Positive feedback as Roma help host Youth Knowledge Exchange event

AS Roma were delighted to provide organisational support and educational insight during the event, which saw representatives from 60 major European clubs meet in the Italian capital to exchange ideas and methodologies regarding the development of young footballing talent.

The Giallorossi have made this aspect of the club a priority in recent times and were proud to be asked by the ECA to help host the fourth edition of the Youth Knowledge Exchange, the first time an Italian club has been asked to do so.

“We are very pleased to have received positive feedback after these two days of hard work,” said Vincenzo Vergine, the club’s Head of Youth Development.

“I would like to thank the ECA and underline once again our satisfaction at being able to host this event in Rome, which has involved more participants than ever before.

“The meetings and discussions that have taken place this week have allowed for greater insight and understanding – and allowed us to further underline the direction we want to keep moving.

"I think it is important to state that in Italy we have developed methodologies that are at the cutting edge of things, but it is nevertheless true that there are other countries in Europe that are constantly putting forward new ideas too.

“That is why want to continue offering our input into the future of youth development, while also continuing to gain from the approaches adopted by others.”

Over the course of the two days a number of presentations took place, including one from Vergine himself – who outlined the club’s vision for its youth sector and the desire to ensure homegrown talent remains at the centre of the club’s long-term project, in part by working hard to increase the amount of training hours dedicated to each academy player.

Italy’s Technical Director for youth football, Maurizio Viscidi, also offered his insight on the importance of continuing to work on the individual technique of players.

Roma’s General Manager, Tiago Pinto, was present at the event – speaking about the approach the club have taken to improve the pathway from the Primavera to the first team squad.

Pinto was joined on stage for that discussion by current first team players Edoardo Bove, Ebrima Darboe and Nicola Zalewski, as they recounted their experiences of making the leap to the senior side.

Other workshops involved presentations from representatives of FC Bayern Munchen, RB Salzburg and Inter Turku.

“The topic of this week has been the transmission of knowledge, education and values around youth coaching, so it fits perfectly with the fact our hosts, AS Roma, have a clear vision of what they want to achieve in this area,” said Pouya Yaghoubinia, the ECA’s Football Development Analyst.

“We try to create these platforms where clubs can exchange information, learn from each other and grow together. That is really important for us.

“The exchange of knowledge is key for the development for our clubs, and of course we have been really happy to do it here in Rome, at the Stadio Olimpico, and with the support of AS Roma.”