Italy will be represented at the inaugural FIFA Players Executive Programme. This new course is specifically designed to support male and female players in navigating the often challenging transition to a new life after retiring from professional football. It aims to provide them with opportunities to discover new roles within the sport itself. The event will bring together current and former players from numerous countries.
Representing Italy, as previously mentioned, will be Martina Rosucci of Juventus and Elena Linari, who plays for Roma and captains the Italian national team. They will be joined by former striker Marco Borriello, who notably played for clubs like Genoa and Milan, among others.
Addressing the participants, FIFA President Gianni Infantino stated, “Naturally, many of you have remained and will remain in the world of football, something we wish to support by exploring ways to bring more players and coaches, both women and men, into high-level positions in football management. But regardless of the type of player, what they wish to do in the future, or if they don`t know yet, we must put support mechanisms in place to facilitate the next steps and help ensure a sustainable future for every single player worldwide.”
Key figures involved in this initiative include FIFA`s Chief of Global Football Development, Arsene Wenger, who is a member of the program`s academic committee. He is joined by FIFA World Cup winner Lothar Matthaus, former player and ex-French Football Federation Secretary General Laura Georges, Italian football icon Giorgio Chiellini, and former Como CEO Dennis Wise.