Italian football clubs have enjoyed a resurgence in recent years, with three teams reaching the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League in the 2022/23 season.
This is the first time since 2006 that three Italian teams have made it to the last eight of the competition. This renaissance has been driven by a number of factors, including new foreign ownership, careful financial management, and shrewd player recruitment.
Fall from Grace
Italian football has had a long and illustrious history in European club football. In the 1990s and early 2000s, Italian teams were regularly competing in the latter stages of the Champions League, with AC Milan, Juventus, and Inter Milan all winning the competition during this period.
However, in the last 15 years, Italian clubs have fallen behind their European rivals in terms of financial resources and organizational structure.
One of the key reasons for this decline has been the arrival of foreign billionaires who have transformed the business models of clubs across Europe.
Italian club presidents tended to be local businessmen who used their teams as a PR tool to pursue local interests.
In contrast, the new owners of international football have brought global resources, goals, and methodologies, leaving Italian football lagging behind.
New Ownership
However, things have started to change in recent years, with seven Serie A clubs now belonging to foreign owners, including Milan and Inter. These new owners have brought fresh investment and a new approach to management, which has helped to put Italian football back on the map.
Napoli’s Summer of Success
One of the standout examples of this resurgence is Napoli, who have experienced steady growth under the leadership of President Aurelio de Laurentiis since he bought the club in 2004.
Last summer, the club sold some key players and signed superb talents on cheap deals, reducing the total payroll by 30-35%.
Under Luciano Spalletti, Napoli has become the most surprising team of the year, combining quality and consistency both at home and abroad.
Milan’s Youth and Experience
AC Milan’s story is similar to Napoli’s, with the club’s success built on a project based on a few solid pillars.
This includes the recruitment of promising youngsters, such as Rafael Leao and Mike Maignan, and experienced players such as Olivier Giroud and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Milan’s resurrection has been based on ideas and attractive football, rather than big-money signings.
Inter’s Stubborn Defense
Inter, winners in 2010, have a mature squad and the biggest wage bill among the Italian clubs in the competition.
Their financial situation may force them to sell players in the summer, but their success in the Champions League has been built on their obstinate defense, which saw them past Porto in the last 16.
The Future of Italian Football
Italian football’s resurgence has been driven by careful financial management, shrewd player recruitment, and foreign investment.
However, the future of the sport in Italy remains uncertain. There is still a long way to go before Italian clubs can challenge the financial might of their European rivals, but the recent success of Napoli, Milan, and Inter is a sign that Italian football is moving in the right direction.
Italian football needs to continue to attract foreign investment and modernize its business practices if it is to remain competitive in the long term.
The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has been working to address these issues, with initiatives such as the FIGC Academy and the FIGC Innovation Hub aimed at modernizing the sport and attracting new talent to the game.