Massi aims to be a role model
MASSIMO DONATI hopes he can pass on the wisdom of Italian legends to youngsters at Hamilton Accies.
The 35-year-old has ambitions to be a manager in Scotland but for the moment he is concentrating on being a role model to his inexperienced team-mates.
Donati’s football education took place at clubs such as AC Milan, Torino and Sampdoria before he first came to Scotland when Celtic bought him in 2007.
He said: “When I was 20, I went to AC Milan and was in a big, big team and played with Paolo Maldini and Alessandro Costacurta.
“They were famous players and they were a tremendous example for me.
“It wasn’t just because they were good footballers, they were also good people in the way they lead their lives.
“They helped me a lot. That’s why I can still play at a high level because they showed me and they played for a lot of years, they played until their 40s. Maybe I can do that?
“I want to be an example to the players at Hamilton on and off the pitch.”
Accies are looking to avoid a third successive Premiership defeat when they host St Johnstone with afternoon.
Donati is fit to play despite sporting two black eyes after suffering a broken nose in the 4-2 defeat at Motherwell last week.
The midfielder watches some of the club’s youth teams to help his ambition of becoming a manager.
He said: “I go to watch Under-17s or Under-20s games because I need to be more confident with my English and I want to learn from the other coaches.
“I’ve had a lot of coaches in my career and I learned a lot from them.
“I have great ideas for after my playing career.
“I’ll maybe start here in Scotland as a manager and after that I don’t know where it will take me.
“I have my B-licence, I did that in Italy.
“Right now I’m enthusiastic to play, we just need to improve the results.
“I like to work during the week and I’m really enjoying it.
“I have to thank the rest of the guys and the gaffer because they’ve welcomed me to Hamilton.”