Veteran Coach Paolo Indiani Reflects on 12th Promotion and Youth Development
Paolo Indiani has secured his twelfth career promotion as a manager, leading Grosseto to the Serie D title and a place in Serie C for the next season. The 66-year-old Tuscan coach achieved the feat this past weekend, adding to a remarkable recent run of four promotions in four years with four different clubs: San Donato Tavarnelle, Arezzo, Livorno, and now Grosseto.
In an interview following the triumph, Indiani expressed particular fondness for his first promotion with tiny San Donato Tavarnelle, calling it a "crazy story." He explained his decision to join Grosseto last summer, citing the project presented by director of sport Andrea Vetrini, with whom he had worked before at Follonica Gavorrano, and the promise of total autonomy in his work. "They knew how to seek me out in the right way," Indiani said.
Having begun his coaching career in 1982, Indiani has worked with a host of players who later achieved significant fame. He recalled early encounters with future World Cup winner Andrea Barzagli at Rondinella, noting his intelligence, and a young Massimo Coda at Crotone. He also coached current Lecce manager Marco Baroni, describing him as a player of "rare intelligence," and former Juventus and West Ham defender Angelo Ogbonna, whom he praised as a fast learner with an impressive physique. Last season at Livorno, he managed veteran striker Andrea Dionisi, who scored over 200 career goals.
The conversation turned to youth development in Italy, a subject on which Indiani holds strong views. He argued that the country's footballing mentality needs to change, moving away from early tactical instruction and towards allowing children to play freely and express themselves. "We need to go back to letting kids do what we did in the gardens: small-sided games, incentives to dribble, passing exercises," he stated. "Zero schemas: we just have to let them have fun." He pointed to Barcelona's Lamine Yamal as an example, suggesting a 16-year-old of similar talent in Italy would be held back in a youth team to physically develop rather than be trusted in the first team.
Regarding his future, Indiani confirmed he has a contract with Grosseto and is open to leading them in Serie C, a level that both fascinates and gives him pause. He noted the increased pressure and the introduction of VAR in the third tier, observing that a recent key match between Arezzo and Ascoli might have ended differently in Serie D. The coach cited Arrigo Sacchi as a foundational influence for his generation, revolutionizing Italian football.
A native of Certaldo, Indiani occasionally exchanges messages with fellow townsman and Italy national team coach Luciano Spalletti. He joked about a tradition of Spalletti treating their group of local, mostly amateur-level coach friends to dinner at Pizzeria Maroni if he achieves success, a gesture Indiani described as generous. With his latest promotion secured, Indiani's immediate focus is on preparing Grosseto for the professional challenges of Serie C, continuing a decades-long career built on a clear philosophy of hard work and man-management.
