GdS: Celebrations, playing style, self-determination – Navarro’s Milan Futuro ‘revolution’

Ruben Amorim wasn’t the only head coach AC Milan brought in during the summer, with Sergio Navarro taking over Milan Futuro.

La Gazzetta dello Sport have published a report which offers some insight into how Navarro is ‘revolutionising’ the way that the Futuro do things. The key is empowerment, to accelerate the maturation process so his squad are ready for the big leap sooner.

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At Milan Futuro, the rules are changing, with a way of working rarely seen in Italy. For example, a goal not considered valid if the celebration isn’t a group one, while he has players coming up with tactical ideas ahead of games with whiteboards in team meetings.

The idea stems from the 46-year-old from Andalusia, who took over the Rossoneri’s second team in July. He brought his right-hand man Roberto Robles with him and then rounded out the staff with the club’s existing in-house players.

As a young man, he fell in love with Arrigo Sacchi’s Milan and his Dutch trio. All in all, he’s off to a good start. He’s been working with young players for years, and his goal is crystal clear: “I want to help them grow not only technically, but also as players, so they can be ready for Milan in a few years.”

Who is Navarro?

Before we delve into what he does exactly, let’s talk a little about the man behind it all. Navarro was a footballer until he was 26, playing in the Tercera Division (Spanish fourth tier) and various regional leagues.

Then he changed direction. Throughout his career, he’s done practically everything: first-team coach, technical assistant, youth sector manager, and methodologist. He’s worked in Spain, Russia, Ukraine, and Hungary, at clubs like Rubin Kazan, Karpaty Lviv, and Debrecen.

His most significant experience remains his time at Athletic Bilbao, where he was Academy Manager of Lezama, one of Europe’s most prestigious youth academy systems. His role at Villarreal is also interesting, where he led the methodological department of the youth academy.

In other words, he defined a common playing identity for all teams, organised the coaches’ work, established the principles and content of sessions, co-ordinated meetings, and closely monitored the players’ development, not just on the pitch but off it too. This is also why Milan entrusted him.

Vos’ resurgence

The Milan of 2026-27 underwent a revolution when Gerry Cardinale said in June: “We play to win, not to avoid losing.” The philosophy sought is one of attacking play being at the forefront, playing to win and not just to avoid conceding.

This idea applies to the entire club, from the first team to the youth team. Milan Futuro’s first Serie D game against Caldiero Terme ended 4-3, with the Rossoneri’s four goals coming in the space of a quarter of an hour, between the 53rd and 68th minutes. There were defensive lapses to be learned from, but also a prolific attack was seen. For now, that’s what matters most.

Silvano Vos, born in 2005 and an Ajax player, deserves a special mention. He’s experiencing something of a renaissance: he scored and assisted in his first match of the season. Navarro worked with him primarily on a psychological level.

He spoke extensively with the boy, who has had some physical problems over the last two years and a personality that hasn’t helped him, despite the physical and technical resources that could have already taken him to the first team.

There is an interesting side note: Milan Futuro have a squad that could easily play in the Primavera as per the regulations, given its average age. Instead they are facing senior opponents, while the club still have a competitive Primavera side under Giovanni Renna.

Self-management and other rules

What exactly does Navarro do? He interacts with the players in English and Spanish. He understands Italian, but it still takes a bit of time to speak it. There are two main changes.

The first concerns the post-training practice matches: a goal isn’t considered valid if the celebration isn’t a group gesture and doesn’t convince the staff, who must also judge it from an aesthetic standpoint. “The goal is to strengthen team spirit and “create a collective conscience,” Navarro explained. The players, needless to say, are very happy.

Then there’s a self-management phase during the technical meetings. The young players discuss their ideas with each other and jot down their ideas on the tactics board, trying to imagine how to interpret the match they’re about to play. It’s a moment of sharing, discussion, and unity.

The final say, of course, belongs to Navarro: he decides who plays and what script to follow. But the principle is clear: “For us, the individual and what he can do on the pitch are more important. The coach doesn’t have to tell him this; he has to try to understand it himself,” Sergio explained.

In Italy, methods like this are rare, and it’s inevitable that a foreign culture, especially Spanish, can only help. Meanwhile, the Milan laboratory is working to create the Camardas and Bartesaghis of tomorrow. Or rather, of the Futuro.