Filippo Galli calls for Velasco revolution at FIGC amid Italy crisis
Former AC Milan defender Filippo Galli has called for a radical overhaul of Italian football, suggesting legendary volleyball coach Julio Velasco as the ideal figure to lead a technical revolution within the Italian Football Federation (FIGC). In an exclusive interview with PianetaMilan, Galli, a two-time European Cup winner with Milan, gave his stark assessment following Italy's failure to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup, describing it as the darkest hour for the nation's football system.
Galli argued that profound change must start at the very top of the federation to enable a new methodological and pedagogical approach across the youth sectors. He believes the entire philosophy of how football is taught and played in Italy needs to be rebuilt from the ground up. When pressed for a specific name to drive this change, Galli pointed to Julio Velasco, the Argentine-Italian coach who transformed the Italian national volleyball team into world champions in the 1990s with innovative methods.
According to Galli, Velasco is the only person he can think of who has consistently proposed innovative ideas on how to learn the game, representing a completely new footballing vision. He suggested Velasco should be tasked with organizing the technical sector and all related components within the FIGC, moving beyond the usual candidates from within the football world. This endorsement comes as the federation prepares for a leadership change, with many fans and pundits calling for ex-players like Paolo Maldini, Demetrio Albertini, Roberto Baggio, or Alessandro Del Piero to take prominent roles.
On the subject of the next Italy head coach, with names like Massimiliano Allegri, Antonio Conte, and Roberto Mancini in circulation, Galli stated that any of them could be suitable. However, he re-emphasized that the crucial factor is a shift in footballing philosophy, recalling that Mancini's European Championship-winning side played a proactive and positive style of football.
Shifting focus to the Serie A title race, Galli also previewed the upcoming clash between Napoli and Milan. He described the match at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona as a significant one, suggesting the winner would emerge as the primary challenger to league leaders Inter Milan. Galli noted that Napoli, despite issues with Romelu Lukaku, has welcomed back several injured players and is in good form, predicting a balanced contest. He concluded that the outcome of the title race ultimately depends on Inter's result against Roma, but with a six-point advantage, the Nerazzurri still have their destiny firmly in their own hands.
