Alessandro Gazzi: Football, Writing & Life Insights

There are stories that teach how in football there are many ways to make a difference. Even without having phenomenal careers, without number ten feet. Alessandro Gazzi – a midfielder who has made over 200 appearances in Serie A – had already found his own way of telling what he was experiencing while playing, going beyond the pitch and focusing on emotions: first with a blog, then with books and articles. “I’m someone who brought reading material even to training camp, I’ve always been curious. I’d like to dispel the myth of the ignorant footballer, that’s not the case.” A praise of simplicity, rare for a world like that of football. “I’m a quiet guy, I’ve always tried to stay away from the spotlight. A normal person, maybe too much so. But never mind. It’s my way of being. And sometimes I even paid for it.”

You were a footballer-author. Particular for someone who played in Serie A for a long time.

“I had opened a blog in 2014. I spoke with a psychologist and we discussed the importance of the mental aspect in football. So I felt like trying to talk about what I was experiencing. For example, the emotion in a crucial moment became an opportunity to describe a particular sensation. And many in the locker room appreciated it.”

Then he moved on to books and articles. There too he tried to tell his life and his experience.

“It all started from Agassi’s book. When I read it, I remember thinking: “But then these are emotions that many of us share”. And I chose to tell mine too. I believe that in my book too, albeit in a different way, the contrast between the love for this sport and the “hatred” for the anxiety and pressure that came from it emerges a bit.”

For a time he also wrote reviews in the historic Book of the Month Index.

“A nice parenthesis, which lasted a few months. I remember the review of “The Perfect Match, Philosophy of Football” and “A Brief History of the Unconscious”. I enjoyed it. It was a way to broaden my horizons.”

In retreat, while her classmates played PlayStation, she read.

“At the beginning I did both. Then, however, books took over. I would like to mention two authors who have remained inside me and opened my mind: Cormac McCarthy and Kazuo Ishiguro”.

Do you recommend them to your daughters today?

“There is a lot of discussion between us. They study, they read a lot, I think I have taught them the importance of knowledge and a love for curiosity.”

Now let’s move on to his book. “A life as a midfielder. Anxiety, sweat and Serie A”. Is all Alessandro in there?

“There are many stories in history. Faces, characters, speeches, emotions. Often it goes beyond the field, I hope it is passed on as a message.”

In 18 years and 519 appearances among the pros he has seen a lot. We start from Reggio Calabria, the first time in Serie A.

“A crazy season. They started from -15, I arrived in January. We took to the pitch just to win without looking at the rankings. Everyone thought we were doomed, but instead we saved ourselves with an incredible ride.”

Then Serie A reached it again with Bari with Conte as coach.

“He was a Count in his early days, but you could already see his imprint. He impressed me with his ambition and his obsessive preparation. I remember entire sessions spent rehearsing a play endlessly.” Is he the coach who gave you the most from a human point of view? “Antonio was incredible. He always managed to surprise you. Once, the day after a defeat, he showed up in the locker room and read us a poem by Kipling. I was expecting overturned tables and screams, but instead he gave us a lesson quoting a poet. I still have that paper.

“In Bari he told me: “There are no midfielders like you in Serie B. Demonstrate your value”. Do you understand what I mean when I talk about emotions? He gave me a unique boost. From there I became his soldier 100%. For him I would have even gone to war.”

Bonucci was also in that team. Even if you had already met…

“Yes, but I didn’t know it. At 20 I was playing in Viterbo and in the youth team there was Bonucci who was a ball boy. He told me this the first day we met. He was already strong and had a great personality.”

In Bari he was involved in the betting scandal. He settled for a disqualification of 3 months and 20 days.

“I was accused of failing to report. I am a private person, I had nothing to do with this story. I simply minded my own business and got involved anyway.”

You had Ventura as a coach. With her for six years between Bari and Turin.

“I think the failure against Italy left its mark on him. He’s a gentleman. I even clashed with him: we discussed like men, tackling the problems. I wasn’t playing and I wasn’t happy, he explained to me. I got to know him well, he’s a real person.”

In Turin you shared magical moments.

“There I reached the pinnacle of my career: the Europa League, the victory in Bilbao and the derby against Juve. The Granata fans sang to me “you can’t pass with a red light”. I carry them in my heart”.

In closing, what is Gazzi doing today?

“The coach on Zaffaroni’s staff, I study and watch a lot of matches. In the meantime I write. It helps me organize my thoughts. I don’t know if there are other player-writers, I don’t think. I hope someone starts, it would be a useful comparison.”