The pair played together in Catanzaro: “He is talented, extremely talented, in getting the most out of the players he has at his disposal, motivating them and giving them security,”

Roberto Vichi, head scout of the Roma Women’s team, gave an interview to the official club channels and among various topics, he focused on the rise of the ‘Giallorosse’ or ‘Yellow-Reds’ in Italian football and the return of Claudio Ranieri. Here are his words. “You have played together and lived in the same house, “even slept in the same bed because in Catanzaro we only had one in a few meters.”

“We don’t see each other often, but when it happens it’s as if time has never passed. “It has always been that way with Claudio.”

“Did the coach hear about it?”

“Yes, we exchanged a few words after he signed in London. “Do you know what I told him?”

“No, go on and tell us.” “The fact is that I used to be the longest-tenured former player of the Club… Now he has taken that record from me, let’s put it like that. We are three years apart, he was born in 1951, and I in ’54…” “What else did you say to each other?”

“It gives me great pleasure to see him not only as a coach, but also in this administrative role he will be taking on. He deserves it for all he has given to soccer, and especially to his team Roma, in the moments when he was there.”

Feelings on seeing him again at Trigoria?

“I am overjoyed because he is always the right man, in the right place. He is serious, honest, transparent. It is not up to me to judge the professional; there are the results obtained over time with any team. He’s good, very good, at getting the most out of the players he has at his disposal, motivating them, and instilling an air of tranquility in them. “I’ve followed Claudio as a coach since the very beginning. Can you believe, when I was at Pro Cisterna, I proposed him for the bench, he was just starting off. He had just stopped playing football, I told him to come and speak.”

“Did he stay at Juventus with Ranieri?”

“He remained until Roma called me to serve as the head scout of the junior department, about ten years ago.” And there’s no need for me to say more. For me, it was the closing of a circle and the fulfillment of a dream – starting at Roma and ending at Roma,” just like his friend. “Exactly. He and I have always kept in touch, and our relationship never fell off, not only on the personal side, but also professionally.” Here’s the story: Back in 2009, barely a month after taking his first post as Roma’s coach, I proposed he come over for a friendly match in Anzio, as I was then the general manager of Anziolavinio. The stadium – with a capacity of about 3,000 people – was, how can I put it, not full… It was more than full. “And for Anzio, it was impossible to walk even on foot, such was the crowd that came to see the match.” He hinted at his return to Rome, where since 2018 he has become the head scout for the women’s team. “The early days were not easy, I tell you the truth. I entered a context I had never fully known before.” It was Gianmarco Migliorati and I, the current Director of the women’s team. The team had just been formed and there was a ton of work to be done. “From that moment, our rise to the pinnacle of Italian football has been quick and awe-inspiring. These have been the most beautiful five years of my life.” I’m not telling lies. We’ve won two consecutive league titles, two Italian Cups, and the Super Cup. “But aside from the headlines, I want to underscore another aspect.”