Samir Handanovic, the former Inter goalkeeper, spoke in an interview with La Repubblica about his professional path and the opportunities that arose after the end of his relationship with the Milanese club. The interview took place on the day of the derby between Milan and Inter, a moment in which Handanovic's memory was remembered fondly by the fans.
During the chat, the former goalkeeper revealed that, at the time of his exit from Inter, he had been contacted by manager Roberto DeZerbi about a possible position at Brighton. Handanovic expressed his wish that he had been able to work closely with DeZerbi, even as a backup goalkeeper. He also mentioned that Fiorentina, led by Stefano Italiano, had shown interest in him, but the negotiations did not proceed. “I would like to return to Udine as a coach,” he added, indicating a possible future in technical management.
Handanovic then spoke about his retirement from professional football, explaining that the decision came when he felt a loss of motivation. “You understand that you have to say enough when you lose the fire inside. You go to the stadium and you no longer feel the thrill,” he said. It wasn't difficult for him to leave the field, as he already had a clear vision of what he wanted to do. After retiring, he dedicated a year to observing Inter as a technical observer, studying tactics and team dynamics. He subsequently coached the youth teams for two years, deepening his knowledge of football from a more educational point of view.
In Handanovic's story, the importance of a gaming philosophy was highlighted with reference to three key figures. The goalkeeper cited Adriano Bonaiuti, who followed him for eleven years, as an example of constant and reliable leadership. He also mentioned the influence of Antonio Spalletti, who asked him to be "the extra man in the construction", and of Gennaro Gattuso, with whom he learned the winning mentality that involves the whole club. These experiences helped shape Handanovic's vision of the goalkeeping role and teamwork.
Finally, Handanovic closed the interview with a thought about the future, indicating an interest in padel as a new sporting activity. The Slovenian goalkeeper has shown that he has found a new balance between his passion for sport and the desire to contribute to football in a different way, perhaps as a coach or technical observer. With this new chapter, Handanovic leaves professional football with the awareness of having left a significant mark on the history of Inter and Italian football.