After more than 192 hours of training, Franck Ribéry obtained his UEFA “A” diploma earlier this week in Italy, as stated by L’Équipe. In France, this license corresponds to the BEF (Brevet d’acier de football), essential in obtaining the BEPF (Brevet d’acier professionnel de football) in order to coach at the highest level.
Two years after the end of his professional career in Italy at Salernitana, it was 500 kilometres away, in Coverciano – the Italian equivalent of Clairefontaine in France – that the former Munich player obtained his diploma. The third-place winner of the 2013 Ballon d’Or can now coach up to the Italian Serie C, or up to the Primavera with the youth teams. The left winger will also be able to lead the women’s teams.
In a promotion with familiar faces
It was with the Italian National Technical Directorate that the former Marseille player passed his degree. In his class of around thirty trainees, other former professional footballers were also present. Including the former Inter Milan goalkeeper Samir Handanovic and some former internationals from the Squadra Azzura: Domenico Criscito and Allessandro Diamanti. And as a symbol, the valedictorian was Gianmarco Pioli, the son of Stefano Pioli, coach of AC Milan between 2019 and 2024 where he notably won the championship in 2022.
With this diploma obtained at the beginning of the week, it is a new step taken for the former captain of Fiorentina, who had already expressed his desire to coach, when he left Bayern. In 2019, before joining Italy, the 2006 world vice-champion had signed a reconversion clause with the Bavarians to take charge of a youth team. A few years later, Franck Ribéry had his first experience and joined the management of Salernitana to discover the role of assistant, assisting Paulo Sousa and Filippo Inzaghi in 2023.
- RMC Sport
