In the long list of Atalanta Primavera’s trophies, there are also three Italian Cups won: the first one was claimed in the 1999-2000 season, the second in the 2000-2001 season, and the third in the 2002-2003 season. Gian Carlo Finardi, Youth Teams Competitive Activity Coordinator, is the common denominator to all three of these victories: “It’s the work of the whole youth academy”.

Atalanta Primavera’s long list of trophies includes three Italian Cups. The first one was won in the 1999-2000 season, the second one in the 2000/01 season, while the third one was won in the 2002/03 season. Gian Carlo Finardi, who is the Coordinator of the Youth Teams’ Competitive Activity, is the common thread of these three victories.

“Yes, at the beginning of the 2000s I had the luck of winning three Italian Cups. Moreover, in 2000/01 and in 2002/03 we lost the Scudetto to Inter in the final. It could have been an extraordinary journey. But the biggest joy was that the players that performed [for that Primavera side] then played for the first team. It’s the Academy’s goal”.

Which of these three victories was the most satisfying, the most difficult and the most unexpected final?

“The most satisfying win was the second one in Bari, I think, which we won with a team that was less competitive on paper than the other ones. But we played well against each opponent and won, in the end. Moreover, we won the first and the second final away, the first one against Napoli, we tied 1-1 at home and then turned it around in Naples. At the time we were lucky as, besides the Primavera squad, some lads who already played for the first team joined us to play in those important matches. There were Pinardi, Natali, Bellini who were included in the Primavera squad. While the 2002/03 final was maybe the luck of Atalanta’s first team, of the Club, as there were lads that stood out in the first team later. There were Michael Agazzi, who was in goal, Perico, Canini, Padoin, Lazzari, Pazzini, Montolivo. Vavassori, who coached the first team, sent us Pià and Bianchi for the final, who already played for the first team, as Pazzini was suspended. So, we claimed that amazing win at the stadium in Bergamo against Lazio. These were all three different situations but each win was amazing”. 

Mauro Minelli, Roberto Previtali and Cristian Raimondi were in the Primavera squad that won the first two trophies. They were the driving forces behind the group that won the trophy in the 2000/01 season, as being a group and being united is decisive. The current Primavera squad is certainly a close-knit and cohesive group. They will face Fiorentina U19s in the cup final on Wednesday in Venice. It’s important to raise young players, but lifting a trophy can also be a great boost.

“It’s the part of the lads’ path, if Atalanta repeat their achievements these years, it’s thanks to Maurizio [Costanzi’s] work, to the Staff, to whom who worked with the players. You said earlier that there was Finardi in those victories. But I always say that it’s the Academy’s victory, the victory of the lads’ basic activities that they do since their childhood, [the victory] of the scouting team that finds new players. It’s the win of former Head of Academy Mino Favini, and now Maurizio Costanzi, who creates conditions for everyone to grow. It’s [the victory] of the coaching staff, as over these years all Atalanta’s Academy’s youth teams, starting from the Primavera, did an exceptional job. If you reach three finals in three years, and this year we reached the Coppa Italia final, it means that you have worked hard. There are new players every year. So, it’s a feature of growing in the Academy, it’s always a joy to reach [these goals]. Everyone says that the result doesn’t count but reaching the very end and winning a trophy brings joy to everyone”.