Stefano Cusin (born 28 October 1968) is an Italian football manager and former player who is the manager of South Sudan national team. He gained international prominence as coach in Europe: France, Italy, Bulgaria, England; in Africa: Cameroon, Congo and Libya; In Asia: Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates. He was most recently assistant manager of Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Football League Championship and coach of Shahr Khodro in Persian Gulf Pro League.
He speaks Italian, French, and English.
Early managerial career
Cusin had, from the beginning, a varied managerial career. In France and Italy he trained a young players' team for seven years, winning many championships. Soon after he moved to Cameroon. In 2003, in fact, the Cameroonian Football Federation of Africa invited him to organize a workshop for coaches and to train the under-17 and under-20 soccer players teams. He believed that in a country known for its big athletic potential, the correct tactical plan could make it more competitive. He first selected players with high athletic qualities, taught them a variety of technical tactics, and then he worked on their winning positive feelings.
Manager career
Transfers
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Cameroon 2003–2006
In 2003, in fact, the Cameroonian Football Federation of Africa invited him to organize a workshop for coaches and to train the under-17 and under-20 soccer players teams. He believed that in a country known for its big athletic potential, the correct tactical plan could make it more competitive. He first selected players with high athletic qualities, taught them a variety of technical tactics, and then he worked on their winning positive feelings.
The first experience was a real success and Mr Henry Njalla Quan the chairman of The Njalla Quan Sports Academy (Acada Sports) based in Limbé asked him to keep on working as the Technical Director of Cameroon for the following three years, in joint venture with one of the best Club in Italy for the youth programme, Empoli Football Club. His team was one of the different National Teams taking part to the different international competitions, Torneo di Viareggio ( Italy) – the best tournament in the world for the under 21, in 2004 (Team Cameroon) and 2005 (Acada Sports).The 11 February 2004 Team Cameroon start the tournament with a remarkable draw against the strong Fiorentina 0–0, and five days later against Modena 1–1. The 27 February 2005 Acada Sports win against the Bulgarian Team Naftex Burgas 3–1, for the first time one team from Africa won this important tournament and on 29 February 2005 there was a draw against Italian giants Inter Milan, played a very amazing game.
During the Viareggio tournament some players of his team have been contacted by different agents. They then decided to leave the team in order to play in different Italian professional clubs like Maa boumsong (Inter Milan), Matute (Udinese); Bayang bang (Bellinzona, Switzerland), Etogo (Greece) and Mapoka (TP 47 in Finland). During the " Tournoi de l’Amitié 2006" under 21 in Cotonou (Bénin) his team reached the semi-final against Ghana, after having beaten Togo (1–0), Nigeria( 4–0), Ivory Cost(2–1) and drawn with Congo(1–1). He was then contacted by the vice President of the Congo Football Federation and some months later the tournament, where his team played a real good football, the Congo Football Federation proposed him the role of Technical Director for all National teams.
In occasion of the World Cup in Germany 2006, he was filmed by the ARD the Deuch T.V. His Africa story became the little movie "Kick to Goal".
Congo
In 2007, he signed a two years contract as the National Technical Director of the National Team of Congo. He was responsible of all the National Teams (under 17 to Olympique Team); in 2007 the Congo Team won the under 20 Africa Cup with coach Hudansky and play the World Cup under 20 in Canada. In March 2008 he left Congo because the Federation wasn't paying his salary.
Botev Plovdiv
In 2008, he moved to Bulgaria to train the Bulgaria Premier League Team, Botev Plovdiv for a 6-month contract. The Team played a pretty good football during the camp in Italy against important teams of the Italian Serie A (Catania, Siena, Empoli, Foggia). During the game Botev Plovdiv – Catania, played in Assisi on 24 July 2008, he met "the legend of Inter" Walter Zenga, the former head coach of Catania Team. In October he was sacked by the club