GIAN PIERO GASPERINI SIMPLY PROVED HIS INCOMPETENCE

If ever there was some mystique around the manager of a club that won in dramatic fashion the Euro only a year ago, it has just been dissolved in a fleeting moment of madness. The whole world now knows that Gian Piero Gasperini, Atalanta's head coach, is nothing but an incompetent leader and, quite simply, a simpleton. Gian Piero Gasperini’s vile public criticism of his own player, Nigerian striker and the reigning African footballer Ademola Lookman, who only last year single-handedly won him the biggest trophy of his career scoring a stunning hat-trick in the process.

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Following a 3-1 defeat to Club Brugge on February 19, 2025, which led to Atalanta's elimination from the Champions League with a 5-2 aggregate loss, Gasperini branded the reigning African footballer, Lookman, as "one of the worst penalty takers" after he missed a crucial penalty that could have bolstered their comeback efforts. Gasperini claimed that other players, such as Charles De Ketelaere and Mateo Retegui, should have taken the penalty instead. If Lookman was not supposed to take the penalty, that responsibility falls on the coaching staff and team hierarchy, not just the player. Additionally, Lookman has been a crucial performer for Atalanta, making the attack on his ability look disproportionate.??

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Gasperini’s frustration might have been understandable in the heat of the moment, but his public criticism was harsh and controversial. While it is plausible that a coach would be frustrated after a costly penalty miss, publicly labelling his player as "one of the worst penalty takers" was beyond excessive and risks damaging the confidence of a key player. He obviously doesn’t understand that it’s his responsibility to ensure that his instructions are properly communicated to and complied with by his players.

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In response, Lookman issued a written statement expressing his disappointment, asserting that being singled out in such a manner was “hurtful and deeply disrespectful,” especially given his hard work and commitment to the team. He also insisted that he took the penalty based on the instruction of the designated taker and suggested that he had always given his best for the team. His response was intelligent and measured, focusing on his commitment rather than escalating the conflict.??

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As of the time of writing, there has been no public statement from Mateo Retegui regarding the penalty incident involving Ademola Lookman. The reasons for his silence are not officially known. It's possible that internal team protocols discourage players from discussing such matters publicly, or Retegui may prefer to handle the situation privately to maintain team cohesion. Without an official statement, any explanation would be speculative.?If there were internal protocols about handling such situations privately, Gasperini himself broke that protocol by publicly blaming Lookman. By making the penalty dispute public, the coach essentially invited scrutiny into the club’s backroom arrangements, including how penalty takers are designated and whether Lookman truly acted outside the rules.??

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Even worse, he has saddled his other players Mateo Retegui and Charles De Ketelaere as well as the club with the burden of having to clarify whether Lookman did have his approval to take the penalty. If Retegui did indeed give Lookman the green light, then his silence allows the narrative of Lookman as a reckless decision-maker to persist, which is very unfair. On the other hand, if Lookman had acted without approval, then a statement from Retegui would justify Gasperini’s criticism. At this point, for the sake of team unity and transparency, a clarification from Retegui or the club would be the logical next step. Otherwise, it leaves Lookman unfairly singled out while the real internal dynamics remain hidden.

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While there's no direct evidence that racism played a role in Gasperini’s criticism of Lookman, the way the situation has unfolded raises questions about potential double standards and unconscious bias. Good coaches always protect their players after mistakes, especially in a high-stakes game. By going out of his way to publicly slate Lookman’s ability as an individual player, rather than framing it as a team failure, Gasperini merely puts his incompetence beyond doubt.

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Lessons from the experience

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As with all such unfortunate events, there are lessons for players, coaches as well as for clubs themselves. Players should ensure there is clarity on their roles to avoid being scapegoated in controversial moments.??If a player follows team instructions, they should be ready to defend themselves professionally, as Lookman has.?Relying on teammates and clubs for backing is crucial. A strong dressing room culture should ensure no player is unfairly blamed. For officials, particularly in Europe, if a coach criticises a player, it should be based on clear team policy and applied evenly to all players, regardless of race or nationality.?Top coaches shield their players in public and only address team issues in the locker room. This approach builds trust and prevents unnecessary controversy.??

