ANTONELLI: "UNITED LIKE A CREW, DRIVEN BY AMBITION"

“We Want a Strong and Ambitious Venezia” – Venezia FC Sporting Director & General Manager Filippo Antonelli’s Vision
Following last night’s team presentation, Venezia FC Sporting Director & General Manager Filippo Antonelli spoke to the club’s official channels, outlining his vision for the future of the club.

The city and the fans have recognized the journey you’ve led since December 2022, built on professionalism, long-term planning and results. What does this journey mean to you, and how strong is your bond with the Venezia supporters?
“I feel a deep connection with the Venezia family and with this city. Hearing an entire stadium chant your name is an incredible emotion, but above all, it is a great responsibility. It means people recognize and believe in the work you are doing, and that trust has to be earned every single day.
Throughout this journey, I have always felt the complete trust of our ownership, even at times when some of my decisions required courage and conviction. For an executive, knowing you can rely on owners who share your vision and support your daily work is invaluable. At the start of this new Serie A season, I would like to thank President Francesca Bodie and all the Venezia FC shareholders for their expertise, passion and unwavering support. They have backed this project with significant investment and a clear long-term vision. It is thanks to that stability that we can build a club capable of competing today while planning for tomorrow.
When I arrived in December 2022, we began this journey with one very clear idea: to build a strong club before building a strong team. Over these years we have experienced difficult moments as well as extraordinary achievements, but we have never changed direction.
In football, the past tells the story of what you have done. The future depends on what you choose to be every day.”

How do you approach the upcoming Serie A season?
*“We approach Serie A with this mindset: to keep growing without ever losing our identity. We are working to build a Venezia that is both strong and ambitious.”

A few months ago, speaking about the club’s relegation from Serie A in 2024/25, you said: “We lost our place in the division, but we never lost our direction.” What defines that direction?
“Relegation in the 2024/25 season hurt us deeply. It would have been easy to question everything. Instead, we chose to do the opposite.
We believed that, beyond the final result, Venezia had built solid foundations. We had talented players in the squad with a strong connection to the club and the local area. That is why, last season, we launched a new technical project with head coach Giovanni Stroppa, a winning, ambitious professional whose vision perfectly matched ours. We built an even more competitive squad in Serie B, adding quality without giving up the values that had brought us this far. Thanks to the work of the coach, his staff, the players and everyone at the club, we earned our return to the top flight.
Our path is based on balance, hard work every day and very few grand declarations. I believe that is the true Venezia model: an ambitious club, proud of its roots, united in difficult moments and always looking ahead.”

Venezia’s growth is evident not only on the pitch but also in its infrastructure and business model. What are the club’s objectives, and what message would you like to send to the fans?
“The Venezia project is growing in every area. Investments in our infrastructure, the stadium, the training centre, the youth academy and, of course, the first team all reflect a very clear vision of what this club wants to become.
We do not simply want to build a competitive team. We want to build a club that is built to last.
In the transfer market, we look for talented players, whether young or experienced, who all share the same qualities: hunger, ambition and the desire to identify with Venezia. They join a core group of players from last season who possess a strong football identity, have developed together and maintain a close bond with the local area.
To our supporters, I would say this: your enthusiasm is our energy. Together we are stronger. If we continue rowing in the same direction, we can face Serie A with courage and pride.”

You have always said that the spirit of Venice—its majesty and its unique blend of land and sea—must define the footballing identity of Venezia FC.
“Venezia FC must draw its strength and inspiration from its land, its sea and its people.
This land is, by its very nature, a miracle created by both humanity and nature. It has built its uniqueness by turning challenges into strengths, and after centuries it continues to captivate the world with its majesty and incomparable beauty.
Venezia FC is just like its city and its people: courageous, united like the crew of a ship, and driven by ambition.”