Club “Ciociaria” for the first time participates in the general assembly of the ECA, an association that brings together the main European teams. Three days in Berlin includes a series of speeches about the future of continental football. Integrity and stability of the common thread. Ambassadors of the yellow-blue club Rosario Zoino, Managing Director, and Piero Doronzo, Organizational Director.
International company. Not only because he sits at the negotiating table with Real Madrid, Bayern and Juventus. Reinier, Ibrahimovic, Cooney, Barrenechea, Sule AND Cayo Jorge. But also for sports strategy and politics, so much so that for the first time in its history he took part in the general assembly of the ECA, an association that represents European clubs and promotes continental football.
The presence is not only symbolic: after Serie A, Frosinone wants to start moving in a wider perimeter. Another step for the Ciociaria Club, which is aware that professional sport is now globalized and we also need to look beyond national borders. In this way, the transition to an appointment in Berlin becomes mandatory and, among other things, can be a source of pride for the entire territory.
Honesty and sustainability
The 30th ESA Assembly, which began on Tuesday at the InterContinental Hotel in Berlin, is attended by members and associated clubs as well as, for the first time, companies from the ESA network, making this assembly an exceptional opportunity for an unprecedented number of teams within the ECA Family. Frosinone’s ambassadors are organizing director Piero Doronso and managing director Rosario Zoino, an expert on the yellow and blue clubs. The integrity and sustainability of football for all clubs will be at the center of the three-day event: themes that Frosinone have been pursuing with firmness and concrete projects in recent years.
The Assembly opened the new ECA cycle (2023-2027) and will be an important strategic moment. The first opportunity to implement the many management changes unanimously approved by the General Assembly in March. These include the election of a new council (two seats reserved for women), women’s clubs becoming ECA members for the first time, and an increase in membership to over 330 full and associate members.
The future of European football is at stake
In Berlin, the clubs will meet to determine the future of continental club football. Key stakeholders involved in the latest developments in the movement will speak and ESA members will participate in the election of a new ESA Governing Council. Hosted by renowned host Hayley McQueen, the Berlin Assembly promises to be the largest association in history, bringing together hundreds of clubs from across Europe. In addition to speeches by ESA Presidents Nasser Al-Khelaifi, Aleksander Čeferin UEFA, Gianni Infantino FIFA and Mahmut Özdemir, Parliamentary Secretary of State at the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community Affairs, participants will be able to attend a meeting of three leaders in business, entertainment and sports.
“Their ideas are sure to spark interesting discussions between our clubs and give a glimpse of the future of football.”explained Charlie Marshall, CEO of ECA. We are talking about Natalie Portman, actress, producer, author, and co-founder of City of Angels Football Club (the world’s first and only all-female-funded franchise playing in the Women’s National Football League in the United States). She is a philanthropist and will speak about the potential of women’s football and the power of women leaders working in the sport. Then Timothy Leiveke who has over 30 years of experience in the world of sports and entertainment, contributing to the development of the NHL, NBA and MLS. He founded Oak View Group (OVG) in 2015 and is the company’s CEO.
This will close the table Sir Steve Hansen, one of the greatest coaches of our time. His record as head coach of the New Zealand All Blacks is unmatched with 107 international appearances, 93 wins, 4 draws and 10 losses. He has won 2 Rugby World Cups, was named World Manager of the Year in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2016 and was knighted by the Queen in 2020.
Stirpe’s European vision
Frosinone’s plans beyond national borders are nothing new. At one time, the president emphasized that even the smallest clubs should be able to enter the international arena, both for sporting and commercial reasons. Maurizio Stirpe also put forward the idea of holding competitions reserved for minor clubs, in a way anticipating the birth of the Conference League.
Among other things, Frosinone held a retreat in Canada in 2018 in an atmosphere of great enthusiasm from expatriates Chochari and beyond. Moreover, the company has launched projects in China and Hungary to promote its brand and youth sector methodologies. Now the ESA assembly should raise the bar and become international after returning to Serie A.
