Alessio Secco
Encyclopedia
Alessio Secco was an Italian
director of football for the Italian Serie A
club Juventus. He was dismissed at the end of the disappointing 2009-2010 season, and replaced by Giuseppe
Marotta.
. He then worked under Luciano Moggi
but was promoted to Moggi's position on 23 May 2006 when Moggi was forced to step down due to the Calciopoli scandal that year. Former Juventus player Didier Deschamps
was brought in as manager and Juventus topped the Serie B
to win promotion. However, he and Deschamps had a falling-out over multiple issues, leading to Deschamps' resignation at the end of May 2007 with only two games remaining.
Working together with chairman Jean-Claude Blanc
, Secco proceeded to purchase players in an effort to revitalize the team after Juventus regained promotion to the Serie A
. However, he soon came under fire from Bianconeri fans due to his failure in buying top class players capable helping Juventus mount a title challenge against the likes of Internazionale
, Milan
and Roma
. Although credited with preventing the sale of goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon
and young stars Sebastian Giovinco
and Claudio Marchisio
, he was highly criticized for signing players such as Tiago Mendes
, Sergio Almirón
, and defendes Jean-Alain Boumsong
and Jorge Andrade during the 2007-2008 season even though Juventus finished third in the league, thus qualifying for Champions League
football the following season. Meanwhile Mendes, Almirón and Boumsong were all either loaned out or sold by the winter transfer window of the 2009-10 season. In February 2009, it was confirmed that he renewed his contract until 2011. He courted controversy after it was discovered that he had allegedly spoken to representatives from Genoa
and reportedly communicated with Moggi despite the latter's five-year "excommunication" from football.
Despite 2008-09 season ending on a high note, Juventus endured a dismal run in the Champions League and later the Europa League during the 2009-10 season. They were eliminated from European competitions after being thrashed 4-1 away at Fulham
despite taking an early lead and traveling supporters chanted "Vattene Blanc è Secco" (Get lost Blanc and Secco) after the final whistle. The players were also jeered at upon their return to Turin and Secco and Blanc came under scathing criticism from fans and the media, as well as several club legends. Italian daily Il Giornale
even went as far as to accuse the duo of "embarrassing" the club.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
director of football for the Italian Serie A
Serie A
Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
club Juventus. He was dismissed at the end of the disappointing 2009-2010 season, and replaced by Giuseppe
Marotta.
Career with Juventus
Secco first joined Juventus in 1999, working as a press secretary and then as team manager in 2000 under Carlo AncelottiCarlo Ancelotti
Carlo Ancelotti is an Italian football manager, Nicknamed Carletto, Ancelotti played as a midfielder and had a successful career with Roma – captaining the team – with whom he won one Scudetto and 4 Coppa Italia and was part of the legendary late 80's Milan team, with whom he won two Scudetti and...
. He then worked under Luciano Moggi
Luciano Moggi
Luciano Moggi is an Italian football managing director. He was the general director of Juventus F.C. from 1994 until May 2006, years that anointed him as one of the most successful football managing director except the last two club seasons that were involved in Calciopoli...
but was promoted to Moggi's position on 23 May 2006 when Moggi was forced to step down due to the Calciopoli scandal that year. Former Juventus player Didier Deschamps
Didier Deschamps
Didier Claude Deschamps is a retired French footballer and current manager of Marseille. He played as a defensive midfielder. As an international, he assisted France with victories in the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000...
was brought in as manager and Juventus topped the Serie B
Serie B
Serie B, currently named Serie bwin due to sponsorship reasons, is the second-highest division in the Italian football league system after the Serie A. It is contested by 22 teams and organized by the Lega Serie B since July 2010, after the split of Lega Calcio that previously took care of both the...
to win promotion. However, he and Deschamps had a falling-out over multiple issues, leading to Deschamps' resignation at the end of May 2007 with only two games remaining.
Working together with chairman Jean-Claude Blanc
Jean-Claude Blanc
Jean-Claude Blanc is a former CEO of Juventus FC. He holds an International Business and Marketing degree from CERAM Business School in Nice .-Biography:...
