Before Italy’s friendly tomorrow evening at Cagliari’s “Sardegna Arena”, against San Marino, the FIGC organised a Partner Day at the Forte Village. The hotel is hosting the National Team ahead of the Euros and welcomed representatives of the FIGC’s business partners, who spent two days living side-by-side with the Azzurri. 

During the workshop, the FIGC welcomed its guests in the splendid setting of the Santa Margherita di Pula structure: yesterday, aperitivi were drunk by the pool and a gala dinner was held, at which President Gabriele Gravina was present. Today was a working morning: after training, the Team Building “Creating a Winning Team” exercise unfolded, with first-team Head Coach Roberto Mancini giving the introduction. He recounted his experience in the Azzurri’ dug-out and revealed the steps taken to build a winning National team, from the make-up of the squad to the staff members hired.

Italy's Delegation Head, Gianluca Vialli, then talked about the identity of the team and the sense of belonging that we feel towards the shirt. Vialli, through an unbreakable working bond with Roberto Mancini, has over the years helped build a group that shows quality and enthusiasm, just like the Italian team that he represented himself in the 1980s and 1990s. 

FIGC general secretary, Marco Brunelli, and secretary of Club Italia, Mauro Vladovich, had the task of outlining the organism that unites all the national teams and explaining how this work is managed, from the technical to the medical side. Maurizio Viscidi, National Youth Team Coordinator, talked about the importance of ‘building the youth teams’. Former referee and current coordinator of CAN’s institutional work, Gianluca Rocchi, spoke about the refereeing team, whilst the Chief of Business Operations, Giovanni Valentini, closed the workshop by giving an idea of the organisation that has gone into Euro 2020 and Casa Azzurri. 

“Within our Federation, the team is the key,” said FIGC President Gabriele Gravina. “For this reason, two years ago, we began a full restructuring of Italian football, strengthening the National Teams’ staffing and setting up a new relationship with fans and sponsors. The Azzurri represent pride, a bond shared by all Italians, so we are particularly happy that various companies wanted to share this journey of value and values with us.”

Through this endeavour, the FIGC wanted to strengthen its links with the business partners that have invested in the National Team and in the whole organisation through the long journey that has led them to this Euros, for which Italian fans have high hopes.

After this workshop is over, the business partners will also head to the Sardegna Arena to watch the friendly between Italy and San Marino.