From the risk of failure in Excellence to promotion among the professionals: the prince talks about four years of sacrifices and victories: “We will take the whole team on holiday, to Ibiza or Mykonos. They deserved it”
Emanuele Filiberto celebrated his Savoia’s return to Serie C by letting out a liberating cry: “I was moved, I couldn’t stop. They were tears of joy. I followed the last championship match against Sancataldese from Los Angeles, at 5 in the morning everyone was asleep, I was in front of the screen to support the team. At the final whistle I immediately called the president Nazario Matachione, the fans had already overwhelmed him”. The club from Torre Annunziata – led by the grandson of the last King of Italy – dominated Group I of Serie D, finishing at the top of the table and gaining the promotion among the professionals that had been missing for 11 years: “It was an exciting championship. We challenged many excellent teams, with Nissa and Reggina it was a duel until the last day. The credit for this promotion goes to Mister Catalano, the players, the entire management and my members. We are a family. This club has my surname and is represented by the coat of arms of the Savoy dynasty. It is the other half of my heart”.
Principe, in recent years Torre Annunziata has become his second home.
“Everyone calls me Emanuele, let’s leave the noble title for formal occasions. I arrived in the city in November 2022, I immediately fell in love with the people and this team. The club was in Excellence, it risked bankruptcy. Three fans had taken it over for free to avoid the abyss. Together with my partners we chose to invest in the club because we believed we could build a winning project”.
I will return to Torre Annunziata for the promotion party, but first I will go to the church to thank the Madonna
You did it: Savoia is back among the professionals eleven years after the last time.
“At the beginning of the season, president Matachione told me: ‘We will win the championship’. I hoped for it, but I knew how complicated it was. We managed to put together a squad of young and motivated players. The promotion is the result of the excellent work that began almost four years ago.”
He announced his desire to purchase Savoia during a public meeting at the Sanctuary of Madonna della Neve.
“It is one of the most important places in the city, I am devoted and very attached to that basilica. I returned to Torre Annunziata for the promotion party and went to the church to thank the Madonna for having protected us and given us this incredible joy”.
The team triumphed in group I, placing just two points ahead of Nissa.
“I’ll tell you an anecdote. Last summer, before the group draw, I was in a restaurant in Caltanissetta. Luca Giovannone, president of Nissa, was also in the same room. We started chatting and he told me: ‘Maybe we’ll challenge each other, but be careful because I’m building a group to win’. I replied to him that I was also working towards the same goal. It was nice to fight with them until the last second.”
We will take the whole team on holiday, they are choosing between Ibiza and Mykonos. They deserved it
The club received many congratulatory messages following the promotion.
“Genoa wrote us a beautiful letter. In 1924 Savoia came close to winning the scudetto by losing in the final against the rossoblù. In that period the champions of the North and the South were competing for the title. Atalanta was also complimented. The message that Ciro Immobile, a striker born and raised in the city, dedicated to us was also exciting.”
Have you also heard from your friend Aurelio De Laurentiis?
“I imagine he’s happy. His father Luigi was originally from Torre Annunziata. When I bought the club I was inspired by him, he’s an example. With De Laurentiis, Napoli started from Serie C and became a reference in Europe. Given the territorial proximity, it would be nice to create a synergy between the Azzurri and Savoy.”
With the club he chose to focus on young people from day zero.
“We built an Academy to allow kids to have fun on the pitch and chase their dreams. In recent years in Torre Annunziata the figure on school dropouts has dropped drastically. Young people need to know that there is an alternative to the streets: education, training, sport. This is the city where Giancarlo Siani worked, a symbol of the fight against crime. We must remember this every day”.
We want to get to Serie B in the next 3 years
In view of next season you have chosen to change coach and sporting director. Why?
“Mister Catalano and sporting director Mazzei were two pillars of this triumph. Those who really win also know when it’s time to stop. My most sincere thanks go to them. In the meantime, the modernization work on the Giraud stadium must continue. We need the Municipality to respect the deadlines to obtain usability from the League. We want to play in Torre Annunziata, in front of our fans. We have no intention of traveling around Italy to find a facility that will host us.”
Once the championship round is over, the management has a commitment to keep with the players.
“We will take everyone on holiday, they are choosing between Ibiza and Mykonos. They deserved it.”
Before leaving you celebrated in the city last May 16th.
“In recent months I have followed the matches from home, I get too emotional at the stadium. Sunday’s result affects my mood for the following week. Savoia is me, the dynasty, my partners, the people of Torre Annunziata. A big family that has finally returned to winning ways.”
“Arriving in Serie B within three years. I really admire the Como model. I dream of seeing my Savoia higher and higher.”
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