Juventus Director of Football Strategy Giorgio Chiellini spoke from the stage of the Social Football Summit, delivering insights into his role, the Juventus project, and the club’s future.
Chiellini said (as quoted by IlBianconero), “I am not a fan of titles but of practical work. What I feel is a support to what Juventus has been and what it needs to continue to be at every level. I shuttle between the two sides, including Vinovo, even though in recent months I have not been able to be there enough, but it is our future. What we do at Vinovo depends on part of Juventus’ future. It is a mission. We grow by following values and help give direction.”
Reflecting on his long association with the club, he recalled, “I arrived here on the feast of San Giovanni in 2004. I found a Turin in celebration. Since July 2005, I have been here continuously, except for a period where I went to play in another area, to create distance and prepare for a new phase. Some of the boys I played with are still here. That break was necessary to return differently.”
On his daily routine and responsibilities, Chiellini explained, “I drop my daughters at school and am in the office by 8:45 am. I return home in the late afternoon. Days like this are few; I am away 2-3 days a week on average. The hardest thing is managing time for everything. It does not weigh on me, and I sleep well. I try to be at the training ground daily, spending an hour before training on video analysis followed by training. This year, I am solely responsible for institutional relations, attending a few meetings in Milan and Rome regularly, and during international breaks, European duties. I also handle corporate matters and am trying to learn. For me, Juventus has always been about innovation and looking forward. We want to seize opportunities like creating an innovation hub and using the stadium more extensively. There are many external projects where I help due to curiosity and knowledge. The business and commercial side interests me as I want to understand how a football club works. I returned to this role a year ago, and there is no rush. I have gaps to fill and must learn.”
Discussing his approach to working with players and staff, he said, “I deal with players and many people around—50 at the sporting centre plus 300 employees. With players, you have to keep some distance; I am no longer their teammate. But it is easier because of my history; every word is listened to, and I have technical sensitivity, so I do not need to build credibility. I try not to invade others’ territory but to show the right path, though they have to find it themselves. This group has values, is cohesive, and does not need scolding or control. It is a healthy group building trust and strength to face difficulties. The goal is to return to winning as normal, making effort a usual pleasure, not something extraordinary. This is built daily and is not easy otherwise everyone would win. They have the human qualities; former champions in Italy no longer exist, and the importance of these values combined with technical quality can make the difference. I steal the words of someone who has worked here longer: we are custodians of certain values. We are lucky to be part of them and to have made a journey of history. It is an honour and a burden, and I feel it deeply.”
On his relationship with the players, Chiellini was clear, “I have never shouted in the dressing room. You need credibility. I say things directly. If you speak with intellectual honesty, people may disagree, but they must accept it. If I think something, I say it. For players, it is easier to accept something from me because of what I said before. What I am doing is making sure this process happens in other areas too. Those who see me every day see my commitment; if I do not understand, I ask questions—I like asking questions.”
Speaking about changes in dressing room dialogue over time, Chiellini noted, “The world has changed. I hate hearing ‘boys of the old days are gone.’ They said that to me, and we say it now. They are different because they live in a different world. There is less dialogue, that is understandable. We are more reachable from everything else in the world, more open, and know more things. In my era, there was more ignorance about professionalism. Mental health, nutrition, recovery, sleep—there are many studies now and plenty of tools to learn if you want. The most important thing is adaptability. The faster you adapt to change, the better you perform. I believe I have adaptability. I like surrounding myself with people different from me to learn and see the world differently. If everyone thinks the same, you do not improve enough. Disagreeing sometimes is part of continuous improvement. My playing career shows I reached my level later than most. I lack some managerial skills, and I want to learn them calmly without rushing, which can be a bad advisor.”
On difficult moments, he said, “I have always slept well, but the disappointment of some choices is part of responsibility. I have been part of decisions, shared ones because I am not number one. Damien shares and then takes responsibility. More people need to confront issues to make decisions. The coming months will be difficult but stimulating. The last three years brought many changes and were hard, but now there is light. Many changes are underway with a structure behind being completed. It takes more strength and is more tiring. But I see a train leaving that will bring Juventus back to the normality of winning. Now we need to give something extra, which we try to do. One must stay clear-headed and understand where we are going, even facing fan moods.”
Regarding the coach Luciano Spalletti, Chiellini said, “Wanting to win is not the same as having to win, but it is already an important step. He has been telling everyone this since day one and keeps repeating it. If you look at the table, why not? If McKennie’s header had gone in, we would be in the Champions League zone. It is all still open, aware of difficulties but also of opportunities. Everyone faces difficulties, and no one is on a straight path to winning the title; it is about details. I am a lover of balance in highs and lows. This effort helps maintain direction for the future. At the training centre, there is a whirlpool of emotions, but if you can detach yourself, it is easier to keep balance. Spalletti embraces everyone; he needs to transfer his affection and love to all. There is a lady who takes care of us in the canteen; the first thing he did was to hug her. He has this empathy and humanity and needs people with him. On the pitch, he is a different person but has empathy for all, regardless of hierarchy. I first met him in March 2024 during a national team tour in the USA. He greeted me and asked, ‘Would you hold a meeting with the defenders?’ We analysed the last game together. As an opponent, you cannot get to know each other too well, but with us, it has always been fair without clashes. In life, among Tuscans, we get along.”
On the transfer market, Chiellini mentioned, “We are missing one last piece, the sporting director. When there is one, we will be a structure with Damien leading the sports side, then me, Modesto and the sporting director deciding together. Yildiz’s contract renewal? Calm. Everyone wants it: with balance and tranquillity, everything gets done.”
