Simonelli warning: ‘Italy has 50 per cent fewer players available than in 2006’ | OneFootball

Lega Serie A President Ezio Maria Simonelli warns the statistics explain why Italy are struggling. ‘In 2006, we had 400 players who could be called up, but today it is just 190.’

The Azzurri are one of the most successful nations in World Cup history, winning the trophy four times, most recently in 2006.

However, they have now failed to qualify for three consecutive editions of the tournament, and Italian football is wondering where it all went so very wrong.

Simonelli identifies Italy problem

BERGAMO, ITALY – MARCH 26: Sandro Tonali of Italy celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with teammates Mateo Retegui and Moise Kean during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs match between Italy and Northern Ireland at Stadio di Bergamo on March 26, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Speaking at the Sport and Finance convention, Lega Serie A chief Simonelli points to the foundations.

“In 2006, we had circa 400 players who could be called up by the Nazionale, but today it is just 190. That means starting out with over 50 per cent fewer options to choose from,” he noted.

The areas where players traditionally came up from the streets and played at the top level are becoming ghost towns for professionals now.

“From Sicily, an island with 4.7 million inhabitants, there is just one player in the top five European leagues. Calabria, with 1.8 million inhabitants, is in a similar situation. Is it possible that such dense areas of this country’s population produce just 1 per cent of its players?

“Until we relaunch Italian football, it will be difficult to relaunch the financial side of the sport too.”

MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 14: Former Juventus and FC Internazionale Milano player, Roberto Baggio, looks on prior to the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Juventus FC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on February 14, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

The issue had already been highlighted by the famous Roberto Baggio dossier, which suggested investment in Federation academies in the areas where kids traditionally played football.

It was largely ignored and the problem continued to grow worse as time went on.