The Under-21 head coach at the Scopigno and Pulici awards: “They see youngsters as a problem and older players as a guarantee”. Viscidi insists: “The future will be much better than the present”
It is all very well talking about emerging talents in Serie A. Make way for youth. Blissful youth on the front covers. Young players on the attack. But who is working behind them every single day? When the Under-21 head coach Silvio Baldini and Frosinone manager Massimiliano Alvini walked into the CONI Hall of Honour this morning for the presentation of the “Manlio Scopigno” and “Felice Pulici” awards, alongside FIGC president Giovanni Malagò, all the talk about talent lost any hint of rhetoric. Because they are the credible faces of a supply chain that is sometimes invisible.
DISCIPLINE
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It was Alvini himself, the man pushing the Frosinone phenomenon up the table and moulding youngsters of the calibre of Raimondo, Amey, Calvani and Cicchella, who said: “There are talented young players in our league,” explained the Frosinone coach, who received the “Scopigno” award as best Serie B manager of last season, “they just need to be played. Raimondo is a lad who is on a developmental path, the senior national team may come for him in four months, or in a year, the important thing is that he carries on like this. My Frosinone side are working well. There is only one key word: discipline. And I would add that our Serie A is not as mediocre as some claim; for me it is an attractive and underrated tournament.” Under-21 head coach Silvio Baldini, who has built a career around young players and received the special “Manlio Scopigno – Felice Pulici” award for Italy’s image worldwide, underlined with his trademark bluntness: “The problem is the executives, not the raw material. There are executives who follow the logic of profit and visibility, they do not look to see if a lad is talented and can be an important asset. They see young players as a problem and older ones as a guarantee. Instead, let us give credit to coaches like Maurizio Viscidi, who has done a great job in the youth national teams.” And Viscidi himself, coordinator of Italy’s youth national teams and also among the award winners, added: “We have good players. At youth national team level, we have been European champions for three years. We need to teach the lads moral values and the game. Youth football is delivering great results, the future will be much better than the present, we have youngsters who will change the face of the national team.”
ANALYSIS
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FIGC president Malagò then took a broad look at the youth issue, inevitably linked with the recent results of Italian sides in Europe: “Italian football came out of the last round of the Champions League in pieces,” he said, “let us hope this week brings different results, but it is so far removed, shall we say, from that level. But I am always rather wary of these directors who often pass cutting judgements on technical matters. Of course, when four Champions League teams all lose, it gives you food for thought, but it is not just about the ranking points. I do not think that is the true picture of our football. Then you saw the next day that the two teams in the Europa League and the one in the Conference did well. What concrete steps can be taken? Things are being done; there is a management movement starting precisely from Club Italia and involving Gianfranco Zola.”
APPLAUSE
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Also receiving the special award for Italy’s image worldwide, alongside Baldini and Viscidi, were Italy women’s head coach Andrea Soncin, Marco Materazzi and Gennaro Gattuso (2006 World Cup winners, not present) and Davide Frattesi (not present) with the “Scopigno Cup Hall of Fame” recognition. There was applause too for Roma’s youngest Primavera coach, Mattia Scala. Alongside him, the joint recipients of the “Scopigno” award were Cesc Fàbregas (the Como head coach sent a video message of thanks) and Inter boss Cristian Chivu as the best Serie A managers of last season; Donyell Malen (not present) of Roma as best Serie A player; Giovanni Stroppa (Venezia) as best Serie B manager; Joel Pohjanpalo (Palermo) as best Serie B player; Pantaleo Corvino (Lecce) Manager of the Year; Valentino Angeloni (Fiorentina) best youth academy director; Mirvan Suwarso (Como) best president of the year (he sent a video message) and Lautaro Martínez of Inter (video message) best Serie A forward. Meanwhile, the winners of the national “Felice Pulici” awards were Roma goalkeeper Mile Svilar (not present) and Serie B goalkeeper Filip Stankovic (Venezia).
This article was originally written in Italian by La Gazzetta dello Sport editor. The English version has been generated using AI translation tools. If you notice any translation errors or have suggestions, please contact us at iniziativegazzetta@rcs.it
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