Spotlight Interview with Italy’s AS Roma Leader Umberto Gandini on Soccer
AS Roma is one of Europe’s premier clubs and a force gaining traction in the US soccer market — with a successful track record in the recent International Champions Cup (ICC) — AS Roma beat Real Madrid and Tottenham and tied Juventus, Manchester City and PSG.
The proud winner of three Serie A titles, nine Coppa Italia titles, and two Supercoppa Italiana titles, AS Roma are experts on the field — and, the AS Roma’s youth academy has consistently developed homegrown talent — more players than any other in Italy. Now the club looks to make more of a mark in the USA.
Soccer News: Umberto Gandini, the CEO of AS Roma, recently visited America for the ICC Tournament and was impressed with the soccer passion in the USA.
As one of the most respected directors in Italian football — Gandini joined AS Roma last fall after over 23 years working with AC Milan. Highly revered in the international football world, Gandini is also a member of UEFA’s Professional Football Strategy Council and helps grow the sport of soccer universally.
Kicked off 90 years ago, Roma is one of the top premier soccer clubs in the world and is the winner of three championship titles and is the only club in Serie A to have American-based ownership.
Last season, AS Roma qualified for the Champions League Group Stage by finishing second in Serie A and is preparing to enter the season with their new Head Coach Eusebio di Francesco and their famed striker, Edin Dzeko — Serie A’s top goal scorer for the season with 29 goals.
Related Soccer News: SOCCER TALK WITH TOP GOAL SCORER AS ROMA’S EDIN DZEKO
Is AS Roma looking for the next star player who could turn into the legendary Francesco Totti? Or just to cement their place in the Champions League, win another title and grow their fan base in the USA?
Here is the exclusive SoccerToday interview with Umberto Gandini:
Diane Scavuzzo: What do you think of soccer in the USA?
Umberto Gandini: Soccer has grown immensely in the USA. There are a lot of factors changing in the USA and it will be a huge soccer market.
Our American partnership is very important. The U.S. Soccer Women’s National Team is reaching fantastic results and more and more girls and boys are playing soccer in the USA.
AS Roma is very keen to develop the game in the USA.
Diane Scavuzzo: How is AS Roma doing now?
Umberto Gandini: We have a new Head Coach, Eusebio di Francesco and great players. We have the top goal scorer in Serie A — Edin Dzeko — and are acquiring other players.
AS Roma played an attractive style of football with an emphasis on speed. Our players have to be very sharp and composed — and the team must move as a unit on the field.
We are only 3 weeks into training but you can already see the possibilities. There is a great intensity.
Diane Scavuzzo: What are your goals in the USA?
Umberto Gandini: Our intention is to increase AS Roma’s name in the USA.
We want to share our methodology.
We are committed to helping grow the youth game — and to supply coaches to help develop players and coaches.
Everything comes from a little seed. We have launched our Roma’s US Academies to help develop elite players and have youth soccer teams coming over to train with us in Italy.
Diane Scavuzzo: Americans are always very interested in the training from famous European clubs….
Umberto Gandini: And social media — the digital era — cuts down on distances and has made our worlds much closer.
Diane Scavuzzo: What do you think of MLS soccer in the USA?
Umberto Gandini: The MLS games are entertaining and have intensity — but this league is different from every other league in the world.
The MLS is unique.
LA Liga is dominated by a few top teams and the rest of the clubs are not really competitive.
In Italy, Serie A has 4 to 6 teams that are capable of winning the title.
The MLS is a very peculiar — and is not clearly dominated by a handful of teams the same way.
The level of play is improving and becoming more physical — but overall, our top teams will still beat your top MLS clubs in a match.
Ever since the World Cup in 1994, the world has seen possibilities in the USA. Now, we all look to the future — and new possibilities.
Related Soccer News: SOCCER TALK WITH TOP GOAL SCORER AS ROMA’S EDIN DZEKO
