Italian football, known for its financial hardships, has experienced many famous clubs leading down the unwanted path of entering administration and ultimately becoming bankrupt and extinct.
From Parma facing insolvency and relegated to the fourth tier to Chievo Verona suffering extinction just two years ago, many lower teams both well-known and unfamiliar are struggling nowadays to survive.
It was just over a decade ago that a small city by the name of Catania on the beautiful Sicilian coast boasted some talented players such as Alejandro Gómez and Maxi López, coached by up-and-comer Diego Simeone, who represented the club in Italy’s top division between 2006 and 2014.
After years of endless financial turmoil, relegations, and an eventual decision to declare the club bankrupt last year, Catania finally celebrated promotion to Serie C on Monday morning with an unassailable 31-point lead.
The masterminds behind the Sicilians’ success include an Australian-based owner and two Socceroos legends part of the golden generation.
Part of the Pelligra Group, Ross Pelligra’s acquisition of the club last year stemmed from his Catanian roots and passion for football in Southern Italy.
Financial stability has obviously helped, but behind the scenes is where the real work has been done to steer Catania back to the top.
Pelligra appointed Vince Grella as the club’s new CEO and vice president, ultimately needing little convincing. Grella carries pivotal experience from his playing days in Italy with Torino, Empoli, and Parma before sharing his knowledge post-retirement in stints involving player-manager roles and working as a football agent.
The 43-year-old is accompanied by Marco Bresciano, who is currently offering expertise and advice, another player no short of experience thanks to his playing days with the likes of Empoli, Parma, and Lazio. The Catania project was too good to turn down that Bresciano switched alliances due to his playing days with Sicilian club Palermo.
So far, their ideas are leading the club to a sense of direction and an identity lacking for over a decade. They share an ambitious but achievable goal to have Catania playing in Serie A in five years’ time.
Seeing all this unfold from abroad begs the question, why aren’t any of these former Australian talents involved in the grassroots and structuring of our game here?
Bresciano is currently part of Football Australia’s board of directors, but is expected to officially join forces with Catania on a permanent basis once his deal expires. Sadly, an imminent departure proves the dire state in which Australian football finds itself.
Back during the lockdown phase caused by the pandemic, Optus Sport reunited six players from the golden generation to discuss the problems facing the game in Australia: John Aloisi, Mark Schwarzer, Craig Moore, Mark Viduka, Josip Skoko, and Vince Grella shared some interesting insights and opinions.
John Aloisi (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Grella expressed his frustration in regard to the junior development: “It (Australian Institute of Sport) needs to be born again, it was the foundation of the success of the majority of players who went on to play at the top level. Somehow, some way, we need to get that program up and running again. No doubt my time in the AIS built the foundation for the success I had in my years after.”
Some of these players like Grella and Mark Viduka are now living their best life in Italy and Croatia respectively, but could Australia have possibly done more to attract former players who possess the competence and calibre that the current board of Football Australia and the APL could ever dream of having?
Grella made only one appearance for the then-Melbourne Heart, but Harry Kewell and Tim Cahill’s return to the country to end their careers perhaps should’ve led to more of a push to advocate a potential role higher up on the board.
Going back to Italy for a moment, a relatable example involves the legendary Paolo Maldini. After his playing career ended at AC Milan, he was ousted by the club which he was very much the symbol of, not offering the former defender any sort of position up top, which was laughable considering the poor state the club has found themselves in for the past decade.
He was then offered a sporting director role in 2016-17 but opted to decline the proposal and wait until the club sorted out its ownership. In 2018, he took on the responsibility knowing he would contain high control, building a sustainable project which led to the Serie A title last season.
Former Sydney FC marquee Alessandro Del Piero has been surrounded by rumours involving a potential return to Juventus as club president, but he too is also taking a cautious approach and waiting until the board sorts out their issues.
You can’t help but think that the people currently in charge of running football in Australia are what’s ultimately killing the opportunity to attract high-profile Australians. There’s simply no hope.
This is not to suggest that Grella, Bresciano, and Viduka will come in and make an instant impact. However, the level of expertise and experience we are blessed with is, unfortunately, being wasted as the years pass by.
Tony Popovic and John Aloisi have proven their worth on the bench in managerial roles which have propelled them to new heights.
The next step has to be trying to negotiate with those former players mentioned throughout and make them an offer they can’t refuse, just like Catania.
With the current state behind the scenes looking bleak, that act of persuasion will prove to be the most challenging.
Christian Montegan
Roar Pro
If I thought it was the end of Australian football then I wouldn’t bother with more than one article, but there’s plenty of hope and potential. That’s the problem with society when trying to highlight and solve issues such as racism for example. It will happen, get spoken about for two seconds and then carry on like nothing had ever happened. Australian football is far from perfect but I wish it was. It’s important to continually highlight issues in the game so more discussions and change can be made through the media in general. I’m not sure about you, but I don’t settle for mediocrity.
chris1
Roar Rookie
And I have commented on those. That doesn't excuse the fact that you put a slant on every thing you write as being the end of football in Australia.
