The striker who contributed to two saves and 17 goals in total bid farewell to Sampdoria at the end of his contract: “In the first leg I scored 9, then the technical choices…”. “Goals? If a team plays to win I give my best”
The king is free. Massimo Coda’s contract with Sampdoria has expired and, if the two saves (one in the playout) remain the minimum wage, the most shining memory is the record of 144 goals in Serie B. Who knows if someone will ever be born capable of surpassing him, knowing that he wants to improve it further. At 37 years old, with many goals still in the pipeline. Who knows where.
Let’s tell the truth: for her the only happy thing about this two-year period at Sampdoria was the record…
“Yes. It’s been a tough two years, fighting not to be relegated, something that the environment doesn’t accept. And neither do I: I’m more useful in a team that has always wanted to win, my history says so.”
Say goodbye to Genoa after wearing the shirts of the two teams: a photo for each?
“Promotion was easy at Genoa. At Samp, despite everything, I received love from the people.”
Sampdoria had the worst attack in Serie B with 35 goals: are their 9 more valuable?
“I scored all 9 goals in the first leg, then in the return I had few opportunities to score.”
In fact, zero goals in the second leg are an oddity.
“Partly due to a technical choice, partly due to a small injury, I was out (9 appearances, only 1 full match, ed.): shame, I would have reached 15 goals. But without the 9 from the first leg, who knows how it would have ended…”.
Paradoxically, in the year in which Serie B scored a record number of goals (973, the most in the 20-team tournament), you scored less. But he surpassed 135, Schwoch’s previous record.
“If a team plays to win, I give my best. If we don’t dominate the field, I suffer.”
In two seasons at Sampdoria he scored only 17 goals: could he have done more?
“There is also the playout against Salernitana, which doesn’t count for the record but which was important in saving us. I thought I would do better the first year, but we always created few opportunities.”
In fact, Samp, since they fell to Serie B, aren’t really getting things right…
“Whoever faces Sampdoria always puts something extra. We have often seen this on the pitch. Playing not to lose, we have become normal players, without being able to make an impact as we should do in a place like this. But there were no glaring errors on the part of the club: perhaps only Pirlo’s dismissal after just three games the first year.”
Was he already left without a contract?
“After Benevento, in the summer of Covid, I signed on 24 August with Lecce. Corvino called me after the relegation and I didn’t think twice: there perhaps I wrote the best page of my career”.
And now someone has already called her?
“No, but I hope to find a team before the retreat: I need to train with my teammates to get into shape immediately, without having to wait too long.”
At 37 years old, what can Coda still give?
“Look at my first 6 months of this season: with confidence I have shown that I can do it. I can score fifteen goals in a team that wants to win.”
Objective 150 to extend the record?
“Not much. I think it’s right to aim for 160.”
The most beautiful of all those marked, which one remains?
“All those flying.”
How does it feel to be in B’s history?
“I’m only enjoying it now. When I scored the record-breaking goal we had lost 3-1 in Bolzano: how could I celebrate? But my teammates, the following week, before a training session in Bogliasco, gave me the pasillo d’honor with applause, and a sponsor gave me a trip. It would have been fantastic to have broken the record with a winning goal at Marassi.”
“I fear Pohjanpalo (he’s at 74, ed.), but he should score four years above 20 goals… I made my debut at 26 and in ten years I made the record: who today scores 20 goals a year for 6-7 years and decides to stay in Serie B?”.
The strongest attacker you’ve seen in Serie B?
“I say Pio Esposito, so Salvatore is happy.”
A defender he hopes to never find again?
“Thank goodness Fabio Lucioni stopped.”
When he stops playing, he could teach youngsters how to score. Have you thought about it?
“I’ll think about it in 3 years. Now I have to score again.”
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