Marco Rossi (footballer Born 1964)

Marco Rossi (born 9 September 1964) is an Italian professional football manager and former player who is the manager of the Hungary national football team.

Managerial career

Budapest Honvéd

On 28 April 2014, Rossi resigned as the coach of Budapesti Honvéd FC.

On 7 February 2015, Rossi was appointed as the coach of the Nemzeti Bajnokság I club Budapest Honvéd FC for the second time in his career.

Although Budapest Honvéd FC was not the most financially stable club of the Nemzeti Bajnokság I, Rossi won the 2016–17 Nemzeti Bajnokság I after securing their trophy against their rival Videoton FC in the last round of the season. The last match was won by Honvéd 1–0 at the Bozsik Stadion, Budapest, Hungary.

After winning the 2016–17 Nemzeti Bajnokság I season with Budapest Honvéd FC, Rossi resigned as the manager of Honvéd by saying that "you have to finish it when you are on the top".

Rossi was chosen the best manager of the 2016–17 Nemzeti Bajnokság I season.

Dunajská Streda

On 11 June 2017, Rossi resigned, and then was appointed as the coach of Dunajská Streda club of Slovakia First League.

Hungary national team

On 19 June 2018, Rossi was announced as the new manager of the Hungary national football team. He replaced Georges Leekens.

In 2018, András Gáll's book about Rossi's years spent with Honvéd entitled ''Marco Rossi: Olasz meló Magyarországon'' (Marco Rossi: The Italian Job in Hungary) was published.

He debuted as the new coach of Hungary on 8 September 2018 against Finland in the 2018–19 UEFA Nations League series. In the 2018–19 UEFA Nations League edition, Hungary finished second in their group; thus, they were promoted to the 2020–21 UEFA Nations League B. Hungary could beat Greece at the Ferencváros Stadion on 11 September 2018. However, Hungary lost to Greece 1–0 on 12 October 2018 at the Olympic Stadium (Athens), Athens, Greece. In the last two rounds, Hungary beat Estonia 2–0, and Finland 2–0 at home. Since Greece lost to Estonia at home, Hungary finished second in their group and their chances to qualify for the UEFA Euro 2020 remained alive.

In the UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying, Hungary finished fourth in their group. On 21 March 2019, Hungary lost to Slovakia 2–0 at the Anton Malatinský Stadium, Trnava, Slovakia. However, Hungary beat 2018 FIFA World Cup Finalists Croatia on 24 March 2019 at the Ferencváros Stadion 1–0. In June of 2019, Hungary beat Azerbaijan and Wales. However, in the decisive match against Slovakia, Hungary lost again 1–2 at home. On 19 November 2019, Hungary went to Wales to win their last match and qualifiy directly to the Euro 2020. However, Hungary lost 2–0 to Wales. Thanks to the results reached in the 2018–19 UEFA Nations League C, Hungary were given the chance to qualify for their Euro 2020. In the UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying play-offs, Hungary were drawn in Path A along with Bulgaria, Romania, and Iceland. In the first match, Hungary beat Bulgaria 3–1 on 8 October 2020 at the Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria. Since Romania lost to Iceland at the Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík, Iceland, Hungary could play at the newly-built Puskás Aréna in Budapest. One day before the national team's decisive Euro 2020 qualifiers play-off match against Iceland, Rossi was tested positive for COVID-19. On 12 November 2020, Hungary qualified for the UEFA Euro 2020 by beating Iceland 2–1 at home.

In the Euro 2020, Hungary failed to progress from the group stage, yet it impressed with an outstanding performance against three powerhouses Portugal, France and Germany, only losing 0–3 to the Portuguese after eighty minutes and drawing both France and Germany in process.

In the 2020–21 UEFA Nations League B series, Hungary played against Serbia, Russia, and Turkey. Surprisingly, Hungary won their group by beating Turkey twice and Serbia once. Hungary beat Turkey 1–0 at the New Sivas 4 Eylül Stadium, Sivas, Turkey on 3 September 2020. Hungary also beat Serbia at the Red Star Stadium, Belgrade, Serbia on 11 October 2020. On the final match day, Hungary beat Turkey 2–0 at the Puskás Aréna on 18 November 2020.

In the 2022–23 UEFA Nations League series, Rossi's Hungary were drawn in one of the most difficult groups including Italy, England, and Germany. Notwithstanding, Hungary finished second in the group and could beat England twice and Germany once in 2022. Hungary could beat England 1–0 at home in the Puskás Aréna on 4 June 2022. Ten days later, Hungary beat England 4–0 at the Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton, England. On 23 September 2022, Hungary beat Germany 1–0 at the Red Bull Arena (Leipzig), Leipzig, Germany. In the last round, Hungary could have qualified for the finals; however, they lost to Italy at the Puskás Aréna on 26 September 2022.

On 31 October 2022, a detailed interview with Rossi was published by Nemzeti Sport entitled ''Success in Hungary has change my life''. During the interview, it was also leaked that a film would be created on Marco Rossi coaching the Hungarian national team.

On 8 November 2022, Rossi said that Balázs Dzsudzsák deserves a farewell match so he invited him to the squad against Greece. On 20 November 2022, Hungary beat Greece in a friendly match. The match was also the farewell match of Balázs Dzsudzsák who became the player with the most appearances by giving him the chance to play wearing the national team's shirt.

Managerial statistics

Honours

Player

Sampdoria
* Coppa Italia: 1993–94
*Supercoppa Italiana runner-up: 1994

Manager

Budapest Honvéd FC
* Nemzeti Bajnokság I: 2016–17

References

External links

Budapest Honvéd FC official website

*

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rossi, Marco
1964 births
Living people
Italian footballers
Association football defenders
Torino F.C. players
U.S. Catanzaro 1929 players
Brescia Calcio players
U.C. Sampdoria players
Club América footballers
Eintracht Frankfurt players
Piacenza Calcio 1919 players
Serie A players
Serie B players
Liga MX players
2. Bundesliga players
Italian expatriate footballers
Italian expatriate sportspeople in Mexico
Italian expatriate sportspeople in Germany
Expatriate footballers in Mexico
Expatriate footballers in Germany
Italian football managers
F.C. Lumezzane V.G.Z. A.S.D. managers
Aurora Pro Patria 1919 managers
Spezia Calcio managers
Cavese 1919 managers
Budapest Honvéd FC managers
Hungary national football team managers
UEFA Euro 2020 managers
Italian expatriate football managers
Italian expatriate sportspeople in Hungary
Expatriate football managers in Hungary
FC DAC 1904 Dunajská Streda managers
Expatriate football managers in Slovakia
Italian expatriate sportspeople in Slovakia
Slovak Super Liga managers
Nemzeti Bajnokság I managers