On the 65th anniversary of its foundation, the Coverciano Federal Technical Centre has decided to open its doors to the students of the IS F. Morano in Caivano, thus inaugurating an innovative school-work alternation project. The home of the National Teams, which, over the years, has increasingly become a place of education by hosting courses for various professionals within the game, will now accommodate a series of fortnightly 'internships', through which the students will be introduced to the hospitality profession in the hotel/tourism sector.

When Luciano Spalletti’s men next meet up, they’ll encounter two new staff members from the IS F.Morano, who will be working as room attendants. The project will continue until February with groups of four youngsters: two will be employed as room attendants, while the other two will occupy the positions of chef and receptionist. The students will be supervised by a tutor from within the federal structure and stay at the Coverciano holiday home, with the Federation paying for board, lodging and travel costs.

The collaboration was officially launched today with the visit of 46 students from Campania accompanied by their headmistress, Eugenia Carfora. They were welcomed to the Federal Technical Centre by FIGC General Secretary Marco Brunelli and Azzurri Delegation Head Gianluigi Buffon.

“Playing by the rules, integration, inclusion, sustainability and fighting against all forms of discrimination are values that have always been part of our federation's DNA. Today, I’m very happy to welcome you on behalf of Italian football, which the FIGC represents,” said Marco Brunelli as he addressed the students in the Great Hall. He continued: “This is the home of the Italian National Teams, and today is doubly important: to mark the 65th anniversary of the Federical Technical Centre, we are launching this collaboration. I wish you all the best for the future, and we hope to contribute to your development as professionals.”

“We’ve received a wonderful welcome,” said headmistress Eugenia Carfora. “Above all, I see joy in my students’ eyes today. The fact that it was the federation who came to us makes me even happier. My heartfelt thanks go to the FIGC.”

Looking at the youngsters in front of him, Gianluigi Buffon had the following to say: “I want to tell you that freedom is a value that has been given to us and we must defend it. The best thing is to nurture this freedom, to dream. Culture helps you to be happier people because you acquire tools that will be useful to you later in life.”

With the contribution of Federcalcio Servizi, the FIGC has begun a process of renovating and strengthening the Technical Centre, something which involves increasingly opening it up to the outside world. In 2020, at the instigation of President Gabriele Gravina, the facility housed people needing medical supervision due to the Covid-19 emergency, with beds being set up for patients recovering from the illness. In June this year, meanwhile, a project was launched to bring football closer to art, starting with the exhibition of a series of works and installations by Michelangelo Pistoletto, one of the masters of Arte Povera. As a new project now begins in the social sphere, the overall aim is for the Home of the National Teams to increasingly be a place of inclusion through concrete action, as outlined in the FIGC Sustainability Strategy regarding Human Rights (Policy 3 "Equality and Inclusion").