Domenico Doardo Interview Blog
This week I sat down and chatted with Domenico Doardo who joined Paolo Di Canio’s backroom team at Swindon Town FC as Goalkeeping coach in June 2011. Domenico has overseen the terrific form of goalkeeper Wes Foderingham in that time helping him become one of the top rated young goalkeepers outside of the premiership.
What is your background in your native country, Italy, who did you play for and coach before coming over to work with Paolo Di Canio and Swindon Town FC?
Torino – Serie A
Helles Verona – Serie A
Genoa – Serie B
Cremonese –Serie B
Italy under 21’s
Novara – First Division
Coaching – Benevento Academy
Who has been your favourite Italian Goalkeeper?
In the past Luca Marchegiani who played for Lazio and Torino for the bulk of his career and 9 times for Italy. Currently I like Christian Abbiati at Milan who has represented Italy 4 times and Gianluigi Buffon who has played a fantastic 123 times for Italy and an amazing 333 times for Juventus.
Would you say the style of goalkeeping in Italy is different to that in England and in what way?
I feel the techniques differ slightly; in particular we attack the ball more in our diving techniques. The way we train our goalkeepers I feel is also slightly different. For example I have found that whereas many goalkeeping coaches like to do lots of volleys when working handling, I prefer to do this in a more game related way with shots from the floor and movements in between each piece of handling.
What would be a typical week for you in terms of a training schedule for your goalkeepers?
Monday – Strength work
Tuesday – Diving saves
Wednesday – Distribution
Thursday – Crosses
Friday – Sharp/Reaction/Reflex
Saturday – Game
Sunday – Wes Foderingham – Recovery. Leigh Bedwell - Power work
If a Tuesday game, the Monday session would be a small mix of various goalkeeping components.
Over the years do you feel the game has changed much for a goalkeeper and if so what effect does that have on coaching goalkeepers?
Before the back-pass rule the main aim was making saves. Now as well as this the goalkeeper obviously has to be very good with his feet and now the modern goalkeeper actually starts a lot of the attacks, such as Victor Valdes at Barcelona. This has meant the style of the game has also changed and has become more physical and more of a high tempo game. With this in mind we have to work with the goalkeeper’s footwork skills and also their fitness levels as they have to be more athletic to meet the demands of the game.
How would you prioritise the various different aspects of goalkeeping coaching?
The most important aspect for me is good positioning in your goal in relation to where the ball is for the shot or cross. This gives you the best chance of being an effective goalkeeper. Then obviously technique is very important for when you come to make the save or deal with the cross.
How would your coaching differ across the younger age ranges up to senior goalkeepers?
I would do a lot more balance; co-ordination and technique work with the younger goalkeepers. It’s important to build them up from a young age. It’s also important to make it even more fun for the younger goalkeepers as their concentration levels aren’t as big as the senior goalkeepers. With the senior goalkeepers it is then about tidying up small parts of their game and maintaining a good standard.
Nowadays there are many different pieces of equipment that can be used when coaching goalkeepers such as ladders, poles, rebound nets, response balls (balls with lumps on that bounce differently to create reaction saves), what do you think about using this type of equipment?
I like to use different pieces of equipment for variety. This way I can still work on a specific aspect of goalkeeping but do it in a different way to keep it interesting for the goalkeepers.
What is the most satisfying aspect of coaching goalkeepers, either at junior or senior level?
With the junior goalkeepers it’s great to see such clear improvements in their game over a period. Then seeing them take that into their games. With the senior goalkeeper it can be making a great save or having a good performance. It could also be one aspect of their game they have worked hard on that week and it has come off in the game on a Saturday.
I would just like to personally thank Domenico for taking the time out to answer my questions.