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There have been few major changes and plenty of continuity in the coaching staff across the Italy Men’s Youth National Teams, with the arrival of Giovanni Costantino as Under-16 head coach the only real new appointment.
At the top of the pyramid, there is no change at the helm of the Under-21s. Silvio Baldini remains firmly in charge after the good work done last season, finishing second in Group E of European qualifying with 21 points from seven wins and one defeat, 25 goals scored (the best attacking record in the group), and just five conceded. Baldini also served as interim head coach of the Senior National Team for the June friendlies away to Luxembourg and Greece, both of which ended in 1-0 victories. He will once again be assisted by 2006 World Cup winner Andrea Barzagli, who will continue in his role as assistant coach.
There is no change for the Under-20s either, with Carmine Nunziata remaining in charge. The coach, who took temporary charge of the Under-21s for June’s friendly against Albania in Fontanafredda, which the Azzurrini won 1-0, is entering his 14th season with Italy. His first role, as Luigi Di Biagio’s assistant, dates back to the 2012/13 campaign. He will once again be able to count on Matteo Brighi's support. The new addition to the staff is Christian Maggio, who has been promoted from the Under-19s and will serve as assistant coach alongside Brighi, reuniting a duo who previously worked with the Campania-born coach at Under-21 level in 2024/25, a season that ended with a European Championship quarter-final defeat to Germany in Slovakia.
Following Alberto Bollini’s move to the Senior National Team as part of new head coach Roberto Mancini’s coaching staff, the Under-19s will be entrusted to Massimiliano Favo. Last season, Favo led the Under-18s to a historic bronze medal at the Under-17 World Cup in Qatar. He will be succeeded by Daniele Franceschini, fresh from European Championship success in Estonia, Italy’s second title in the competition after their triumph in Cyprus in 2024. The chain of promotions concludes with Manuel Pasqual, who steps up from the Under-16s to take charge of the reigning European champions at Under-17 level.
The only new face is Under-16 head coach Giovanni Costantino. A coach with extensive international experience, Costantino began his career in Finland with Futura’s youth teams before also coaching the Åland United women’s team. He subsequently worked as part of Marco Rossi’s coaching staff at Honvéd in Hungary, Dunajská Streda in Slovakia and with the Hungary national team. As a head coach, he has been in charge of MTK Budapest in Hungary, Casarano in Italy’s Serie D, Agia Napa in Cyprus, FCU Craiova in Romania and, most recently, Petrocub Hîncești in Moldova, which he left in January 2025 for family reasons. He now brings his wealth of experience abroad to Italy’s youth national-team pathway.
There is also continuity at Under-15 level, where Enrico Battisti remains in charge, and with the Under-14s, where Luigi Milani will continue in his role as supervisor.
MEN’S YOUTH NATIONAL TEAMS
Youth Development Projects Coordinator: Gianfranco Zola
Men’s Youth National Teams Coordinator: Maurizio Viscidi
Men’s Youth National Teams Deputy Coordinator: Daniele Zoratto
Under-21 National Team
Head coach: Silvio Baldini; Assistant coach: Andrea Barzagli; Coaching staff: Mattia Baldini, Diego Labricciosa and Mauro Nardini; Goalkeeping coach: Stefano Pardini; Fitness coach: Vito Azzone.
Under-20 National Team
Head coach: Carmine Nunziata; Assistant coaches: Matteo Brighi and Christian Maggio; Goalkeeping coach: Fabrizio Ferron; Fitness coach: Luca Coppari.
Under-19 National Team
Head coach: Massimiliano Favo; Assistant coach: Davide Cei; Goalkeeping coach: Davide Quironi; Fitness coach: Adalberto Zamuner.
Under-18 National Team
Head coach: Daniele Franceschini; Assistant coach: Marco Scarpa; Goalkeeping coach: Francesco Antonioli; Fitness coach: Roberto Ghielmetti.
Under-17 National Team
Head coach: Manuel Pasqual; Assistant coach: Matteo Barella; Goalkeeping coach: Graziano Vinti; Fitness coach: Nicolò Varesco.
Under-16 National Team
Head coach: Giovanni Costantino; Assistant coach: Mirco Gasparetto; Fitness coach: Francesco Cosentino.
Under-15 National Team
Head coach: Enrico Battisti; Assistant coach: Antonio Candreva; Fitness coach: Luca Bossi.
Under-14 Project
Supervisor: Luigi Milani