Touching on Everything From Bulgarian Football Culture to Atalanta Youth Facility Psychology to the Next Star Graduates of the Academy!
I have an awesome treat for Atalantini today! I had the good fortune of connecting with former Bulgarian football professional and guest media analyst in his home country, Ivaylo Atanasov. Besides offering high quality analysis of Atalanta tactics, he also had the incredible opportunity to visit Atalanta’s famed youth academy and provides fantastic insight into how La Dea’s approach to developing young players pays off immense dividends not just for Atalanta, but Italian football in general. You can follow him on Twitter at @atanassov29 and on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/football.zona.14/
Atalanta Passione: What’s your background in football in Bulgaria, how did you come to being a guest broadcaster for Atalanta matches (and perhaps others) in Bulgaria?
Ivaylo: Hello! My name is Ivaylo Atanasov, 33 years old from Stara Zagora, Bulgaria. Former professional football player in the Bulgarian second division. In recent months, I was a guest on television, which broadcasts the matches of the Italian championship in Bulgaria as a guest analyst for the matches Roma-Atalanta (1: 4), Lazio-Napoli (2: 0) and Udinese-Atalanta (1: 1).
The TV team read my materials, which I publish on my Facebook page (analysis of matches, tactical decisions, key moments and others that impressed me during the matches of the European Championships, where I pay great attention to Atalanta and Southampton) , they liked what they saw and contacted me to offer my thought of the beloved Atalanta, as I have an in-depth look at the club and I have firsthand work in Bergamo.
AP: How’s the football culture in Bulgaria? Are there a lot of Serie A fans, or do other leagues dominate fandom outside of the domestic league?
IA: Bulgarian fans are very dedicated. The most popular leagues in our country are the English Premier League and the Italian Serie A. The most numerous are the fans of the grands: Juventus, Milan, Lazio, Inter. Like all these teams they have fan clubs all over the country. In recent years and the rise in the performance of Atalanta, the club from Bergamo has become the second favorite team of many fans of Italian football, because of its offensive game and the large number of goals that fall in their matches.
AP. Jose Palomino has had quite a wild adventure in his footballing career, playing at Ludogorets prior to jumping over to Atalanta. Curious if Palomino has a strong following still in Bulgaria, and if it helped fans pledge allegiance to La Dea through his transfer?
IA: Yes, Jose Palomino was part of the Bulgarian Ludogorets, with whom he played in the group stage of the Champions League against teams such as Basel, Arsenal and PSG. Probably with his performance in these matches he attracted the attention of the scouts in Bergamo and followed by a transfer for 4+ million euros to Italy.
Ludogorets is a new club for football Bulgaria (12 years of history, of which it is a champion in the last 9 years) and does not enjoy much approval from football fans in our country, due to the proximity of the owners with the ruling party in the country. So Palomino’s performance on Italian soil is interesting only for journalists and is always mentioned in their materials as “the former player of the Bulgarian champion.”
AP: How did you get the special opportunity to get a first hand look at Atalanta’s youth facilities
IA: In the autumn of 2018, Atalanta organized a seminar in Bulgaria on “Scouting and video analysis”. Invitations were sent through the football association to football clubs across the country, even to the smallest teams. I worked in a small club as a coach for children up to 14 years old. After the 3-day course with people from the academy in Bergamo, several of those present were honored.
After about a month, Atalanta invited us for a visit to Bergamo with the opportunity to get acquainted on the spot with the work at the Academy, to talk to coaches at the Academy, and to absorb their experience. An invitation that I gladly accepted. And the city is great! If you have the opportunity to travel to Italy, visit Bergamo. You will fall in love with the city!
AP: From a non-footballing view, what stood out the most in how Atalanta tries to nurture and grow it’s players off the pitch?
