Rome’s Roma Women are currently setting the standard in Italian women’s football, and a significant part of their success lies in a meticulously structured training regimen that mirrors the professionalism found in the men’s game. A closer look reveals a daily routine built around detailed analysis, physical conditioning, and a growing support staff, a model that’s becoming increasingly vital for success in the evolving landscape of women’s soccer.
Currently leading Serie A Femminile with a six-point advantage over Inter and an eight-point lead over Juventus, Roma’s rise has been swift. Founded in 2018, the club has already secured two league titles, in 2023 and 2024, alongside several Coppa Italia triumphs. Their training base is the Centro Sportivo dell’Acqua Acetosa, a facility owned by the Italian Olympic Committee, where they prepare for a demanding schedule that includes Serie A play, the Coppa Italia, and participation in the Women’s Cup and Champions League.
The day begins well before the players take to the pitch. By 9:00 AM, head coach Luca Rossettini is already in meetings with key members of his staff. These meetings include the goalkeeping coach, the team physiotherapist, the head of athletic training, and two match analysts – crucial figures responsible for dissecting video footage of both Roma’s performances and those of their upcoming opponents. Shortly after, the team doctor arrives, having just completed a check-up of any injured players. This emphasis on pre-training preparation highlights the club’s commitment to a holistic approach.
The training session itself is divided into two distinct parts: a gym-based component followed by on-field work. The on-field session typically begins around 11:30 AM, but the groundwork is laid hours earlier. This structure, while demanding, is designed to maximize player performance and minimize the risk of injury.
What sets Roma apart isn’t just the training schedule, but the size and expertise of the support staff. As former Roma coach and current general director Elisabetta Bavagnoli explained, she actively advocated for the club to adopt the same level of professional support seen in the men’s game. “When I stopped coaching and started a different role, I fought to explain to the club what would be needed to grow, and that is exactly what professional men’s football already does,” Bavagnoli told *Il Post*.
In 2018, when Bavagnoli began her tenure as coach, the team was supported by just six individuals. Today, that number has doubled, with specialists dedicated to every aspect of the players’ well-being: technical coaching, nutritional guidance, and medical care. A dedicated nutritionist now creates personalized meal plans for each player, and a specialized RTP (Return to Play) team – consisting of an additional physiotherapist and athletic trainer – focuses exclusively on players recovering from injuries.
Coach Rossettini, in his first season leading the team in Serie A Femminile, recognizes the importance of this comprehensive support system. Having spent his playing career in Serie A and most recently coaching Padova’s youth teams, he’s accustomed to having a large and skilled team around him. He believes Roma Women now possesses “a structure and organizational chart that is comparable to some men’s Serie A and Serie B teams.”
The preparation doesn’t finish with physical training. At 10:30 AM on Thursdays, the players gather in the video analysis room. Dressed in their official training gear – shorts, a t-shirt, and a zipped jacket bearing the Roma logo – they settle into their usual seats, a ritual born of superstition. One of the match analysts provides simultaneous translation for any foreign players still learning Italian. Following the video session, the players split into two groups and head to the “club house,” a separate building housing the physiotherapy and gym facilities.
Before stepping onto the pitch, players spend an hour in the gym, guided by the “performance department” staff. Midfielder Manuela Giugliano, the first Italian woman nominated for the Ballon d’Or, warms up on a stationary bike, while others lift weights or complete abdominal exercises. The atmosphere is energized by rap music, punctuated by the team’s anthem, “Mai sola mai,” which some players sing along to.
The team’s current training location at Acqua Acetosa is a result of logistical necessity. The Roma men’s team’s training center at Trigoria lacked the space to accommodate the women’s team and its youth squads. Maintaining proximity for technical continuity was deemed important, leading to the decision to rent facilities at the CONI-owned center. Bavagnoli, however, emphasizes the long-term goal of securing a dedicated space for the women’s team. “It would be important to have a space all our own, where we can be together. Also since the ownership [the Friedkin Group] continues to invest money in facilities that they do not actually own,” she stated.
The investment extends to improvements at the Stadio Tre Fontane, the team’s home ground, which is owned by the municipality. This highlights a broader trend of increased investment in women’s football, but also the challenges of relying on facilities not directly controlled by the club.
By 11:30 AM, the on-field training session begins. It concludes around 1:00 PM, marking the end of a four-hour process that takes players and staff through the office, video room, physiotherapy, gym, and finally, the pitch. This routine, closely mirroring that of a men’s Serie A team, is proving instrumental in Roma’s success.
Roma Women face Inter in the first leg of the Coppa Italia semi-final today, March 12th, at 6:00 PM local time (18:00 CET). The team will then turn its attention back to Serie A play, continuing their pursuit of a third consecutive league title. The commitment to a professional training structure, spearheaded by coach Rossettini and supported by a growing staff, positions Roma Women as a force to be reckoned with in Italian women’s football.
