When Italy confirmed their place in Euro 2025, Andrea Soncin celebrated just a former striker – sliding on his stomach in the rain despite wearing an unspoilt white shirt while his players were laughing. His first job in senior management is going well.
Soncin is a rarity among coaches in women's football extravaganza this summer in Switzerland. He played elite men's football. The former Atalanta attacker even scored in a Serie A victory at AC Milan in 2006 -the season they won the Champions League.
“The goal against Milan is unforgettable,” he says Sky Sports. “It was a team full of champions who made football history.” The line-up of Carlo Ancelotti that day included Paolo Maldini, Andrea Pirlo, Kaka and the current Italy men's coach Gennaro Gattuso.
“There are many moments that I am happy to remember,” he adds. The greatest achievement as he sees it is not that afternoon that single goal, but the width of his work. “I am very proud that I scored from the fifth league to the top division.”
Fiorentina, Ascoli, Padova and Avellino were among the stoppins for Soncin. “I was lucky to play in many teams that are rich in history and passion.” Nevertheless, his lack of experience in the women's game raised eyebrows when he was appointed in 2023.
How did it happen? “Already in the last years of my gaming career I started to think about how I was going to approach the coaching, try to study and understand the choices of the coaches and especially how to manage a group of people,” he explains.
“When I had ended my career as a player, Venezia gave me the opportunity to gain experience, starting with the competitive levels of the youth sector to the first team, both as an employee and as head coach. That was a very stimulating experience.
“When the call from the federation came to coach the national team of women, a spark, a sensation, ignited, which made me accept immediately. I am very grateful for this opportunity.” Even Soncin makes it sound like it came from nowhere. Not entirely true.
His thesis presented in Coverciano as part of his UEFA Pro license in 2021 is considered one of the more impressive ones produced on the valued Italian coaching school. His 48 -page document sketched ideas for unlocking a low defensive block.
It was a lecture of remarkable depth, including examples of Mohamed Salah, Neymar, Olivier Giroud and more, analyzing very specific situations from competitions between Brescia and Sassuolo, or between Belgium and Panama on the 2018 World Cup.
“It often happens, because of the strategy of superiority or opponent, you have to come across a team that defends the field in the last quarter,” he says. “Spaces are becoming sleek, the quality of passes and especially movements become essential, just like the ability to dribble.”
Has he worked out the optimum method to unlock a deep defense? “Positional attack, relational attack, combinations, directly vertical play – all situations can be effective. The most important thing is that coherence is between what is proposed in training and the objectives.
“Everything is influenced by the characteristics of the players I have at my disposal and the opponent's strategy.” He adds: “Before the athlete the person comes first. Each of us is unique. Then there are all technical, tactical and methodological aspects.”
What else did Coverciano teach him? “They made me think that a coach must always question the reasons behind every situation and, above all, must be skilled in creating the optimal environment in which everyone can feel free to express their potential.”
Given this background, it may not be a surprise that tactical variations have been a characteristic of his Italy side. Soncin changed his system in 3-5-2 for the 4-0 win over Finland that confirmed the qualification for a back four against the Netherlands.
He continued to work on the tactics for the recent Nations League matches against Sweden and Wales. Time will tell whether Soncin's tactical flexibility can help Italy to thrive at Euro 2025, or whether they will suffer due to the absence of a fixed system.
Anyway, don't expect him to stand still. “I am constantly updating and studying to discover new ideas, methods and strategies.” He talks about “dominating games, even if we don't have possesses” and set up to win the ball back when they lose it.
“I believe that relational distances are essential for maintaining the continuity of playing and facilitating an immediate recovery of the ball.” His attitude towards mistakes is also intriguing. “Fundamentally for increasing the trust and awareness of the entire group.”
Whether Italy, for whom the 35-year-old Cristiana Girelli remains a key figure, has the quality to go deep at Euro 2025 is unclear. They are pee in a difficult group with favorites Spain and Portugal and Belgium. But Soncin supports his players.
“Their willingness and determination can make the difference. Our of us is an extremely positive journey and we can't wait to get started.” Whatever happens in Switzerland, it expects Italy to be one of the more tactically interesting teams under Soncin.