Secco Saves a Life

By: agiamba | July 17th, 2009
   

Secco has undergone quite the transformation in the eyes of many. Once regarded as a clueless Moggi assistant who bumbled his way through the mercato, last season he was named the Most Improved Transfer Director. I said that I thought Secco was improving and that given Juve’s reputation and standing it was difficult enough for him to conduct initial transfers. He’s received plenty of applause this mercato for pulling off two solid signings, showing his willingness to splash the cash and pick up talent. Secco did something different the other night, helping to save a man’s life.

From Tuttosport…(with my translation)
TORINO, July 17th – This is not a story of football, but of altruism, of which there are not the stories of the football market to shake the soul, but the fragile balance of life. The fact is however that it was Alessio Secco, Transfer Director of Juventus, to find himself in the middle of a human drama, and have been able to solve it quickly. If a telephone call can prolong life, in this case an SMS saved one. It happened, one day last week, that a colleague from the province of Caserta, Carlo Pascarella, anti-Camorra (Napoli mafia) reporter, in a moment of profound despair took a large amount of barbiturates. It was his first day of holiday and the journalist, separated, father of 4-year old daughter Francesca, was unable to overcome his depression.

Alone, in the studio of his house, with his notebook/diaries by his side, sent an SMS to the first name on which his eye fell, the desperate act of someone searching for help. As it happens, the name was that of Alessio Secco, who Pascarella met during an interview. «I’m very ill. I am a Juventus fan, and if I die I would like that on my coffin there be a photo of my daughter and a Juventus jersey.» And thus, the dramatic message arrived to Secco’s phone. The director, who was in Pinzolo, in a retreat with the team, didn’t waste time and immediatelly called the Carabinieri. The police quickly mobilized, and succeeded in reaching Pascarella, avoiding a tragic epilogue. Secco and the President Giovanni Cobolli Gigli took to heart the human story of the journalist, following from distance the intervention of the police and personally made sure of the conditions of Pascarella. The exchange of SMSs didn’t stop, either. «Alessio, I thank you for having saved my life. Fight (Juve) also for me…». «We fight for everyone, but also for the contribution of everyone, including yourself.» The invitation with Secco was to try and awaken the attention of the journalist, and to give him a reason to continue to fight against his depression. The Juventus Sporting Director is reluctant to talk about the story, «Anyone in my position would have done the same.» But he saved a human life. These souls still need to turn themselves around.


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  • Links in comments are fine as long as they aren't to promote someone's blog/article/store/etc.
  • Ivo
    I don't know what your policy is for putting links in the comments, but I found this one particularly funny.

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/spo...

    Btw, Seattle Sounders is an MLS team who is in the first year and is selling out almost every game. They just need to be more rowdy...
  • Nnahoj
    Well given the reception Beckham got from fans since he's been back, seems there is in fact some passion for footy over in the good ole U.S. of A.
  • dave
    the stadiums are always packed when a european club comes here...and once they leave and only mls teams are playing...the crowd vanishes...people want to see the big clubs...
  • Ivo
    Yeah, Beckham is surely taking a media and fan beating alright. I just went to a Chelsea game here in Seattle over the weekend and was somewhat encouraged as to what this game can do for this country. I am a European and a Juve fan my whole life. Passion is still kinda lacking here in the USA tho. Too bad..
  • Depends, Ariaudo is our 4th CB right now, and Caceres would put him down a level. I'm ok with that because we need 5 CB's for the upcoming season, I just hope Ferrara gives him a decent shake.

    I love the Cannavaro-esque treatment Beckham's getting from US fans, shows they are indeed footy fans.
  • Nnahoj
    Ugh, Zebina still refuses to leave.
  • Sam
    Yeah i would like Poulsen out of here, and gettin Caceras as a 4th defender on loan is great, hes a talent didnt do well last season with Barca, but I remeber the season before for Recreativo was damn damn gud. according to wikipedia, His primary position is centre back, but he can also play at right-back and left-back. very versatile player he is, and Jean-Claude Blanc said that Juventus is interested.
  • Mo
    Is our transfer market over or are we waiting to release poulson to begin our chace for caceres?
  • Hahaha alessio come on, he did well to challenge for the ball and get there first. To be fair, it would've been a goal if his man was left unmarked. Anyways, I'm liking the way Ferrera has Del Piero playing the trequartista role in this one.
  • alessio
    YAY Zebina.
  • Nancy v Juventus going on right now....

    http://www.atdhe.net/8103/watc...
  • Sam
    yep i dont mind Secco at all now. This season pretty frikin gud buys, and this saving a life!
  • Sofia
    Wow, that is really intense! He did the right thing and he is really starting to change his reputation among the fans
  • Nnahoj
    Wow, this was quite moving. Well done Secco, a great man. Keep up the good work.
  • adam
    I really feel bad for Secco, all the abuse he recieved in the past should not of been aimed at him but rather a certain coach who advised him to get certain faster players.

    I really liked the fact that he didn't let Udinese push him around and include Giovinco or Marchisio in the D'Agostino deal. Lets hop Melo makes an immediate impact in our squad.
  • Thanks for the correction, Marco. That part confused me, I wasn't sure what the original intent was.

    As the years move on, Secco's initial failings become more and more comprehensible to me. I don't like Melo but he's a good player, and I think he's done strong work this mercato. Like Molinaro...I can see him at Juve in 2010+ and be comfortable with it.
  • Interesting story alessio. Tangent on the facts of life, and a reminder that everyone is still human, even sporting directors of top Serie A clubs.

    Just a comment on your translation of the last sentence: "Però ha salvato una vita umana. Per le anime occorre rivolgersi ancora altrove" should be "But he saved a human life. As for soul-saving, that's still somebody's else business" (i.e. God's, one would presume).

    Personally, I'm satisfied with Secco's work so far. He's not a flashy-DS nor do I expect him to be: Juve's transfer policy has always been geared towards parsimony, ever since the Moggi days. We will NEVER spend £100m for a Cristiano Ronaldo, but we'll get quality players where we need and when we need them.
  • I have to say, Secco is starting to win me over. In retrospect, you can see it was difficult to make transfers early on. I don't like the Melo signing and I think he's spent a bit too much on Amauri and Melo, but he's showing he's willing to spill the cash to bring good players in. There's debate about whether we're getting the right players, but no one can really argue he's not going after quality. We're no longer hunting for the bargain bin, we're beating Arsenal and Bayern Munich to signatures. Now if we could only start investing seriously in our defense.

    I did not know his dad was a director at Juventus under Boniperti's presidency, though! God I envy him, a Juventino his whole life, worked in the administration and then made DS of Juve at age 36! Lucky bastard.
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