Italian Soccer in 2010

Serie A Logo (Photo from Wikipedia)

Inter Milan's Historic Treble Vs. Italy's Shameful Early World Cup Exit: The State of Italian Soccer in 2010

For decades Italy's top soccer league, Serie A, was considered the best in the world especially in the 80s and 90s when the biggest players around all played for Italian teams leading to glorious victories in the European Cups. This wonderful trend for Italian soccer (football) fans was brutally interrupted by two major events: the advent of pay TV in England before Italy and the 2006 match fixing scandal, likely the biggest ever in Italian soccer history. This combination of events, added to other factors like a league not much interested in investing in itself or young native talent, helped to diminish a well established "empire." On the top of all this, the legalization of gambling on every game and possible combination of results made the approach to the game very different. The view that soccer in Italy is a gambling product or just a very lucrative business has also changed the landscape of the game in the country. When teams are going public (Juvenuts, Roma and Lazio are all listed on the stock exchange) it is clear that a dramatic shift is afoot even though the infrastructure of the game in Italy, including stadiums, hasn't changed much to accommodate it. 

The bottom line is, despite the extraordinary successes of Inter Milan in 2009-2010, these days Italian soccer is navigating some troubled waters. One needs only look at the disastrous results of the national team at this year's World Cup for confirmation. Italy went from World Cup champions to bowing out in the first round. While there are many reasons why Italy is struggling one of the main ones is the fact that more and more foreign players are allowed to populate Italy's teams. While it's always a joy for fans to see stars like Samuel Eto'o or Zlatan Ibrahimovic, or even David Beckham, don a Serie A jersey the national team has little chance of prospering if talented young Italians are not being sought out and helped to mature. Another issue facing Italian soccer is the demystification of the game. With 24/7 coverage, not only of the matches, but also of behind the scenes gossip and goings on the approach to the game has changed. Players and managers don't always thrive in such a pressure cooker environment and fans are less and less focused on the actual games.

The fact that to many Italian soccer is just a business, no longer a passion or a way of life, has also changed the way many approach the game. Now selling and winning--usually in that order--are important. Where once getting your hands on your team's jersey was a life changing event for a little child now team merchandise is so widespread it has lost its mystique. Branding and even buying players just for their name recognition (and how many jerseys that name is projected to sell) is what is important to many owners these days.  

Not that Italy is alone in these trends. From England to Spain a revolution is happening in soccer, fueled by technology and big business. Inter Milan's historic treble last season was an honor for Italian soccer it also must be said that the trophies were won with very few Italians actually playing on the team (and none fielded to start in the Champions League final by coach Jose Mourinho, who is, of course, Portuguese). And while it would be nice to see the same investment that goes into turning over a profit go into developing things like soccer schools for children, which allow kids to play in the fresh air, learn a sport and grow a new generation of champions, one can't hold their breath. Instead, the system prefers a quick cash turnaround, buying missing pieces (players) almost in real time to be the best, rather than fixing the problems at home. Being so quick to buy rather than develop means that continents like South America and Africa have become like meat supermarkets where teams can shop for players at a low cost and young Italians are left to languish. Coaches are perhaps the most convenient victim of this dogged need to win--they are usually the first to get the axe when things aren't going according to plan, without being given too much leeway to make mistakes or try new things, leaving confusion and instability both before and after the firing.

While soccer will always have fans in Italy the state of the game today can be much improved. Growing Italian soccer that the grassroots level will be the only way for Italy to compete in the global world of football and bringing things back to a simple love of a Beautiful Game will be the only way to keep fans from turning away and tuning in to other sports.