Following the announcement of the coaching staff, the FIGC has also confirmed the new heads of delegation for the women's youth national teams. Commissioner Giovanni Malagò and Claudio Ranieri, Technical Director and President of Club Italia, have selected the figures who will take on these roles, starting with Daniela Sabatino. Having retired from playing just a few months ago, the former Italy international is now ready to put her experience to good use with Tatiana Zorri's Under-23 side. She will be joined at Club Italia by Carolina Pini, Margherita Claudia Gioia Masia and Valentina Boni, who will take on the same roles with the Under-19, Under-17 and Under-16 teams respectively.

"I would like to wish Sabatino, Pini, Masia and Boni every success in their new roles as heads of delegation for our women's youth national teams," said Malagò. "These appointments are an important step in recognising the value of four former Italy internationals. They also reaffirm the FIGC's commitment to involving those with first-hand experience of the game, whose knowledge, expertise and passion can help support the next generation."

 

Sabatino celebrates after scoring twice against Malta in 2019

Sabatino now begins a new chapter in a remarkable career that saw her score more than 300 Serie A goals and win a host of trophies with Brescia and Reggiana, including two league titles, four Coppa Italia titles and four Supercoppa titles. Born in 1985, the former striker from Agnone also played for Milan, Fiorentina and Sassuolo, finishing as Serie A's top scorer in both 2011 and 2022. She made her Italy debut in 2005 and went on to score 32 goals in 70 appearances for the national team.

 

Masia in action against Germany at EURO 2005

The other three heads of delegation also have extensive experience representing Italy. Pini, a midfielder born in Florence in 1988, spent several years at Bayern Munich before becoming a lecturer in Italian language and literature at Ludwig Maximilian University in the same city. She earned 28 senior Italy caps between 2006 and 2013, scoring three goals, and shared the dressing room with Masia during her first two appearances.A former defender born in Sassari in 1977, Masia made 60 appearances for Italy and played more than 250 matches for Torres, winning ten trophies with the club: three league titles, five Coppa Italia titles and two Supercoppa titles. Boni, a former attacking midfielder born in Peschiera del Garda in 1983, won 61 caps for Italy and collected 11 trophies during her time at Bardolino Verona. She also won the Coppa Italia with Brescia, where she played alongside Sabatino and several other prominent Italy internationals, including Viviana Schiavi, Sara Gama, Cristiana Girelli, Barbara Bonansea and Martina Rosucci.