Luigi Fresco, the coach-president who surpassed Guy Roux’s longevity record | OneFootball

Luigi Fresco holds the world record for the longest spell in charge at a club that is currently professional, having led Virtus Verona for 43 years while also acting as president.

According to L'Équipe, Virtus are 18th of 20 in Serie C Group A.

Fresco joined Virtus aged eight, coached the youths at 12, took the first team at 21 and became president months later after winning 500 votes to 150. He jokes his longevity comes from being his own boss.

The left-leaning coach has turned Verona’s other club into an openly anti-racist, anti-fascist home. Refugees have found a family there, including Gambian goalkeeper Sheikh Sibi, who arrived 10 years ago and whom Fresco treats like a son.

Since 1982 he has hauled Virtus from the ninth tier to Serie C, amassing more than 550 matches and close to 16,000 days at the helm. He has even joked about sacking himself, only for wins to follow, and recalls seven points from 13 games then 51 from 25.

He has surpassed Guy Roux’s 41-year Auxerre tenure, which included breaks for military service and 2000-2001. He aims to reach 50 years by spring 2031, dreams of Serie B, and laughs at the Ferguson tag, noting Alex Ferguson’s 26 years at Manchester are 17 fewer.

Source: L'Équipe