The former AS Monaco FC player and coach recently announced the creation of a new football club in the Principality: Monaco United Football Club. The Italian striker, retired from the field in 2006, is placing women’s football at the heart of this ambitious project, which aims to shake things up and offer a new showcase for the Principality.
How did this project come about?
For the past year, I’ve been looking at women’s football in Europe and more generally around the world. If I’m honest, a few years ago, I didn’t think women’s football would progress in this way. In countries like England, Germany, Spain, and even Italy more recently, there has been real development, with professionalization. Historically, France has been well represented by Lyon and Paris-Saint-Germain. People don’t realize the structural level that’s in place, and when you look at the last two Champions League finals, Barcelona-Lyon in 2024 and Arsenal-Barcelona this year, you realize that this is top-level football. In this context, I told myself that it was not possible that the Principality, which has been exceptionally represented for 100 years by AS Monaco in the men’s game, did not have a top-level women’s team.
What made you interested in women’s football? It’s not common for a former professional player to be interested in it… .
The turning point came through a series of circumstances and relationships in the men’s world, and it was through the women’s Paris Saint-Germain that I really immersed myself in it. I started following the championship every weekend, then the Champions League matches, because Lyon represented France there. And in a year, by watching and studying, I rediscovered sporting values that I had known during my career as a player, then as a coach, and that I no longer really see today in men’s football. There is also room for technical improvement, and especially tactically, but I realize the demands of the female players, who are more demanding than the men. It’s very enriching and I was able to see this during an open training session with Monaco United, in which 30 girls participated. There are still plenty of discoveries to be made.
And for you, this commitment could only translate into creating a club? Not by accepting another role as a coach, for example?
I got in touch with leaders to learn, and yes, there were requests, in Switzerland from Servette FC and in the United States, from the Chicago Stars. It’s always flattering, but I really had the idea of being able to have a workspace in the world of women’s football, and that had to involve the creation of a sports association for women.
You mentioned earlier that Monaco does not have a team at the highest level of women’s football. Do you think there is a delay here?
I don’t think the Principality is behind. I’ve been here for 25 years, and I’m lucky and privileged to know Prince Albert, who is a great sports enthusiast. I had the opportunity to talk to him about the project, and I know how much he cares about having the opportunity to develop women’s football. So we can’t blame the Principality, which provides the means for those who invest to bring their ideas to fruition.
Monaco already has a women’s football club, ASM FF, which has also announced the arrival of an investor for the next ten years. Are synergies already being considered?
During my career, I played for AC Milan, and in the same city, there was also Inter. The cohabitation between the fans, the players, and the clubs, which are complete opposites, goes very well. Obviously, there is sporting antagonism, derbies, but relations are good. The situation is the same in London, where there are four or five clubs in the Premier League. So it’s good if there are other projects besides ours. I think it’s the spirit of sport to have competition, healthy competition. It can only pull everyone up, and ultimately, it will serve women’s football.
How will the next few weeks unfold and are you already looking ahead to the championship, which is due to start in mid-September?
Regarding the championship, there are still some questions about the league in which we will play. We will be attentive to opportunities even if in our minds we will start from the lowest echelon. Regarding the squad, we are starting from a blank sheet and we have no limits. We are assembling the team, piece by piece, to have a competitive squad by the beginning of August, when preparation will really begin. For several months, we have been doing recruitment and analysis work and we will conduct tests to refine the team. We have received excellent feedback on our project; the players are attracted and enthusiastic.
You have great ambitions, with the goal of reaching the highest level of women’s football within 5 years…
What is certain is that we will not fight to stay up, because we will start from the lowest level. From that point of view, we are calm. We will give ourselves time to take it step by step and we will have to win on the pitch to progress and get closer to our goal. If we manage to do what I have in mind, we could need only four years to be in the Arkema Premier League, and an additional season to be in the European places: the top three clubs compete in the Champions League and the fourth participates in the Europa League. But we know that there is a time needed to learn and grow, which we cannot shorten. We must not be afraid to say that we have ambition and ours is to play at the highest level.
In this project, you are supported by the Racing City Group. How is it supporting you in this adventure?
It’s not a shareholder, because we’re an association, but rather a partner. This project is led by three people: the co-founders of the Racing City Group, Morris Pagniello and Justin Davis, and myself. This company specializes in developing academies around the world and manages a total of more than 26,000 young footballers, including 8,000 girls. They bring a wealth of experience, which we’ll be able to draw on, but they’re not just a financial partner. Morris is a former player in Australia, Justin is a renowned entrepreneur and is also passionate about football. When I discussed this project with them at the very beginning, they were immediately attracted and keen to get involved.
Interview by Audrey TURUANI
