The press conference of Filippo Antonelli and Giovanni Stroppa

Following the completion of their pre-season fitness tests, the Arancioneroverdi officially kick off the 2026/27 season today, Sunday, July 12. Under the guidance of Head Coach Giovanni Stroppa, the team is ready to begin its pre-season training camp in Falcade, where the squad will work until July 25 amid the stunning Dolomite peaks of the Biois Valley. Sporting Director and General Manager Filippo Antonelli and Head Coach Giovanni Stroppa officially introduce the new season, addressing both on-field and transfer market topics.

Filippo Antonelli, Sporting Director and General Manager of Venezia FC
*"Today marks the beginning of a new season. We start with motivation, pride and a clear identity. Promotion was not the result of one single night or one single decision. It began when we were relegated a year earlier and, as a club, we never lost sight of our direction. When a club remains faithful to its vision, its credibility goes beyond results and creates identity and a true sense of belonging. This promotion belongs to our ownership group led by President Francesca Bodie, it belongs to the coaching staff and the players, it belongs to everyone who is part of Venezia FC, and it certainly belongs to our supporters and our people, whose backing has made us even more responsible towards this project.
**Now a new challenge awaits us in Serie A. It is a league that tests ideas and credibility, especially when the competition becomes tougher. We want to build a solid season while remaining committed to our technical project. We have great faith in our footballing identity and in our head coach. We want to be ambitious, but never presumptuous. I would like Venezia FC to draw inspiration from the roots of its city: Venice is a miracle created by both nature and mankind, a city that has built its identity over centuries. What may once have appeared to be a fragile city became a fortress. That is exactly what I hope for this club: a club capable of standing firmly behind its ideas and identity over time. Today we begin again with the same coaching staff that guided us last season, and I am delighted to continue this project alongside Mister Stroppa and his staff."

*Giovanni Stroppa, Head Coach of Venezia FC
*"This project continues, and that fills me with pride and gives me tremendous satisfaction. At the presentation of last season I spoke about enthusiasm and a fresh start, and I fully stand by those words today. This city and these supporters deserve to be competing at this level. Stability and the ability to remain balanced will be fundamental values on the pitch.
*Over these two weeks in Falcade we will work both physically and tactically. Compared to last season, we are starting with an established method and a mentality that already reflects my footballing philosophy. Serie A is a completely different challenge compared to Serie B. Last season this team worked to become dominant; our playing identity remains the same, but this will undoubtedly be a very different league. The core of the squad is very solid, and there is every reason to enjoy this journey. The players who worked with me last season showed a winning mentality, especially during the most difficult moments. I head into our pre-season training camp in Falcade with a squad that is almost complete. Our priority now is to integrate the new signings as effectively as possible into a well-defined playing philosophy."