Clarence Seedorf to oversee Sanremese academy in ambitious project
Former AC Milan and Netherlands midfielder Clarence Seedorf is set to take on a key role at Italian Serie D side Sanremese, according to reports in Italy. The club has confirmed that Seedorf will supervise the club's academy starting from next season, as part of a wider project to elevate the provincial outfit. The move was announced during a special event at the Stadio Comunale in Sanremo, which was attended by a host of former stars including Paul Pogba and Christian Karembeu.
Karembeu, a World Cup winner with France in 1998, is the club's vice-president and majority shareholder. He, along with Greek businessman and co-owner Theodoros Ornithopoulos, is spearheading a long-term vision for Sanremese that prioritizes infrastructure, youth development, and community ties over short-term first-team spending. The club has also appointed former AC Milan and Monaco striker Marco Simone as a technical consultant. Simone is the president and co-founder of Monaco United.
The appointments signal a deliberate strategy to build a sustainable football culture from the ground up, mirroring a model recently seen elsewhere in Italy. In recent years, Serie A side Como has drawn significant attention for its high-profile backers and scenic location, eventually achieving promotion and top-flight stability. Sanremese's leadership appears to be following a similar blueprint, leveraging the club's position on the Italian Riviera and proximity to the French Côte d'Azur as assets for growth and attraction.
The presence of numerous global stars at a routine Serie D fixture underscores the club's ambition to generate buzz and raise its profile. While Sanremese is currently cemented in the fourth tier of Italian football, having already secured safety from relegation this season, the long-term aim is to climb the professional pyramid. The focus on its academy, under Seedorf's guidance, is intended to create a production line of talent and a distinct playing philosophy.
Seedorf brings a wealth of experience from a decorated playing career that included Champions League triumphs with Ajax, Real Madrid, and AC Milan. Since retiring, he has managed AC Milan, Deportivo La Coruña, the Cameroon national team, and most recently, the Chinese side Shenzhen. His transition to a behind-the-scenes developmental role marks a new chapter in his post-playing career. For Sanremese, securing a figure of his stature represents a significant statement of intent as they seek to establish a new model for growth in the lower leagues of Italian football.
