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U15 squad
U15 is the first age-group for Italian players to represent their country. Four regional trials, held in north, central and southern Italy, feature a total of 80 players with the best 30 progressing onto Coverciano for further training camps.
Scouting programme and player release
Each weekend between 30 – 40 scouts work on behalf of the federation identifying, monitoring and selecting talent for the development teams. The identification of players is very much based around the type of player that will fit the Italian total football way. For instance, there are ongoing discussions about the inclusion of AC Milan’s highly rated Andrea Petagna due to his inability to fit into the national style.
Unlike some of the player-release difficulties we have faced in England there are very few issues with the release of Italian players to represent their country. Each squad meets for a two/three day training camp every month.
Developing Italian coaches
Twice a year Italian club coaches are invited to Coverciano for a presentation where the methods and philosophy of the Italian federation are shared. Additionally, coaches from other national federations are welcomed to view training and to learn more about the programme on two days each season.
Issues and challenges
When Sacchi first arrived at Coverciano he found much evidence of the old Italian football stereotype: “Italian clubs can play 90 minutes without one mistake in defence,” he said.
He also believes that the varied styles adopted by teams in the Serie A poses a problem for the national set-up with the national team having to unite the players in a different style in a very short period of time. There is a feeling that many Serie A clubs still play with a very defensive Italian style, which in many respects goes against the more European style the new-Italy wish to play.
Joe Sargison, recently graduated from The FA Professional Coaches' Award and is Lead Coach of the U16s/U15s group at Sheffield United.
Joe is an FA Coach Educator and also delivers coach education overseas in Italy, USA, South Africa and Uganda. He is the Founder and Managing Director of The Queen's Award-winning Balls To Poverty Programme, a sports leadership and coaching programme that has taken over 300 young people to the deprived slum communities of South Africa and Uganda.
Dan Micciche is FA Technical Lead (12- 16), England U15s coach and assistant coach of the U16s.
Dan joined The FA from MK Dons in 2013 where he held the position of Head of Academy Coaching.
During his six years at MK Dons Dan worked successfully with the club’s youth development teams to implement a successful games and training programme that saw 11 schoolboys receive international recognition.
John Griffiths is the England Women’s U17 Head Coach.
John joined England women’s new elite development team in 2014 from his role as The FA’s Regional Coach Development Manager for the East Midlands, a position he held for seven years, and has been tasked with combining the position with leading the women’s talent identification programme in conjunction with Mike Rigg, Head of Talent Identification.
Before joining The FA in 2007, Griffiths gained wide-ranging coaching experience with roles at Chesterfield FC, Nottingham Forest FC and his time as the former England Colleges U18s Coach.
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