Christian Montegan
Roar Pro
Chris, you’re more than welcome to comment on my recent articles about Diamanti’s farewell and impact on the A-League, Marko Rudan’s great work with the Wanderers, Adelaide United’s blueprint to success, Australia’s most talented squad in over a decade, and the Sydney derby being the most captivating and passionate fixture in the A-League!
chris1
Roar Rookie
Christian every day you write an article on the impending demise of the A League and football in Australia. Maybe have a holiday? Clear the mind.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Generally most European clubs depend on largesse from wealthy individuals. Most people support a club they have some connection with before they became rich , in this case the family of the owner comes from there not because they were in Serie D. Wrexham people wanting to play football manager in real life thats going to be a lot rarer starting with a lower tier club and seeking to promote. The wealthiest people in the world want to start at the top tier. As far as I am concerned it just a money pit, football loses the most money in the world, why people keep investing in clubs is beyond me. I dont really see the point lets introduce promotion and relegation to cater to the odd bloke wants some ride with promotion and relegation, you can get that in Europe. So far this is third Australia guy in history to go big into Euope as far as I know. Makris got a jail sentence and cant go back to Greece, the Olympic guy at Xanthi that went balls up, this should go better.
Christian Montegan
Roar Pro
JB, I fully get what you’re saying, but how will we ever know what’s capable of being achieved here if we don’t try to bring those former players over or at the very least make it an attractive project. Bresciano isn’t a big enough sample size to jump to your conclusion. I never said that a successful player automatically translates into a successful manager and that being a professional player automatically translates to doing well in a CEO or board type role. As I said, players from the golden generation are not guaranteed to make an instant impact or an impact at all, but it’s about our vision that’s most important. In saying that, they also need to want to come here
jbinnie
Roar Rookie
Christian -This is a strange article. As many have already commented, there is little evidence from anywhere in the world that being a successful player gives one the experience to be a successful manager / coach. Not only is that a fact of life (remembering the numbers involved) but your article also touches on another historical fact that appears to call for ex-players to 'get involved" in our game. This too is "old hat" for it is now many years since the A League's father figure, one Frank Lowy, trumpeted the same message. Was his message heeded? This is a debatable subject, but it could be measured by the fact that most of our A-League teams are now managed by ex -players, not all of them GG standard. and to be nearer the truth, many have come and gone whilst it could be argued that in Postecoglu and Muscat, we have 2 ex-Socceroos who have had to move overseas to achieve some sort of success at a higher level. Of today's A-League coaches only Veart, Popovic,and the perennial Radovic are the only 3 that I would say have been "long term" though an argument could be put up against Popovic these last 3 years. So, remembering the gist of your comment, would, or has, the involvement of ex -players actually improved our game in general. There are those who would debate that very strongly. Cheers jb.
Roberto Bettega
Roar Rookie
Quite clearly, I'm not talking about buying a club in the top tier. A bit like the Wrexham story, in the case of Catania, you're talking about a club that you can see rise through the tiers, being the 10th largest city in Italy, the Serie B is well within reach, and even the Serie A is achievable. That's a very satisfying ride for an owner. But you can't do that in Australia (presently).
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Why is it a tempting target, Italian clubs dont make money, in fact where do football clubs make money. Going to Serie C is easily achievable, getting to Serie B will be more expensive, getting to Serie A is going to be a lot more expensive that buying an A-league club. In the A-league if you got in early with the right club and didnt lose too much money you could make money. Those who bought into Victory early and sold their shares have made a lot of money. Adelaide United owner Griffin cleaned up. The original Melbournd Heart owners selling to City they made a lot of money. On the flipside all those who have lost money the list is massive .
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
It only takes one person to formulate a solution to the current issues, I already proposed a full solution which will cost about 2 million a year. All I hear is an out of touch group who have nothing to do with the local game here anymore bemoan the AIS being gone. The AIS was good in its time but not in this current day. A project in this case means a rich person has come in and he needs help to spend it. The passion is a passion for money, thats not passion for the game. Famous ex players there is the group that have failed the most when given top coaching jobs.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
I wouldn't describe the game at amazing level. Irankunda was good but runs out of gas. Goodwin was well assisted by Callan Elliot. Goodwin could have had a trick off Elliot as well, the early cross where Elliot looked like the ball deflected between his arm and his chest , that was almost identical chance for Goodwin as his first goal, or could have been a penalty. Elliots header set up Goodwins second. The old stick the leg out behind your back in the penalty area, when Maraguis was taking the ball off Goodwin was a classic.
