I've excellent relations with President Marinelli even after my dismissal. We felt we were in the dark, the ownership had every reason to make that decision. The points were missing and that's all in football. For next season, we've had a chat: I'm waiting for news from them also because I have another year of contract."
Having just started to forge his own way in management, the former centre-back says he stays flexible with his tactics, unlike some managers such as Maurizio Sarri.
"Let's say that a coach, to grow, must try to steal as much as possible from all the coaches and then make his own what he has learned.
"I'm definitely not a coach who marries a system and always goes with it: there is to understand where you are and what material of players you coach.
"I would go abroad, but not now that I'm in a growth phase."
