{"id":24773,"date":"2026-06-15T16:48:19","date_gmt":"2026-06-15T14:48:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cagliaricalcio.com\/news\/press-room-massimiliano-canzi-presentation\/"},"modified":"2026-06-15T17:52:43","modified_gmt":"2026-06-15T15:52:43","slug":"press-room-massimiliano-canzi-presentation","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/cagliaricalcio.com\/en\/news\/press-room-massimiliano-canzi-presentation\/","title":{"rendered":"PRESS ROOM | Massimiliano Canzi Presentation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The new Rossobl\u00f9 Youth Sector Director, Max Canzi, was officially presented today during a press conference held in the Sala Contemporanea at Opificio Innova, within the \u201cSa Manifattura\u201d complex in Cagliari. Joining him was the Club\u2019s new Sporting Director, Pietro Accardi. <\/p>\n\n

Welcoming everyone, Club President Tommaso Giulini<\/strong> opened the event by saying:“I am very pleased to be here with Pietro Accardi and Max Canzi. We are during a rejuvenation process and a broader restructuring of the Club, a project that has already begun and continues over time, now entering a new phase. This journey has already produced significant results during the season that has just ended, and we intend to continue pursuing this philosophy consistently while striving for further improvement. When it comes to youth development and the ability to make use of new technologies, it is essential to seek out new expertise and professionals. That is why I am delighted to welcome Accardi, who brings extensive experience from Empoli, where he worked with many emerging and talented players. It is equally wonderful to welcome back Max Canzi, who returns to a new role compared to the one he held with us from 2015 to 2020.We are talking about two key figures whose contribution will help make our path even more successful. The connection between the First Team and the Youth Sector is fundamental; we work in synergy, not in isolated departments. Beyond the specific issues we will address and the technical project we are beginning to build, I believe Canzi\u2019s return and Accardi\u2019s decision to work alongside Roberto Muzzi says a great deal about the sense of belonging we want to foster. This feeling must be instilled in everyone who joins Cagliari. We have managed to achieve this in recent years, and it is important to continue along this path. In this respect, even two \u2018adopted Sardinians\u2019 such as Max and Roberto become ideal figures.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

MAX CANZI\u2019S COMMENTS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

EMOTION AND GRATITUDE<\/strong>“I would like to thank the Club and President Giulini, who not only gave me this opportunity but also thought of me for a role of this kind. I reflected on it carefully because, for me, this truly feels like coming home. I am genuinely emotional to be here today. Anyone who has worked with me knows perfectly well that this was my dream: one day, I wanted to come back here. I have been given the opportunity to take on a very important role, and at this stage of my career, once the possibility was presented to me, I realized and decided that this was the right path for me at this moment. Emotion is the key word today.\u201d <\/p>\n\n

THE NEW ROLE<\/strong>“Changing roles was an important decision and not an easy one. As I mentioned, I needed time to think about it. I have spent forty-one seasons coaching at various levels: from youth academies to senior amateur teams; then professional first teams as an assistant coach and technical collaborator, spending ten years between Serie A and Serie B. That was followed by my experiences here at Cagliari, leading the Primavera side and serving as assistant coach with the First Team; then coaching in Serie C with Olbia and Pontedera; and most recently, two seasons as head coach of Juventus Women. So yes, I gave it serious thought. I believe this proposal \u2014this tremendous opportunity\u2014 arrived at exactly the right moment in my career. I will bring all the experience I have gained across different areas of football to help build upon and improve the excellent work already carried out in Cagliari\u2019s Youth Sector.I am fortunate to arrive at a place where there is no need to start from scratch. On the contrary, there is already a strong foundation, and our task is to improve upon what has been achieved. More than the bench itself, I will miss being on the training ground. However, instead of coaching players, my role now will be to \u2018coach\u2019 coaches. It is different, but it allows me to put all my experience to good use.\u201dCHOOSING CAGLIARI AND THE ROSSOBL\u00d9 MODEL<\/strong>“I chose to return here in a new capacity first and foremost because of my passion for this sport. I love football regardless of the role I hold. Secondly, I have the opportunity to do it at Cagliari, the team I have become a supporter of\u2014those who know me know this is absolutely true.The objectives? The core business of any youth academy is undoubtedly to develop players for its own First Team. Last season, Cagliari achieved this goal exceptionally well\u2014arguably in a way that is almost unique in Italy right now. We must therefore try to replicate this model as much as possible, even if it will not be easy.What happened last season was also made possible by the work of Fabio Pisacane, who knew the players well and had already worked within the Youth Sector. If that is our primary objective, we must also make the Youth Sector attractive through sporting results.At Under-20 level, the priority is to remain in Primavera 1, which is an extremely important competition, while constantly striving to improve. Continuous improvement is a principle that applies to all national youth categories. Results are not the primary objective there; first and foremost, the goal is to develop footballers and, even before that, young men, with the ambition of eventually seeing them reach the First Team or professional football in general.Within this framework, players must gradually become accustomed to the importance of results as they move closer to the First Team and professional football.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

THE WORK OF THE YOUTH SECTOR<\/strong>“I am fortunate to take charge of a Youth Sector that is already highly structured and well organized, thanks to the excellent work of those who came before me. The level of work has been outstanding. We must continue along this path by improving the details and ensuring that our Youth Sector becomes increasingly modern and up to date. One of our goals is to give all youth teams a clear and recognizable identity. This requires building a coaching staff that works together for the development of the players and the benefit of Cagliari Calcio. We will move in this direction while building upon the strong foundations already established in recent years. My responsibility now is to enhance and maximize the value of everything that has been achieved so far. The players who have progressed from the Youth Sector to the First Team are proof of the quality of the work that has been done.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

DEVELOPING THE WOMEN\u2019S FOOTBALL PROGRAM<\/strong>“The growth of the Women\u2019s Sector is certainly one of the Club\u2019s medium-term objectives, and I believe it was one of the reasons why I was chosen for this position. We will work in that direction. The youth system is already performing well, but it needs further development and improvement. We currently have a futsal team that reached the national finals, but at the moment we do not have an eleven-a-side women\u2019s first team. We are evaluating this aspect carefully. Doing things properly takes time, but creating a women\u2019s first team is part of the Club\u2019s vision. Women\u2019s football is experiencing unstoppable growth, and fortunately so. Sardinia has a tradition in women\u2019s football, and I am convinced that the sport can attract the following it deserves on the island.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

THE EXPERIENCE IN TURIN<\/strong>“The two seasons I spent in Turin provided me with tremendous experience within one of the world\u2019s top clubs and a truly outstanding organization. I worked closely with both the men\u2019s and women\u2019s youth sectors and had the opportunity to appreciate the club\u2019s excellent organization, attention to detail, and commitment to quality in both technical and operational aspects. It was a wonderful and highly valuable experience.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

VIDEO | FULL PRESS CONFERENCE <\/strong><\/p>\n\n

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