After the recent contract extension of Coach Roberto Mancini, who stays with the national team until the summer of 2026, the FIGC today formalised the renewal of the contracts of the national women's coach Milena Bertolini, the coach of the Under 21 national team Paolo Nicolato, and the co-ordinator of the national youth teams Maurizio Viscidi, all until summer 2023. The national team coaches for Futsal and Beach Soccer, Massimiliano Bellarte and Emiliano Del Duca, both also signed contract extensions, until June 2022 and October 2021, respectively.

This is how the picture will look for the technical staff of the National teams as they prepare for upcoming international events in a summer that promises to be hot for the Azzurri colours.

“It was a choice of continuity, because the project we started a few years ago is giving the desired results” declared the FIGC president Gabriele Gravina. “Enthusiasm around the Azzurri jersey, greater involvement from the fans, the growth of young players and results on the pitch are objectives that the new structure of Club Italia has already achieved, despite the difficulties and delays imposed by the pandemic. Milena, Paolo, Maurizio, Massimiliano and Emiliano benefit from our utmost confidence, and we want to continue and improve alongside them”.

A protagonist with her 'World Cup Girls' during the exciting ride of France 2019, Milena Bertolini celebrated qualification for the 2022 European Championship last February, and from September she will start the qualifying journey for the World Cup which is scheduled for summer 2023 in Australia and New Zealand. “I thank President Gravina for the trust and the opportunity. It is a pleasure to continue this four-year journey that has led to a beautiful World Cup and an important European qualification” said the Coach. “The next two years will be equally crucial to continue the growth of the movement”.

The final stage of the Under 21 European Championship will be an eagerly awaited prologue to EURO 2020. The Azzurrini will take to the field on Monday 31 May to face Portugal in the quarterfinals of the continental tournament, and Paolo Nicolato will try, in the best possible way, to continue the path undertaken by a group of young players he has seen grown up with the Under 18, Under 19, and Under 20 National Teams: “I thank president Gravina, and all the people with whom I have worked in recent years for their professional and the human esteem they have shown me” said the technician. “We have been on a journey full of satisfaction up to now, in the name of enhancing our players and the entire system. Continuous improvement is our goal, through commitment, passion, and competence. And I am sure that together we will be able to achieve it”.

After the long stop caused by the pandemic, in the next few days the Azzurri youth teams will also return to play. Co-ordinating them until July 2023 will be Maurizio Viscidi, called upon to give continuity to the excellent work done in recent years: “I thank President Gravina and the FIGC for the contract renewal”, said Viscidi. “It shows appreciation for what has been done and confidence in what must be done. Mine will be the twelfth season in Club Italia and we will have to restart our work model which was abruptly interrupted by Covid”.

In his first year as Head Coach, Massimiliano Bellarte led Italfutsal to qualify for the next European Championships: "I am happy with what we have done in recent months, and the renewal is a consequence of the fact that we have embarked on the right path” commented Bellarte. “The availability of players during this process was the key concept that led to these results. I just tried to make them not waste their energy worrying, but rather use it to believe, to create, to think, to grow, and to learn to give importance to relationships”.

He also gave his thoughts on the next appointment: the final stage of Futsal Euro 2022, which will be held in the Netherlands starting from January 19: “Now we have a period of preparation for what is a competition of great international importance. We will experience the European Championships with the enthusiasm that accompanied us during qualifying, to get excited about playing and to be able to leave a piece of our heart on the pitch, in every match”.

One person who can't wait to get his feet back in the sand is Emiliano Del Duca, who in the coming weeks will try to get his pass for the next set of international events, the European Championship and the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup. A European champion in 2018, the Coach extended his contract until October 2021: “It is an honour for me to carry on with the National Beach Soccer team, and I thank the Federation for having renewed their trust in me” commented Del Duca. “It is a dream that continues to be a reality, wearing the Azzurri uniform fills me with pride every time. This year, after a long period of difficulty due to the pandemic, we have important challenges ahead of us such as the European Championship and the World Cup. With even more passion, we will try to go all the way to give our world joy and satisfaction”.