“It is within me, as if it still gave me indications, even in my journey in the world of football”. Paolo Rossi’s wife between a legacy to carry on and a demanding assignment in FIGC: “The last European has been a great spot. It is an opportunity not to be missed”
Federica Cappelletti has two daughters, Maria Vittoria and Sofia Elena, a great love for her husband Paolo Rossi who left almost five years ago and two tasks to carry on: continue to keep alive the memory of the world champion also through the Foundation and try to progress and give stability on the level of the image to Italian women’s football. “We are back in the powers, the blue are very respected. The European has been a great spot, a value not to be missed”. Federica since 2023 has been president of the FIGC female Serie A division. In an evolving world, between daring climbs and inevitable descents, tries to keep the bar straight.
Federica, let’s start with the memory of Paolo, her husband.
“Continuing to transmit his values and keeping his memory alive is important not only for me and for the family, but also for Italy: Paolo still embodies the world champion hero in 1982. It is an icon and his impact goes beyond sporting successes. It is the dream that is realized, with significant highs and lows. Still interest to young people and with the Foundation I try to bring his message around the world. United Nations: no Italian athlete had had this honor.
What did he have special?
“Falls, rebirth, redemption: his life is like a film. And shortly there will also be important news from this point of view”.
She still placed very romantic memories and phrases on social networks, yet the years have passed …
“For me it is as if it had never gone. It is within me, as if it still gave me indications, even in my journey in the world of football. But the pain for its absence is strong and every now and then I put a post. Many always remember him with great affection”.
When he entered the federation, someone thought it was thanks to his surname. Do you ever feel recommended?
“More than anything else privileged. Being a wife of Paolo Rossi means having a true plus that I decided to put at the service of women’s football. Sodious work, even on Saturdays and Sundays if you need. And then I always say it to my daughters: if you fight to conquer one thing and get it, in the end it is more beautiful. I feel lucky with many projects in the pipeline, but I can say that no one has given me anything”.
Her daughters have already decided what they will do?
“It’s a bit early, they are 15 and 13 years old, but they study a lot. They are model students. In this I am lucky in this.”
We come to his commitment in women’s football. Memories of the European Championship?
“I also returned to Switzerland for the final, where we could and we should have been there, and I can say that Italy has a great reputation: I saw many technical improvements, the opinions of experts and former players who tell me that they have fans and have seen with pleasure of women’s football matches also comfort me. It is a heritage that we must not disperse”.
There was enthusiasm even after the 2019 World Cup, but in the months it was spent …
“A national team that collects almost five million viewers cannot return to silence. We have seen the team game beautiful on the pitch and outside, these are girls who cried joyful tears and moved in front of the President of the Republic. They have strong values, solidarity, loyalty. They also conquered skeptics”.
Would they like it?
“He would have loved the ability to convey strong emotions, as he had done. Paolo would be proud of our national team and would give me a good hand in my work: he had a modern vision”.
Is women’s football done for those who do not like football?
“It is also done for those who have moved away from football and see in these girls so much spontaneity and commitment, in addition to technical growth. I repeat, the European has been a great spot and must not be lost”.
In the meantime, however, a new competition starts before the championship, the Women’s Cup, and there is controversy for invented TV rights.
“It is a sterile controversy. It is a new competition, it takes time, with the announcement we received an offer that did not meet the requirements. They are normal dynamics and there is already a well -started private negotiation. There are no clouds on the horizon, not that type of clouds”.
Do they hurt certain criticism?
“They don’t hurt me but I’m sorry. In any case, I take criticism in the positive sense. We will have to find a recipe for the sustainability of women’s football and football in general in the next time. Criticizing less and supporting more: so you grow up”.
Many blue, as a singer, are moving abroad to important championships: does the A impoverish?
“We will miss, but it is right that they have opportunities, and then they will put together a luggage that will enrich our championship and our national team. The vivacity of the Serie A market is an important signal for Italian football”.
Federica, do you have a dream?
“I would like an established women’s football, I would like to get to a point where there is no need to scream to conquer credibility. Seeing games in important stadiums. And then, if Italy made a good result in the World Cup in Brazil, considering my husband’s businesses … well, it would be beautiful”.
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