IA: Much attention is paid to the education of children. Their results and actions in the schools are monitored, and there is constant contact with their teachers. We talked to the chief psychologist of the Academy, who explained how important it is outside of football to work with children. As all young people go through difficult periods in their development as individuals, the environment is very important. The Academy employs a total of 4 psychologists who talk to the children’s parents in order to reduce the pressure that parents put on them. Every parent sees in their child the next Ronaldo or Messi, but there is no way for all 400 children to become professional players.
They also talk to the children every day: about the problems at school, in the family, with each other in the team and they try to see the children as friends, not psychologists. Also in recent years, children from kindergartens in the city are collected 3 times a week and taken to the academy base to play. Because life is so fast-paced and dynamic that children no longer have the childhood we had before – free games, carefreeness and socialization. At the facilities of the club they play basketball, chase – normal children’s games that develop motor culture in the youngest. They are aware that not everyone will enter the club’s academy, but in their mind, Atalanta will now have fans for life, because they grew up with the emblem on their chests and around their favorite players.
AP: In a sporting sense, what does Atalanta prioritize for young players (U-16) to eventually prepare for first team football – hopefully with Atalanta – but with a senior club somewhere in Europe?
IA: In football, the most difficult thing for a player is the transition from youth to men’s football! The differences in each nature are huge. Therefore, a player aged 18-19 must be physically, mentally and tactically ready for this step. A very large number of players are hired in lower-ranked teams to gain experience, and more advanced directly in Serie A, as was the case with Kulusevski in Parma last season and Piccoli in La Spezia this season. A lot of attention during their training in the academy is paid to the game 1 against 1. This is fundamental in modern football, because for years the game is not seen as a game of 11 against 11, but as small side games in different situations: 4 against 4 , 3 against 2, etc.
Because think about when there is a situation in football 11 against 11 – never. But we constantly see the above options. When you are good in the game 1 against 1 in both offensively and defensively, then you are ready for the other options that occur on the field during a match. And as we all know, Atalanta and Gasperini are known for their personal play in defense.
AP: Did anything stand out about the youth facilities in terms of amenities or training tools/equipment that gives the club a boost over rivals in Serie A?
IA: No, not at all! Atalanta should be considered a small club because it is. Bergamo is just a 30-minute drive from a world-class center such as Milan, and as we know there are the major European clubs Inter and Milan. Atalanta does not have the financial capabilities of these teams and must make the most of what it has and strive to develop. Construction works are constantly being carried out on the base and it is being expanded. But there is everything you need for work – natural terrain, artificial turf, and fitness centers. The difference comes from selecting players and working with them properly. We saw a scout report on a 12-year-old boy who has been followed for 4 years. For these 4 years they had 4 reports about him and his development as a player – how he steps when running, how he performs side throws, which is his strong leg, how tall he is now compared to the previous report. Extremely detailed file and that for a 12-year-old boy. These details allow them to stay ahead of the competition to attract young talents to the Academy, and do good work with them afterwards.
AP: Currently it looks like Mattia Caldara and Matteo Ruggeri are the only two players on the senior squad that came through the youth system. The club is universally lauded for its ability to churn out first team footballers, we’re just not seeing them coming through the ranks at Atalanta right now. Any concerns that players are coming through the youth system to be sold at a profit, and never receiving first team football in black and blue? One could potentially argue that the youth system almost acts as an independent business unit to train footballers for first team football anywhere in Italy rather than Atalanta? Personally I think we’re just in a small lull of prospects coming through, and hopefully the likes of Cortinovis, Gyabuaa, and Ta Bi change that soon.
IA: The job of the Academy is to produce footballers ready for men’s football! In this aspect, Atalanta Academy is doing more than great. The development of each player is strictly individual, they are more advanced, there are those who need more time to show and develop their potential and this is quite normal. The coach of the first team decides which of the youngsters he can count on and who needs more experience. Personally, I think that a player like Kulushevski would have been very useful this season for the club, but when an offer of 44 million euros came from Juventus, it is difficult to refuse such an opportunity for both the player and the club. Then came the sale of Amad Diallo to Manchester United also for 40+ million euros. I will tell you something – at the time of my stay in Bergamo, the budget of the Academy was 4 million euros per year. Well, only with these 2 transfers the club has secured the support of the Academy for the next 20 years, provided that it maintains the current annual budget. And with these two transfers to world clubs such as Juventus and Manchester United, something else has been achieved – it has been shown to the football world that when you buy from Atalanta, you buy quality. And quality costs money!
