Caesar and Manuela Cori 
A nice article from 'Republic' on a big man with a big heart: Cesare Prandelli
"My Life Without Manuela
between soccer, children and God," CREST-
DARIO DINA
FLORENCE - This is the story of a man and a woman. As there are many. It is the story of a love. As there are sometimes. It is the story of a pain. Like those that sooner or later because we crashing down there can be no life without pain. His name is Cesare Prandelli. He has fifty years. At the end of eighth grade he wanted to enroll in art school, found himself instead surveyor because his mother tells him: the diploma, Caesar, diploma ... He wanted to become an architect because he always liked to think, create, build something. Even just an idea. Did the player instead. Juventus won the Scudetto and a cup a few samples, it was destroyed knees and stopped early, without cheating, to thirty years. Today is the coach of Fiorentina, but here if they could they would do mayor, president of all the places where there is a president, and why not, even the pope and saint, course immediately.
The woman called Manuela Caffi, is his wife. She died at lunchtime on 26 November last year. He had forty-five. That day was a Monday, the day when players and coaches are resting. "Until ten o'clock on Sunday was very lucid. I and my children during the last hours we got into bed with her. Embrace it, caressed, talked to her constantly. The medical treatment of pain, which she called his angels we have explained that the terminally ill to lose the last sense of hearing, but only recognize the voices of family members, those strangers are transformed into a ping. Porto in me his last words. But I can not tell you, to get them out. It's too hard. "
After three months the first time that Cesare Prandelli has agreed to tell his Manuela. In the meeting room of the center of Florence. A white t-shirt and an orange sweater, the physicist as a boy, the look on faith that leads to the finger, a glass of water on the table that suddenly capsized and he goes in the closet, take a rag and wipes the floor kneel. It has to start somewhere, somehow.
We
from the ground, his. From Orzinuovi, province of Brescia.
"From there we start and there, return. Where I was born and raised, where I still live in my parents' house. Dad died that I was sixteen, Mom is with me. A Orzinuovi are Caesar's all. There is the Piazza Vittorio Emanuele, a beautiful square with arcades. Manuela I met there, the bar on a Sunday afternoon. I played in B with Cremonese, I came back from the game, I felt like a hot chocolate. She was with her friend, we just looked at, we loved it. The next day I went with an excuse to get her to school. I was eighteen, she does not even fifteen. We never left. "
When you got married?
" '82. I was at Juve. My witnesses were Antonio Cabrini and Domenico Pezzolla, my partner in Cremona. Now is the peddler, sells cheese.
never a crisis, never a betrayal?
"In thirty years we had a fight once, because of a tennis racket. If you ask me if I put the horns to say no. If for treason instead means not sharing a choice and an idea, then the I say yes, sometimes I think I did. In rearing children, for example. At this level I will always be in default in respect of my wife. "
Fathers and sons, what he learned from his parents?
"From my father's respect for those who work, I hope you did mine. From my mother, the physicality of love, not ashamed to love each other. Demonstrated with heart, head, hands."
And what is love?
"I think there are different types of love. That for a woman, that for kids, for friends. I found that many people are afraid to love, afraid to live love. Why you have to give in love, you have to be unselfish. Perhaps it is easier not to love. We are often prisoners of our selfishness. "
What has taught Manuela?
" Everything. I always have empty pockets, not a penny. Never used the ATM, the money she gave them to me. A few days ago I was forced to borrow fifty euro by a member of the company to make gasoline. I have not even used ... Manuela has taught me to use words. She said, Caesar, the most important thing is knowing what you want. Ask himself or herself and have the courage to give responses. When I became head of youth dell'Atalanta seemed to touch the sky with a finger. Then they offered me the Lecce. I said I'd try, but only if you come with me. The children were small. Come on, he said, but promise me that you keep our children off from the world of football. "
her who do not like her in this world?
" The aggravation, the controversy, processes, arrogance, stupidity , oblivion. I had fun when I played more, including team-mates after the games we attended, the training sessions. Shuffled our solitude. Today's players do a lot less. This world has given employment to many, but many take themselves too seriously. Yet you do a job you like, give you a lot of money, you're privileged. Live a life that is not normal. If I have a quality is the ability to choose my own habits of mind. I can not adopt a mode of being that is not mine. I can not pretend to bite my tongue, to put on the record of hypocrisy. "
often talked about politics, you and your wife?
" Soon. I voted for the left more than once, at one point I had sympathy for the center. I've been a wavering, as you see. I would like a free political ideology. Do not ask me more. I am not prepared. "
She is rich?
" I'm very, very well. But wealth does not interest me. I would the financial security of my children. Nicholas has twenty-three years, studies of managers of sport. Carolina has twenty-one, he loves to dance and literature of the University. I do not want to be rich. I want to win something, yes. "
They told me that before taking Capello, Juventus wanted her as a coach. In front of the desk Moggi she fired a high demand, Moggi got up, shook her hand and said goodbye. Is it true?
"Yes. I signed for Juve in white, but I knew that I would not be caught. I asked that figure to go to find their cards. Not caught me, as I had anticipated. "
When you are sick Manuela?
"Seven years ago. Coached the Venice. A lump in one breast. It seemed routine. Operation in Brescia. Less than two years after a problem with a lymph node. New Task, several metastasis, chemotherapy. A disaster."
The Rome for a few months, then resigned. Why?
"Manuel wanted to stay at home. We made a deal, I said that if the treatment had been invasive every minute I was at his side. She was my priority. His life was my life. I went Orzinuovi. Many were surprised for me it was a natural choice. Football sometimes is afraid of normalcy. "
There was a time when he believed that Manuel would be saved?
"Yes, after Paris and an unending ordeal of chemotherapy. The doctors gave us much hope. She was better. We came to Florence. For nearly three years, things went well. Last spring, the situation is suddenly plunged in May, the tumor has affected the liver. It was the beginning of the end. Since then the fight was only against the pain, a devastating pain, no more sickness.
Who else you asked for help over the years?
"In God We went to Spello, by Brother Elias. Long, sweet talks. Prayer sessions. Exciting, moving. Manuel I, the two boys. I have faith, the habit of prayer. She was rather a bit 'as St. Thomas, but the meeting with Brother Elias was extraordinary. This has changed. I believe that without him my Manu would die first. "
Now how are you?
" Sto. Almost all my family came to Florence, breath when I'm with Caroline and Nicholas. We try to figure out how to start with. They give me the relief camp, the boys games. Alone I feel lost. "
And he thinks that will remain alone?
" Now I can only say yes. I can not imagine another woman beside her. I think a person we loved so much continues to live inside of us until we die to ourselves. "
In Florence, the main road leading to the stadium is called Viale dei Mille. For a long stretch in every tree is hung a billboard Association tumors of Tuscany. Depicts Cesare Prandelli on the grass of the field. It is in blue jacket and purple cardigan. Does not smile. With his right arm salutes the fans of the curve Fiesole. It's his way of saying thanks.
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