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There are also specific lessons for Gasperini here. As a coach, he failed woefully in his pastoral duty in this instance. A key responsibility of a manager or coach is to protect his players publicly, even when they make mistakes, and address issues internally. Gasperini not only exposed Lookman to public scrutiny but also harshly labelled him as "one of the worst penalty takers," which goes beyond constructive criticism and into public humiliation of a player who has been a crucial performer for the club. By publicly shaming him instead of taking responsibility for the team's failure, Gasperini risked damaging the confidence of an important player. The mantra is “Defend in Public, Critique in Private.”?Also, if Lookman truly took the penalty without authorisation, the proper response would have been an internal discussion, not an emotional outburst to the media.?Furthermore, rather than framing the loss as a team failure, Gasperini fostered division rather than reinforcing team spirit.??

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Whilst not inferring racism in this particular case, football needs to confront that unconscious bias that leads to black players being treated more harshly than white players in similar situations.??If Gasperini’s criticism was based purely on footballing reasons, it was still excessive and damaging to Lookman’s reputation. But if racial bias—conscious or unconscious—played a role, it merely highlights the ongoing challenges Black players face in European football and the urgent need for fairer treatment.

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Where Gasperini Failed as a Coach

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Many top managers, like Sir Alex Ferguson, Fabio Capello, Zinedine Zidane, Carlo Ancelotti, and Jose Mourinho defend their players publicly, even after mistakes, and address issues internally. This protects the player’s confidence while maintaining discipline.?Equally, rather than blaming Lookman, Gasperini could have accepted responsibility for the penalty situation being unclear and focused on overall team improvement. And if he had any concerns about Lookman’s penalty-taking ability, he could have framed it as a learning moment rather than an attack on the player's competence.??Ultimately, Gasperini’s handling of the situation was not just unprofessional—it was also counterproductive. A good coach builds players up, even after mistakes, not than tearing them down in the public eye. The best coaches not only get results on the pitch but also create environments where players feel valued, supported, and inspired.??

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For context, I thought worthwhile comparing the career successes of Gian Piero Gasperini and Ademola Lookman; evaluating their achievements relative to their peers in their respective roles. Gasperini's tenure as a professional footballer was at best modest. He spent his career primarily in Italy's lower divisions, with a brief period in Serie A after Pescara's promotion in 1987. His playing career was not marked by any significant individual accolades or major trophies. However, as a manager, he has achieved notable success as a coach, particularly with Atalanta. Under his leadership, Atalanta secured a third-place finish in Serie A for three consecutive seasons (2018–19 to 2020–21), consistently qualifying for the UEFA Champions League. The pinnacle of his managerial career came in the 2023–24 season when Atalanta, thanks to the individual brilliance of the same Lookman, who scored a hat-trick, won the UEFA Europa League, marking the club's first major European trophy.

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Conversely, Lookman's career trajectory has been on a remarkable upward curve. Starting in England's lower leagues with Charlton Athletic, he progressed to the Premier League with Everton and had stints with RB Leipzig, Fulham, and Leicester City. His move to Atalanta in 2022 marked a significant turning point. In the 2023–24 season he was instrumental in Atalanta's Europa League triumph, scoring a hat-trick in the final. His performances earned him the African Footballer of the Year award in 2024, and he was named in the UEFA Europa League Team of the Season for 2023–24. Additionally, he played a crucial role in Nigeria's journey to the Africa Cup of Nations final in 2023 and was included in the tournament's Best XI. Ademola Lookman isn’t just one of the top African players in Europe—he is one of the most in-form and impactful players in European football, period.??

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In summary, although both have made significant strides in their respective careers, Ademola Lookman's recent accomplishments and accolades as a player indicate a more distinguished level of success relative to his peers than Gian Piero Gasperini's overall career achievements.?

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Kachi Okezie, Esq is sports lawyer.