Juventus: Who is Marco Ottolini, the new sporting director? | OneFootball

From managerial beginnings at Anderlecht to the Next Gen project, up to the leap in quality with Genoa: the profile of the manager chosen by the Bianconeri

Juventus, who is Marco Ottolini: the profile of the new sporting director focused on scouting, sustainability, and talent development

Juventus has identified Marco Ottolini as the new sporting director tasked with leading the technical area during a crucial phase of its recent history. After weeks of evaluations, interviews, and comparisons with both Italian and international profiles, the Bianconeri management has chosen a young but already well-structured executive, with a solid background in scouting and talent management. The verbal agreement has been defined, with only the official announcement pending.

Born in 1980, Ottolini represents a modern figure of a sporting director: less tied to media hype and more oriented towards planning, economic-financial sustainability, and human capital growth. A profile that convinced Damien Comolli and the Juventus leadership, in search of a balance between sporting competitiveness and managerial rigor.

The origins: from Anderlecht to the first Juventus

After a past as a footballer, with experience at Brescia as well, Marco Ottolini began his managerial career away from the spotlight. In 2015, he joined Anderlecht as a scout, quickly building a reputation as a deep connoisseur of the European youth market. In three seasons, his work was appreciated for its method and vision, attracting the attention of several top clubs.

It was Juventus that set its sights on him in 2019. At the Bianconeri, Ottolini initially took on the role of scout, later becoming responsible for players on loan. A key position that allowed him to monitor the growth of young players, evaluate their progress, and optimize the club's strategic choices.

The Next Gen project and the “Club 15”

During his first stint at Juventus, Ottolini was directly involved in the development of the Next Gen project, a cornerstone of the new Bianconeri philosophy. Simultaneously, he became responsible for the “Club 15” program, defined by the club as an initiative aimed at “developing, enhancing, and maintaining relationships with foreign football clubs, promoting talents and creating a virtuous network of collaborations.”

A project designed to identify young profiles to develop in Turin or to allow youth academy players to gain quality experiences abroad. An international and systemic approach that is now central to Juventus's vision.

The leap to Genoa and the consecration as sporting director

In 2022, the definitive turning point arrived: Genoa entrusted Marco Ottolini with the role of sporting director. With the Rossoblù, the executive demonstrated his ability to combine sporting results with the enhancement of technical assets. The Grifone built competitive teams while also launching profiles destined for top-tier football.

Among the most significant operations are the paths of Radu Dragusin, now at Tottenham, Josep Martínez, who joined Inter as Sommer's deputy, and Mateo Retegui, who became a mainstay of the Italian national team. A work of scouting and management that did not go unnoticed in Turin.

The new challenge at Juventus

The termination of the contract with Genoa, which occurred last October, paved the way for a return to the Bianconeri. The talks with Juventus ultimately convinced the management, which identified Ottolini as the ideal profile to complete the sports organization chart.

The mission is clear and complex: to bring Juventus back to winning, but to do so sustainably, building value over time and reducing financial risks. An ambitious challenge, perfectly in line with the professional path of an executive who has made vision, competence, and talent growth his distinctive hallmark.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.