Rita Guarino
Italian footballer and manager
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Maria Rita Guarino (Italian pronunciation: [maˈriːa ˈriːta ɡwaˈriːno]; born 31 January 1971) is an Italian professional football manager and former player who is currently the head coach of Women's Super League club West Ham United. As a player, she represented the Italy national team as a striker.
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Guarino in 2019 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Maria Rita Guarino | ||
| Date of birth | 31 January 1971 | ||
| Place of birth | Turin, Italy | ||
| Position | Striker | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | West Ham United | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1985–1992 | Juventus Piedmont | ||
| 1986–1987 | → Torino (loan) | 4 | (1) |
| 1992–1993 | Reggiana | 29 | (15) |
| 1993–1996 | Fiammamonza | 58 | (38) |
| 1994–1995 | → Torres (loan) | 25 | (19) |
| 1996–1998 | Cascine Vica | 56 | (27) |
| 1998–2000 | Torres | 48 | (72) |
| 2000 | Maryland Pride | 7 | (8) |
| 2000–2001 | Lazio | ||
| 2001–2002 | Foroni Verona | 23 | (35) |
| 2002–2006 | Torres | ||
| International career | |||
| 1991–2004 | Italy | 99 | (35) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2008–2015 | Italy U17 (assistant) | ||
| 2015–2017 | Italy U17 | ||
| 2017–2021 | Juventus | ||
| 2021–2024 | Inter Milan | ||
| 2025– | West Ham United | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Playing career
Throughout her career she played as a striker for Juventus, Torino, Reggiana, Fiammamonza, Torres, Lazio and Foroni Verona in Serie A, and Maryland Pride in the W-League.[1]
She was a member of the Italian national team, and took part in the 1991 and 1999 World Cups,[2] and the 1993, 1997 and 2001 European Championships. She scored Italy's last goal in the 1991 World Cup, forcing the extra time in the quarterfinals against Norway. She again scored a goal against Norway in the 2001 Euro.[3]
Managerial career
Italy youth
Since 2015, Guarino has served as Italy's under-17 national team's assistant manager[4] and Manager of Football – Individual Training System.[5]
Juventus
On 16 June 2017, Guarino was appointed as head coach of Serie A Femminile club Juventus.[6] She led the team to their first ever Scudetto: both Juventus and Brescia finished the season tied at 60 points at the top of the league, thus making a tie-breaker necessary. On 20 May 2018, Juventus beat Brescia 5–4 after the penalty shoot-out, winning their first championship in their debut season in the league.[7][8]
In the 2018–19 season, Guarino led Juventus to the victory won their second consecutive league title and their first Coppa Italia. The following campaign, Juventus won their first Supercoppa Italiana and their third consecutive league title. In the 2020–21 season, Juventus won their second Supercoppa Italiana and their fourth consecutive league title, making a perfect season with 22 victories out 22.[9] On 21 May 2021, Guarino announced that she would leave Juventus at end of the season.[10]
Inter Milan
On 17 June 2021, Guarino was appointed as head coach of Serie A club Inter Milan.[11]
On 29 June 2024, she terminated her contract with the club by mutual consent.[12]
West Ham United
On 22 December 2025, Guarino was appointed as head coach of Women's Super League side West Ham United, signing an 18-month contract with the club.[13][14]
Personal life
In 2017, she co-authored the book Train in women's football. Technical, tactical, physical aspects and estimates.[15]
Career statistics
Managerial
- As of matches played 16 May 2026
| Team | From | To | Record | Ref | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % | ||||
| Italy U17 | September 2015 | June 2017 | 18 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 35 | 20 | +15 | 38.89 | [16] |
| Juventus | 16 June 2017 | 23 May 2021 | 83 | 74 | 5 | 4 | 255 | 50 | +205 | 89.16 | [17][citation needed] |
| Inter Milan | 17 June 2021 | 30 June 2024 | 70 | 32 | 11 | 27 | 23 | 12 | +11 | 45.71 | [citation needed] |
| West Ham United | 22 December 2025 | Present | 13 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 15 | 23 | −8 | 38.46 | |
| Total | 184 | 118 | 24 | 42 | 328 | 105 | +223 | 64.13 | |||
Honours
Manager
Juventus
Publications
- Allenare nel calcio femminile. Aspetti tecnici, tattici, fisici e preventivi. Italy: Sport. 2017. ISBN 978-8898889662.