From Petrignano to the European Championships. Michele Iannucci is the “engine” of Romanian football

There is a little bit of Petrignano di Assisi in the Romanian national team’s qualifiers for the UEFA European Football Championship 2024 in Germany: Michele Iannucci, 29, from Petrignano, is the main match analyst for the team led by Eduard Iordanescu – who strongly wanted him – and which returns to the top continental competition after 8 years.

“The match analyst is a character whose importance will increase – explains Iannucci – he studies the opponents’ match, their tactics and the loopholes. A comprehensive analysis task, starting from statistics and then moving on to video analysis of both the team and the individual. Similar analyzes also for my team to identify and solve potential problems.” Passion, ability and perseverance are what characterize Iannucci who, after the Properzio Linguistics High School in Assisi, obtained two degrees – a three-year one and a Master’s degree in the field of physical activity – at the University of Perugia, and a Master’s degree in Sports Management And physical activities, qualified as a mental coach and UEFA B license. Coach in the Perugia youth team, proud of the collaboration with the Udinese and Barcelona academies, and was Vincenzo Torrente’s assistant in Gubbio, in the third division. Not having a difficult moment, linked to health, overcoming it with the determination that characterizes it. Then the international opportunity in Romania in December 2020. First with Cluj, with a debut in the Europa League and winning the tournament and the Romanian Super Cup. Then Steaua Bucharest will finally reach the senior national team in February 2022. “The future? Meanwhile, he made a good impression at the European Championship after an impressive qualification: +5 points in second place, better defence, not losing a single match. Dreaming in the stairs? Training in the Italian League.

Maurizio Baglioni