After beating AS Roma on the field just before the international break, AC Milan have also struck a blow off the field by hiring Vincenzo Vergine.
A statement on the club website confirmed that Vergine will take the role of Head of the Youth Sector, one that was vacated by Angelo Carbone’s departure at the end of the season. He held the same position for 13 years at Fiorentina, and then for the last two years at Roma.
MilanNews recall that Vergine was raised under the wise mind of Pantaleo Corvino at Salernitana before forging his own path. He joined Fiorentina in 2006 and stayed there until 2019, where he won the Giovanissimi and Allievi, two Coppa Italia and one Primavera Supercoppa.
What is perhaps a more proud achievement for him is the talents that made their way through to the first team such as Federico Bernardeschi, Federico Chiesa, Riccardo Sottil and Giovanni Castrovilli. Dusan Vlahovic arrived during his time there too.
From there he took a step up and joined Roma where he began to get the media spotlight, above all thanks to the words of presentation by Tiago Pinto.
“The growth of the youth sector is one of the main objectives of the reorganisation of the club’s sports area. To lead it we have chosen a profile who has a great experience and an extraordinary knowledge of all Italian youth football,” he said.
Vergine was not only known for his knowledge of players but the more important aspect of having a clear idea on how to coach them and develop them, as he told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“We must give players to the first team, that is the real objective. The result and the winning mentality are important, but coaching is fundamental. Having young players in the national team or in the first team is more important to us than winning matches.”
At Roma he brought trophies – six in two years – and helped players reach the first team like Zalewski, Bove, Tahirovic, Afena-Gyan and Volpato.
With the arrival of Elliott Management and then RedBird Capital, the emphasis was placed on a youth project and that inevitably means more emphasis placed on Ignazio Abate’s Primavera side.
They reached the semi-finals of the Youth League and are eager to do even better this year, both nationally and in Europe. Vergine is an exciting appointment that should add fuel to the plans.