, Secco proceeded to purchase players in an effort to revitalize the team after Juventus regained promotion to the Serie A
Serie A
Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
. However, he soon came under fire from Bianconeri fans due to his failure in buying top class players capable helping Juventus mount a title challenge against the likes of Internazionale
F.C. Internazionale Milano
Football Club Internazionale Milano, often referred to as Internazionale or simply Inter, is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Italy. Outside Italy, the club is often called Inter Milan. They are the reigning FIFA Club World champions and Coppa Italia holders.Inter have always...
, Milan
A.C. Milan
Associazione Calcio Milan, commonly referred to as A.C. Milan or simply Milan , is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Lombardy, that plays in the Serie A. Milan was founded in 1899 by English lace-maker Herbert Kilpin and businessman Alfred Edwards among others...
and Roma
A.S. Roma
Associazione Sportiva Roma, commonly referred to as simply Roma, is a professional Italian football club based in Rome. Founded by a merger in 1927, Roma have participated in the top-tier of Italian football for all of their existence but one season in the early 50s...
. Although credited with preventing the sale of goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon
Gianluigi Buffon
Gianluigi "Gigi" Buffon, Ufficiale OMRI , is an Italian footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Serie A club Juventus and the Italian national team. He has won the FIFA World Cup and is widely considered by fans and experts to be one of most dominant and successful goalkeepers in history...
and young stars Sebastian Giovinco
Sebastian Giovinco
Sebastian Giovinco is an Italian footballer who plays for Serie A club Parma and the Italian national team. Giovinco is an attacking midfielder with noted dribbling skills, play-making skills and he is known for his freekicks....
and Claudio Marchisio
Claudio Marchisio
Claudio Marchisio is an Italian footballer who plays as a midfielder for Serie A club Juventus and the Italian national team. A product of the Juventus youth system, he has spent his whole career thus far at his hometown club, with the exception of a season-long loan spell at Empoli...
, he was highly criticized for signing players such as Tiago Mendes
Tiago Mendes
Tiago Cardoso Mendes , simply Tiago, is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays for Atlético Madrid.A versatile midfielder, adept as both a central or defensive unit and with good overall skills, he played professionally in four of Europe's major leagues: England, France, Italy and Spain.A...
, Sergio Almirón
Sergio Almiron
Sergio Almiron is the name of two Argentine footballers:* Sergio Omar Almirón , 1986 World Champion* Sergio Bernardo Almirón , currently playing for Catania...
, and defendes Jean-Alain Boumsong
Jean-Alain Boumsong
Jean-Alain Boumsong-Somkong is a professional football defender who currently plays for the Greek team Panathinaikos and the French national team.-Early career:...
and Jorge Andrade during the 2007-2008 season even though Juventus finished third in the league, thus qualifying for Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
football the following season. Meanwhile Mendes, Almirón and Boumsong were all either loaned out or sold by the winter transfer window of the 2009-10 season. In February 2009, it was confirmed that he renewed his contract until 2011. He courted controversy after it was discovered that he had allegedly spoken to representatives from Genoa
Genoa C.F.C.
Genoa Cricket and Football Club, commonly referred to simply as Genoa , is a professional Italian football club based in the city of Genoa, Liguria...
and reportedly communicated with Moggi despite the latter's five-year "excommunication" from football.
Despite 2008-09 season ending on a high note, Juventus endured a dismal run in the Champions League and later the Europa League during the 2009-10 season. They were eliminated from European competitions after being thrashed 4-1 away at Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
despite taking an early lead and traveling supporters chanted "Vattene Blanc è Secco" (Get lost Blanc and Secco) after the final whistle. The players were also jeered at upon their return to Turin and Secco and Blanc came under scathing criticism from fans and the media, as well as several club legends. Italian daily Il Giornale
Il Giornale
il Giornale is an Italian daily newspaper published in Milan, Italy.-History:The newspaper was planned in 1972 by the journalist Indro Montanelli, together with the colleague Enzo Bettiza, after some disagreements with the new pro-left editorial line adopted by the newspaper Corriere della Sera,...
even went as far as to accuse the duo of "embarrassing" the club.