Italy U21 boss Silvio Baldini predicts his assistant Andrea Barzagli, a former Juventus and Italy defender, is ‘truly’ talented and ‘will have a great career as a coach, if he finds a good sporting director.’
Baldini spoke to Gazzetta dello Sport after securing qualification for the U21 Euros, to be played next year.
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Fiorentina midfielder Cher Ndour grabbed headlines after Italy U21’s latest 6-2 win over Poland U21, scoring from seven meters out.
Baldini ‘surprised’ by Barzagli
CREMONA, ITALY – OCTOBER 14: Coach Silvio Baldini of Italy listens to the national anthem during the UEFA Euro U21 Qualification match between Italy and Armenia at Stadio Giovanni Zini on October 14, 2025 in Cremona, Italy. (Photo by Marco M. Mantovani/Getty Images)
During his interview with Gazzetta, Baldini also spoke about his assistant, Andrea Barzagli, who won multiple Serie A titles with Juventus and lifted the 2006 World Cup with Italy as a player. Baldini praised the ex-defender highly.
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“A surprise. I never would have thought that someone with his pedigree as a player would be so humble. It’s as if he had always played at the amateur level and were eager to learn the trade,” Baldini said.
CESENA, ITALY – OCTOBER 10: Silvio Baldini head coach of Italy U21 during the UEFA Under21 EURO Qualifier betweenItaly U21 v Sweden U21 and ad hoc Arena im Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld on October 10, 2025 in Cesena, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
“He has my complete respect; in fact, during technical meetings, he’s the one who gives the explanations, not me. He’s truly talented, and if he finds a good sporting director, he’ll have a great career as a coach too.”
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Barzagli, 45, won, among other trophies, eight Serie A titles with Juventus and four Coppa Italia titles.
Juventus players (L-R) Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini and Andrea Barzagli celebrate at the end of the UEFA Champions League quarter final, second leg soccer match between FC Barcelona and Juventus FC at Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, 19 April 2017. EPA/ALEJANDRO GARCIA
He also played for Chievo Verona and Palermo in Serie A and Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga. Barzagli also won the German title in 2008-09.
Baldini returned to coaching the Italy U21 team after briefly serving as the senior team’s caretaker coach in June for friendly games against Luxembourg and Greece.
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