Filippo Galli: Building the Method
In a packed Teatro Verdi in Muggia, the event "Filippo Galli: Building the Method. A methodological approach between humanization and performance" took place last night. The event, organized by US Triestina Calcio under the patronage of the Municipality of Muggia, featured former AC Milan star Filippo Galli, alongside Caterina Gozzoli, Professor of Work and Organizational Psychology at the Università Cattolica di Milano, Giovanni Valenti, coach at Brescia Femminile and former assistant coach for Italy's U19 and U20 national teams as well as youth teams for clubs like Milan, Juventus, Parma, Brescia, and Macedonia’s Brera Strumica, and Simone Benecchi, coach of the Triestina Under 17 team, who previously worked with Parma’s youth sector and closely collaborated with Galli and the other guests.
After the formal greetings by the Mayor of Muggia, Paolo Polidori, amateur association Muggia Zaule Vice President Gino Giani, and Triestina's Head of Methodology Bojan Kurjakovic, the event delved into themes of knowledge and skill exchange. Starting from Filippo Galli’s legendary career and his transition from central defender to the director of AC Milan’s extensive and prestigious youth academy, the discussion emphasized achieving results not through the pressure of immediacy but via a holistic approach that prioritizes athletes, coaching staff, and the club’s organizational structure. According to Galli, Gozzoli, and Valenti (who also participated in an informal meeting at Triestina's headquarters before the event) the club has embraced this path with professionalism, paving the way for credibility and success.
Each speaker enriched the discussion by sharing their experiences, recounting anecdotes, offering practical advice, and highlighting key points such as the value of time, understanding and learning from mistakes, and the importance of educating both coaches and families on the developmental journey of young athletes. This ensures they leave the youth sector equipped with values and knowledge to navigate their paths confidently, regardless of whether they ultimately enter professional sports.
From technical aspects on the field to the crucial role of empathy in relationships with athletes, from fostering a shared identity through meetings between coaching staff within the club to emphasizing curiosity and openness, the roundtable discussion offered the large audience about 90 minutes of valuable insights.
The event, the second in a series of scheduled appointments set to expand in the coming weeks, concluded with a gift from Triestina to the speakers and a standing ovation from the audience. Before leaving the theater, the former Milan champion, a proven expert in youth sector management and author of the blog "The Complexity of Football", gladly took time to sign autographs and take selfies with the many fans in attendance.