When a young boy has qualities, he will get a chance to perform in the first team. This has been proven over the years – Bastoni, Caldara, Musa Barrow and many others. So it’s only a matter of time before we see the next names that will shine from the Academy.
AP: Who’s a youth prospect name we may not know now, but should be on the lookout for soon?
IA: As I mentioned, there are players who are currently on loan in various leagues and clubs, but definitely the names of Piccoli, Cortinovis, Gyabuaa, Panada stand out. There will be more talk about these guys, I’m sure.
AP: Is the Gasperini system (high press, full flowing attack, etc.) preached throughout the youth system?
IA: Each club has its own understanding of whether the Academy should play in the same scheme and tactics as the first team of the club. For Atalanta, the answer is NO. Because, as I said above, the goal of the Atalanta Academy is to produce players. A good player must be able to fit into more schemes of play, to be able to play in several positions. This cannot happen when, during his training period, he plays in only one scheme of play and is led by only one coach. As we know, Atalanta plays in a 3-4-1-2 scheme, but in the Academy the coach of each team has the freedom to play in the scheme he thinks is most suitable: 4-2-3-1, 4-4-2, 4-3-3, 3-5-2. And every 2 years the coach of the team changes. So players touch more and different personalities, face different approaches from different coaches; it helps them when they get into professional football. I am definitely a fan of this approach in working with children and adolescents.
AP: How do you see the 2nd half of the season shaping out for Atalanta? Are there any positional weaknesses you’d want to address in the transfer market?
IA: Every team needs improvements. The Bergamas are no exception. The Atalanta team is well balanced, but I wish there was another option for the position of Gosens, because Maehle is good on the right wing, but it is a little difficult for him on the left, and from a tactical point of view, there must be a player with a left foot on the left flank because it brings more width to the game. I am sure that the scouting unit will find the best solution for this position, given the capabilities of the club.
For the second half of the season I expect it to be even harder, in every aspect. The club continues to fight on 3 fronts – championship, cup and Champions League. And with the progress of the season, fatigue and lack of quality pre-season training I expect to have an impact. The matches follow one after the other, the recovery time is very short, and it is unthinkable to talk about normal training activity. Let’s hope that the team performs well, manages to qualify for the Champions League groups again next season (the main task) and manages to play strong matches against Real Madrid in the Champions League, in which I think there is a very good chance to remove the team led by Zidane.
AP: As a small budget club that continues to punch above its weight, what would you consider success this season for La Dea?
IA: Entering the top three of Serie A will be a great success for the club. In addition to continuing to have a stable and growing income from UEFA, the club will continue to increase interest domestically and internationally and more easily attract quality players, both for the first team and for the Academy. True, the budget is small, but the quality management of the club leads to great results, which are achieved both in the field and in the books.
AP: Which youth prospect do you think will make the biggest impact to La Dea either this winter/spring or beginning next year?
IA: It is difficult during this campaign for any of the young players to stand out in the first team of the club, due to the huge requirements and competition in each position. If the situation at the end of the season is such that Atalanta has secured a European stage for next season, we will see some of the young talents in a few minutes, but for more I think it will not happen this season, unfortunately!
AP: Thanks for your awesome insights! And where can we find your work that you do for Atalanta and Serie A in Bulgaria?
IA: Thank you for the invitation! It is always a pleasure for me to talk about football, and when it comes to Atalanta – even more.
This is my Facebook page where I write my materials (below). The materials are in Bulgarian, but thanks to the technology, they can be easily understood by everyone. I hope you can look at and like some of my stuff!
Be healthy, you and your families! Greetings from Bulgaria!
