Johan Walem has not coached since 2022 and his time at the head of RSCA Women. His last men’s club, however, dates from 2016, and yet, he maintains good popularity in Italy!
Johan Walem (52 years old) will he get an opportunity that came out of nowhere from Italy? The former RSCA Women coach, free since 2022, seems in any case to remain popular in the Boot, where he played from 1997 to 2000, then from 2003 to 2005.
While Udinese parted ways with their coach Fabio Cannavaro after just two months, the Gazzetta dello sport indeed makes Walem one of the options considered by the Frioul club. Cannavaro arrived at the end of April with the mission of keeping Udine in Serie A.
Johan Walem to succeed Cannavaro?
After three draws and two victories, the 2006 Ballon d’Or won its bet, Udinese finishing 15th and saving themselves in the last minute. But Cannavaro was not extended. The legendary former Juventus and Real Madrid defender was having his second experience in Italy after Benevento in 2023, having coached Guangzhou Evergrande from 2017 to 2021.
There Gazzetta Dello Sport does not, however, make Johan Walem the favorite to succeed Fabio Cannavaro. The main candidates would be Vincenzo Vivarinicoach of Catanzaro in Serie B who came very close to promotion, and Eusebio DiFrancescocoach of Frosinone, 18th and relegated from Serie A.
For Johan Walem, it would be unexpected: since 2016 and the end of his lease at KV Kortrijk, the former Red Devil (36 caps) has no longer managed a men’s club. He led the Belgian Espoirs, notably during the 2019 U21 Euro in Italy, before taking charge of the Cyprus national team in 2020-2021. His last experience was at RSCA Women, where he won the Belgian champion title in 2022.
