Antonio Nocerino (37) has no regrets. His career has many highs - from his time in the Juventus youth system to coming close to winning the European Championship in 2012: a final lost by Italy to Spain.
Today, after a career spanning more than 20 years, and having hung up his boots a few years ago, he looks back on his career he sees only positives. His only regret is that he never played at a World Cup.
"I gave it my all. I hoped for it, but unfortunately, it didn't happen. There was some disappointments. I hoped to play in the 2010 or 2014 World Cups: I could have done it. I was playing for Palermo and then AC Milan, I was fine physically and my performances were getting better.
"I created an opportunity for myself, but when things don't depend only on you it's not so easy. But that's OK."
In the 2010 World Cup, it was Spain who got the better of the Netherlands in the final, while in 2014, Germany won the trophy by beating Argentina. Of those four national teams, today, only the Albiceleste is still in the running for the 2022 title. The early eliminations of the Germans and Luis Enrique's Spain stunned Nocerino just like so many others.
"It is a crazy, peculiar World Cup. I feel sorry for Enrique," said the former midfielder. "I was impressed by Spain's style and concept. I'm in love with Enrique as a coach, I am a huge fan of how he communicates, how he trains, and what he tries to achieve. He is a reference point, one of the three-four best."
The elimination of Brazil and Portugal at the hands of Croatia and Morocco also came as a shock. "I never expected that. We have to give more credit to Morocco and Croatia than criticism of Brazil and Portugal."
And of the four semi-finalists, Nocerino has a clear favourite. "At this point, I hope Argentina win, I like the type of game they play, how they are set up, even though France have absolute champions - a great squad that none of the others have. They could put three teams together," says the former Rossoneri player, laughing.
He had praise for the other two contenders for the title as well. "Morocco is undoubtedly the surprise," said Nocerino. "They are a well-organised team, physically strong. Speaking of individuals, they have Ziyech, the Chelsea player, very strong, Amrabat is having an incredible tournament.
"Not to mention their number eight (Ounahi), he has impressive quality. In my opinion, their semi-final spot is well-deserved. They play well and they defend just as well. They are a great team."
Speaking about Croatia, he added, "Croatia is not a surprise. They are strong and have already proved that in past tournaments. In my opinion, they have one of the strongest midfields in the World Cup: Brozovic, Modric and Kovacic. Croatia is a solid team."
Nocerino, who also played in America with Orlando City, where his family now lives, also appreciated the performances of the two North American national teams.
"The United States has grown, as has Canada. The latter, in terms of the way they play, impressed me. The new US generation is very strong, too. In four years' time, Canada and the United States, in the World Cup to be played in North America and Mexico, will have great tournaments, I am sure of it."
Neapolitan at heart
As a good Neapolitan, the former Italian national team player is rooting for Argentina in the name of Diego Armando Maradona - the last captain of the Albiceleste to raise the cup to the sky. Maradona will never cease to be revered in Naples. And speaking of Napoli, this year could be the one to return to winning ways in Italy and, who knows, maybe even abroad.
"I hope Napoli win the championship. They are playing very well, an incredible level of football, they have a great coach and great players. For what they have shown so far, they deserve it more than anyone else," Nocerino said.
"They are playing a level that is so high," continued the former midfielder. "They are playing and winning, and it shows that the level in Napoli has risen.
"Now they are aware of their ability and they proved against Liverpool that they can play against anyone."
Nocerino, a proud Neapolitan, was never lucky enough to play for his hometown team. Among the professional experiences that helped form him, the most instructive were those at Palermo and AC Milan, as well as foreign stops at West Ham in England and Orlando in the USA.
"West Ham was a formative experience, it made me grow and opened my mind. I knew it would help me a lot in preparing for my move to America.
"English football is a spectacle. The intensity is very high, the atmosphere in the stadiums is beautiful. It's an experience everyone should have and they won't regret it."
But it was at the Rosanero of Palermo where he first found continuity. "I had never played for the same team for three years in a row," he said of the experience in Sicily and his performances with the team's iconic pink jersey reopened doors to big clubs like AC Milan for him after his earlier experience at Juventus.
"I am more attached to the Rosanero experience than the Milan one," he admits. "I had a great time in Palermo: personally, football-wise, as a group, as everything. I also had a very good time at AC Milan. I played several seasons at a high level, I played with crazy champions (Ibrahimovic and Kaka to name a couple).
"That was a formidable team, but I say Palermo because I was there three years in a row and it had never happened to me before."
In his three years at Palermo, Nocerino finished as high as fifth place, almost reaching the Champions League on the last day of the season, and made it to a Coppa Italia final in 2010, where they lost to Inter 3-1. But it was at AC Milan that the former midfielder really made his name in Italy and abroad.
In two and a half years with the Rossoneri, he made 72 appearances and scored 12 goals, one of which is indelible in his memory, at Camp Nou against Barcelona in the Champions League - a header after an assist from Ibra. "Scoring a goal against Barcelona in Barcelona doesn't happen every day. It was a great feeling, beautiful. And then, like all beautiful things, you carry that inside you."
It was a hyper-offensive Milan that Nocerino played for. A team with a style of play that made the most of his characteristics as an old-fashioned midfielder.
"Milan played in the opponent's half of the field. Palermo had a lower centre of gravity and the opportunities for goals were different. I always had the movements. The Milan goals?
"Well, it depends a lot on the attitude of the team, of the players. The higher the level, the higher the quality, the easier it is to score goals," Nocerino explained.
Nocerino the coach
Today Nocerino is trying to inculcate in his players the same winning mentality he had on the pitch. As of this year, the Schiaccia Noci, as he was called in Milan, is coaching the Potenza academy team. It is a new experience to grow professionally while completing his Uefa Pro License coaching course.
"The course," Nocerino explained, "is a very nice experience and we are also having fun. We had the chance to meet Benitez, Alvini and Spalletti. Comparison helps me grow: we talk to each other, they give you ideas, they make you understand how to manage a group."
The former Rossoneri is trying to make his knowledge as a former player and the new input from other established coaches available to the young players around him. "The ambition is high, but right now I just want to learn, grow and improve. I like the role of a coach very much."
"I like the figure of the coach who trains, not the one who manages," Nocerino added. "My idea of the game is one with lots of offensive and technical players, but I always try to adapt the model according to the players I have at my disposal."
Comparing the players of today with youngsters of 20 years ago, he said, "The knowledge is different, the competitiveness within the teams is different than in the past. Before there were more strong players, now less. The level of football knowledge is lower than in my time.
"Today they reach 18 with less understanding. Kids prefer to stay at home, play games, and sit in front of the computer rather than being outside playing like we did as children or teenagers. At 18 you have to teach them a lot of things. But there are also some very strong players."
This is a limitation that is probably affecting football in Italy in general, which is why, according to Nocerino, a different attitude on the part of our coaches is needed to help football grow in the country again.
"The issue is having the courage to coach them and then throw them in. The coach must put himself in a position to coach and think about the growth of the player. Often, youth coaches think of themselves and not of the growth of the boys.
"Personally, right now my priority is the growth of the players. Helping them to make their debut in the first team. That is the goal."
It's a necessary courage that is often lacking in the young players themselves.
"Above all, I want them to take responsibility. I want them to take risks, to dribble, to have courage and personality. Today it is difficult to find a player who dribbles even among adults, because maybe we coaches tell the young ones to play two-three touches, to turn the ball over. If, for example, I have a one-on-one session what I ask them to do is beat the man.
"If they don't take risks now when will they?"
