Maurizio Viscidi started with Arrigo Sacchi in 2010 to take care of the National youth teams. An all-round project, which, among other things, also saw the transformation of the Youth Championships in a more functional sense to the growth of young talent and more oriented to give new life to Azzurri football. Called in 2016 by the FIGC to become the Coordinator of the National Youth Teams in Club Italia, he’s never stopped following the activity of all the youth teams, following them in the various international tournaments and trying, with all the coaches of the different National teams, to give a more authoritative and imposing imprint to the game.

After a year and a half of inactivity due to the pandemic, where in football the most penalised were the young lads, all the National youth teams are returning to the field, thanks to friendly matches, tournaments and the approach of the European bodies with the first qualifying phases of the Under-17s and 19s. Viscidi said that "I am pleased that we’re all back on the field, in particular the National youth teams that, apart from the Under-21s, in the last year and a half, from the Under-19s downwards, have never been active, either in the league or in international matches. I almost didn't believe it, but in August we managed to restart in a way that I would define as normal, without the big jolts of last year when we were forced several times to interrupt the activity. Unlike some other countries that had a different approach to ours, we were particularly attentive to the Coronavirus issue and acted with great confidence. Of course, this is causing us some problems at the moment, which we will have to address. But I think that the restart must be combined with patience”.

The next games will be during the two qualifying phases for the youth European Championships. For the National Under-17s, they’ll play in Northern Ireland from October 27 and for the Under-19s in Slovenia starting October 6: "We are not ready yet”, warns Viscidi, “but we have organised prestigious friendly matches (Holland and England for the Under-19s; the Under-17s committed to the 4 Nations Tournament), calling up a high number of players, just to give the our players, who’ll be facing national teams with titles, the best. In addition, we’ll have the opportunity to evaluate, on a broad spectrum, the state of the game; with the Youth Championships that have just started or have yet to start, combined with the year and a half of inactivity, there are several parameters to consider, including individual physical condition".

For the Coordinator, there are three cornerstones for the coherent growth of young football talents, Viscidi went on further to explain: "the daily training with their clubs is naturally in the first place; with it comes the Sunday league games (the Primavera championship has started and the Under-18, 17, 16 and 15 leagues will start soon) that represents a constant check-up, and on Sundays we can see the current state and future potential of the young player. And third, but not least, the international experience that proves their talent. The thing that consoles me is that this restart is maintaining a continuity that allows the clubs to work without interruptions, thus giving the work programmes their own effectiveness; consequently, we at Club Italia can also interact making the relationship more profitable for the player".

There’s so much satisfaction in the victory of the European Championship of the senior National Team and in seeing several players who come from the Azzurri youth chain: "My greatest joy was to see the affirmation of a winning philosophy of the game, the beautiful game, which for me remains the tool, the most powerful example to get the youngsters passionate about the Azzurri jersey. As far as the many National Teams that come from the youth teams of Club Italia are concerned, I am very satisfied with their progress, from the Under-15s upwards, confirming the good investment, not only in economic terms but also in terms of programmes and resources, that the Federation has been able to make over the years".

But that's not all, the Italian coach concludes: "My praise goes to Roberto Mancini, who’s been able to integrate into his staff elements coming from the ranks of Club Italia, many of whom had a long experience in the youth teams. And, finally, a thank you to the FIGC that through the reconfirmation of all the technical staff, wanted to give continuity to the project. At a time in history when discontinuity is king, this is an important element that gives confidence and enthusiasm".