Italian Serie A: Ranking the 7 Returning Managers in the Top Flight

The tough thing about being a manager in Italy is that your job is on the line virtually every match you play.

Inter Milan last season were fighting for first when the winter break began. They had reached the Last 16 of the Champions League and were crowned the champions of the FIFA Club World Cup in December.

However, due to the fact that they were not in first place in Serie A, finished second in their Champions League group, and lost to 10-man AC Milan—first year manager Rafa Benitez, who had previously been the manager of Liverpool from 2004 to 2010, was fired.

There is never a safe moment as a Serie A manager.

Prior to, and during, the 2010-11 season, 28 changes were made at the helm of the 20 clubs.

Some managers were able to survive and find success. Whether it was a manager keeping a promoted team up and competitive or a boss making his team one of the most feared in Europe, there were successful managers in Italy last season.

So far this offseason, 11 of the 20 Serie A clubs have made managerial changes. Two coaches of promoted clubs are still with their teams. This is how the seven returning bosses match up to each other based on their effectiveness last season and work this offseason.

7. Roberto Donadoni (Cagliari)

The former Italian national team boss replaced AC Milan-bound Massimiliano Allegri at the helm of the Isolani.

Cagliari usually hover around the bottom half of the table and recently have been fighting relegation.

While this season they actually improved from 16th to 14th in the league, they actually finished a point worse than the year before.

It's been a rough time for Cagliari despite having the likes of Andrea Lazzarri and Davide Astori.

Part of the blame for last year's poor performance can be traced back to Federico Marchetti's drop to third-string goalkeeper after a transfer request in the summer of 2010. This move severely hurt the club.

To be honest, I am very surprised Donadoni kept his job.

6. Siniša Mihajlović (Fiorentina)

Mihajlovic became the new manager of La Viola last summer after Cesare Prandelli accepted the job as the national team coach for Italy.

With so many quality teams neck and neck at the top half of the table, it was difficult for anybody to gain position around the Europa League zone.

It did not help the club at all that Stevan Jovetic was out the entire season. The now-21-year-old scored 11 goals in 37 games in the 2009-10 season. This included five goals in six games during the Champions League.

Mihajlovic's club was able to return to the top half of Serie A this season, though this was made easier by not having any European competitions to play and their Last 16 exit from Coppa Italia (a step backwards from their semifinal appearance in 2008-09).

The season was not a great one, but it was not enough to cost Mihajlovic his job. This season could prove a challenge, but Fiorentina have a shot at at least competing for a Europa League spot.

5. Franco Colomba (Parma)

Serie A is stronger than it was even two seasons ago. The league is much stronger and more competitive.

It was not very hard for promoted Parma to finish eighth in 2009-10, but their 12th place finish in 2010-11 was not awful given the strength of the league.

Colomba's team hit a rough patch about halfway through the season, but the club picked it up at the end. He was able to save his job at the end. In the club's last nine games, Parma won five and drew two. Their last loss came to Lazio on April 10th with still about a month and a half to go. That hot run at the end included wins against Inter, Palermo, Udinese and Juventus.

This late spark saved Colomba's job. This summer has helped the club as well. A co-ownership has been worked out between Parma and Juventus for Sebastian Giovinco after he scored seven goals on loan last season. The club has also brought in Manuele Blasi and young talent such as former Chelsea youngster Fabio Borini.

Parma could return to the top half of the table this season.

4. Edoardo Reja (Lazio)

Lazio made a big improvement with Reja on the sideline last season. After a 12th-place finish in 2009-10, the Roman squad qualified for the UEFA Europa League and just missed out on a spot in the Champions League.

At one point, the club was four points up in the league ahead of Inter Milan early in the season, but they were unable to stay at the top for long.

Though they did not stay in Champions League position at the end, it was a great season for Lazio, and Reja is back with the intention of not only qualifying for the Champions League, but winning the league title as well.

Lazio fans can be very excited with the work Reja has done this offseason. The club is welcoming in notable signings Bayern Munich star Miroslav Klose, Young Boys' standout Senad Lulic, Cagliari want-away Federico Marchetti, French sensation Dijbril Cisse and quality defensive midfielder Lorik Cana. Lazio are prepped for a big run this year.

3. Walter Mazzarri (Napoli)

Napoli nearly crept in for the title this year. They certainly made things scary for Milan and Inter at the top of the table.

Napoli qualified for the Europa League in Mazzarri's first season at the charge and improved to third this season and a spot in the Group Stage of the UEFA Champions League.

The club have done a good job this offseason of holding on to key elements such as captain Marek Hamsik, who was reported at one time to be AC Milan's "Mr.X."

It has been a solid summer for Mazzarri and company as they have brought in several players, including Gokhan Inler and Daniele Mannini.

2. Francesco Guidolin (Udinese)

Guidolin returned to the top post at Udinese this season after also managing the team in the 1998-99 season when the Zebrette finished sixth in Serie A. That was a regression from the season before when the club finished third in '97-98.

This year marked one of the greatest turnarounds in a long time by any club.

Udinese finished 15th in Serie A in 2009-10. That would not be the case this past season. Now, Udinese are a force to be reckoned with.

Guidolin added two key players to the team for 2010-11 in Mehdi Benatia and Pablo Amero, who both helped Udinese improve vastly from '09-10.

Of course, Guidolin did have the luxury of Antonio di Natale and Alexis Sanchez up top. Their 28 and 12 goals respectively led Udinese to the UEFA Champions League playoff round for this season, their first time in the Champions League since playing in the Group Stage in the 2005-06 season.

Even with Alexis Sanchez likely on his way to Barcelona, Udinese have brought in a couple young, talented players to compliment the squad, including Danilo, Abdoul Sissoko, Barreto and Thierry Doubai.

Guidolin brought long awaited success to the club and that success should only continue for Udinese with him at the helm.

1. Massimiliano Allegri (AC Milan)

This is an obvious choice as Allegri held his side together to win Serie A for the first time in seven years.

Allegri joined as a surprise hire in the summer of 2010 after leaving the post at Cagliari. He worked tirelessly with the administration to bring in top talent to revive a struggling team.

With the additions of Kevin-Prince Boateng, Mario Yepes, Robinho and Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the summer followed by Mark Van Bommel and Antonio Cassano in the winter, Milan became the dominant force in Italy, beating their rivals Inter 3-0 in April and having the best defense en route to the Scudetto.

Allegri's best quality, in my opinion, was his ability to handle so many personalities with the likes of Ibrahimovic, Robinho, Antonio Cassano, Alexandre Pato and Gennaro Gattuso, especially with those first four who are all forwards. He had to manage four of the best attackers in Italy and figure out how to keep them all happy, use them efficiently and find a formation to best utilize his entire squad and make them the best they could be.

The sort of 4-1-2-1-2 Allegri worked with was the best way to use everybody and made Milan the best club in Italy. They look as good, if not better, this year, as they have brought in Philippe Mexes, Taye Taiwo, Alberto Paloschi and Stephan El Shaarawy and are still working on getting Riccardo Montolivo and Ganso.