Christian Montegan
Roar Pro
You’re right in that it’s achievable considering the level of competition, but there’s still a lot of pressure attached to it due to the unbelievable passion and criticism that is attached with supporters from Catania and Southern Italians in general. Grella admitted himself that it was “a massive call” when he joined the club. Ownership in Australia wouldn’t be easy and you’re correct in pointing that out. It’s more about getting knowledgable people in the position of Bresciano on the board of directors or even higher above
Roberto Bettega
Roar Rookie
A club like Catania, having dropped to Serie D (a quasi amateur regional level of competition), would have made a very tempting target. The club has had 2 or 3 stints in the Serie A over a 60 year period, indeed, only 10 years ago it had completed a run of 5 consecutive seasons in the Serie A and there were some decent seasons amongst that. The thing about buying a club like that, in the doldrums, is that it comes at a relatively cheap price and your ambitions of rising up the tiers of Italian football are achievable (whereas in the Australian context, it's currently an impossibility, at least to rise to the top tier). Also, I'm not sure it's correct to call Catania a small city, it's actually the 10th largest city in Italy by population.
Christian Montegan
Roar Pro
“If Bresciano knew what needed to be done then why hasn’t he done it” As I said towards the end of the article, players like Bresciano won't just come in and fix all the problems straight away. Has he been given much of a voice? Is he surrounded by competent board members and organisations who actually know what they're doing? Catania now have a project in place with everyone on the same page, giving it every opportunity to succeed, so why should he stay here? As Grem pointed out you need to have the passion to grow the game here and make change, but if you’re not surrounded in the best environment to do so, then that’s obviously going to be an issue
Christian Montegan
Roar Pro
Now would be the best time if he were to make a purchase in the A-League. A club like Newcastle would be great, but helping beat an expansion club and get it off the ground such as Canberra would be brilliant
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Is this article for real, promotion from Serie D to Serie C? Anyone with a small cheque book could achieve that. The article highlights the real problems and the so called Golden generation are a big part of the problem. All they have done is feather their own nests and ignore the issues. Cahill himself first tried to profit from the real source of current issues with his overpriced training camps. The AIS had absolutely nothing to do with the success before, the key was the selection of players from merit , they took the best to the AIS, in the era before excessive rego fees. Now ironically Hope Solo who hasn’t been the best behaved player and a bit of an outcast is highlighting the issue in USA, that pre college the USA also has this issue where its a rich persons sport. At least in the USA the college system then comes in and gives out scolarships though of course that is a lot more effective with the women. Here is Australia you do have cheaper grass roots but every player there is ignored why are we relying on the least populated state for players just because they are the poorest state and dont have a surplus of rich parents. The media are a big part of the problem , the endless fawning over overpaid and underpeforming marquees and ignoring youth players. The Golden generation need to be sent packing if Bresciano knew what needed to be done then why hasn’t he done it. They are freeloaders looking for easy paid gigs.
Grem
Roar Rookie
I have his email address and am going to write to him. Can you imagine what he could do with Newcastle, as was my example. Or if he could develop a Canberra men’s team - I hope you’re correct.
Grem
Roar Rookie
Last night’s game was amazing. We have a potential superstar of the game, Nestory Irankunda and a star in Craig Goodwin. Both are amazing players and I appreciate them from interstate. They are as talented and athletic and probably more so than anyone in our domestic codes. The crowd loves them and they give back to the crowd and have great stories to tell or be told. The media reports nothing – it’s just crickets! How do you grow a game in that environment? It is a joke! What’s in the “sport” sections today? None of this. Perhaps some of our business leaders who are involved in the A League, or love football, could use their position and standing to start to change this virtual blackout of football.
Christian Montegan
Roar Pro
Totally agree with you Grem. It needs to work both ways in that people involved high up in Australian football want to push for these former players to get involved as well as those players actually wanting to make a change with their heart fully in it. There’s been rumours recently about Ross Pelligra potentially interested in purchasing several A-League clubs.
Grem
Roar Rookie
All good points, but unfortunately for us they are football countries where the passion for the game is amazing. We have the most participants of any sport, we do have a high level competition, but we just don’t have the support at this time. Most of our television commentators know little of the game and only report on soccer when they have to. It’s hard to grow the game in that climate. We also need our Harry Kewells, Tim Cahills, etc to want to put back into our game. They need to want to grow the game that gave them their lifestyle. It’s all well and good for them to analyse from abroad, but they need to do something because they choose to. That’s why I have a lot of respect for Aloisi, Arnold, etc because they are trying to grow our game in our country. We do need to get more people like Ross Pelligra to develop a similar project here. As Adelaide is already owned – imagine what he could do with the Newcastle Jets – their history, player production and potential could really be harnessed with the right owner and direction. They could be our Catania.