The former goalkeeper opens up about the national team, diving, locker rooms, infrastructure and his new role as a pundit: “I always say what I think. Even when it annoys people”
Emiliano Viviano hasn’t lost his trademark bluntness. From long-time Serie A goalkeeper to TV pundit, the transition was natural for someone who, as he puts it, “struggles not to say what he thinks.” In this in-depth interview with SMIT – Soccer Made in Italy, Viviano speaks candidly about the hottest topics in Italian football: Italy’s absence from the World Cup, the structural flaws in the system, the value of European competitions, the relationship between players and the media, and the growth of the game in the United States.
Emiliano, you’ve become a major media personality. On TV you’re almost at the same level as the great goalkeeper you were.
Let’s say I try. Basically, I always tell the truth, and that brings both benefits and drawbacks. But that’s who I am. I was like that when I played too, in the locker room and in private. I find it hard not to say what I think, always respectfully, trying to respect everyone. It’s not always easy, but that’s my nature.
Will Italy make it to the World Cup?
In my opinion, yes — and it has to. I have a 15-year-old son who has never seen Italy at a World Cup: that’s total madness. But I think our chances are excellent. We’re stronger than the teams we’ll face in the playoff. Given recent history maybe we shouldn’t say it, but that’s how I see it.
Missing out on the World Cup creates a generational gap and damages Italian football’s reputation.
Yes, and beyond that it risks pushing kids away from the sport. I read that for the first time in Italy, tennis registrations have surpassed football. When your national team doesn’t deliver results, young kids are less attracted. We grew up with the “magical nights,” waiting for Italy in major tournaments because we were always among the favorites. Today that expectation is gone.
Italian clubs have also disappointed in the Champions League, and that doesn’t help…
I don’t fully agree. In recent years Inter have reached two Champions League finals, Roma two European finals, Fiorentina one final, and Atalanta won a European trophy. Yet the problems in our football haven’t improved. That means they’re deeper and more serious than club results alone — especially considering that 70% of those squads are made up of foreign players.
Sabatini provocatively said we don’t win because we’re divers.
Diving disgusts me, it goes against my way of being. But I don’t agree. Brazil have five World Cups, Argentina three, and we have four. I think 90% of the divers are in those three national teams. England, where diving is less common, don’t win anything. So I don’t think that’s the issue.
Have you ever had a serious bust-up on the pitch?
It depends what you mean by serious. For me, a real fight is something serious — if I even think about throwing hands, there has to be an important reason. A single match isn’t enough. It happened a few times, sometimes even preemptively, with someone who had a pattern of wrong behavior. But rarely for an immediate incident.
In the locker room, how serious are certain statements to the press by agents or teammates?
Group respect is sacred. You never go against the group. If your agent speaks badly about a teammate, you either distance yourself immediately or call him and tell him he can’t speak on your behalf. I joined a club where the other goalkeeper said there was no need to buy another one. Honestly, I laughed — it was insecurity. If you’re confident in your ability, you don’t give those interviews.
What’s the worst thing a player can do toward the squad?
Leaking internal information to journalists, especially if you’re speaking badly about a teammate. That’s extremely serious. Whoever does it keeps it hidden because the squad’s reaction would be very harsh. Even reporting to the coach can be delicate: it depends how and why you do it. If you tell him someone goes out at night, that’s wrong. If you have open dialogue with the coach and flag an issue that could damage the group, that’s different. But it’s a fine line.
Your recent interview with Gazzetta, where you said you went out drinking the night before a match you didn’t expect to play, caused debate…
I had three days off: matchday plus two days. I wasn’t even called up. The message arrived late at night while I was out, so there was nothing I could do. But judgment and hypocrisy are the favorite sports of frustrated people. I read absurd comments. One guy wrote that I couldn’t understand the pressure of playing for Juventus because I never played there. I replied: “If I can’t understand it after 500 professional matches, how can you, a pizza maker, explain it to me?” Everyone thinks they know. Even we don’t always understand everything — we give opinions.
A player you completely misjudged?
Rovella. I thought he was an average player, not Lazio level. Instead, aside from the injury, he’s delivered national-team performances. On the other hand, I thought Zhegrova would make the difference at Juventus, and he’s struggling. But we’re not Nostradamus. You recognize quality, but then a thousand dynamics come into play: physical, mental, environmental. Higuain at Juventus, Bergkamp and Roberto Carlos at Inter, Van der Sar at Juventus — champions who failed or underperformed well below their potential in certain environments.
Speaking of Bergkamp, he famously refused to fly. Did you have teammates with that fear?
Yes, several. Angelo Palombo was afraid of flying. Even now, as Chivu’s assistant at Inter, he’s terrified. We spoke a few days ago after the trip to Norway and it was a nightmare for him. He would fly to play, but on the way back he’d ask to return by bus. Once, for the Gamper Trophy in Barcelona, we traveled on two nine-seater planes because the charter broke down. He’s afraid even of Boeings — he was white as a sheet.
Back to the present. Is Sunday’s Roma-Juventus already decisive?
For me, matches aren’t decisive until the end of March. Too often we make judgments and two games later everything changes. It’s more important for Juventus than Roma. Roma can draw or even lose and stay in the race. If Juve lose, they’d need something extraordinary from then to the end.
What kind of game do you expect between Roma and Juve?
A good one. Roma pressing high and aggressively, Juventus controlling possession. It could be decided late on. We need to see how Juve recover after Wednesday’s 120 minutes. Right now, I see Roma as favorites because of momentum, home-field advantage, and the fatigue Juve have accumulated.
The passion of certain fanbases — Roma, Napoli, Genoa — is almost something to study.
Fans aren’t tied only to results. I’ve seen the Olimpico half-empty in dark years, but it wasn’t just about results. Mourinho certainly played an important role in reconnecting people. Clubs must understand where they are: fans don’t only ask to win, but for culture, identity, belonging. And above all, proper infrastructure.
If you don’t improve facilities and access, you won’t bring more people to the stadium. In Florence, going to the stadium is a psychodrama between parking and transport. Imagine a city like Rome with a direct metro line to the stadium, full coverage, shopping centers, services — you’d sell 60,000 season tickets. We showed with the Cortina Winter Olympics that we can organize major events, but we need infrastructure.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
I rule out being a goalkeeping coach. Right now I enjoy what I do. I considered staying in football as a coach or executive, but in the end I was tired of training camps, travel, and imposed schedules. I never thought about being a pundit. I started almost as a joke, because I needed to let my voice out. I was among the first to stream on Twitch while still playing. I’d like players to have more chances to speak directly, like in the NBA where Draymond Green does his own live shows. It wouldn’t take space away from journalists, who can tell and analyze stories in different ways.
Italian football in America and a thought for the many Italian fans who live their passion from afar, maybe through their local fan clubs.
Soccer in America is growing. I follow MLS a lot, also because of Messi, for whom I have huge admiration. It’s no longer just a retirement league: they’re investing in young players. For Italians in America it’s not easy to follow everything, but it’s beautiful that they keep this passion alive. Supporting a club means community, friendship, memories tied to happy moments in life. It’s something extremely important.
L’articolo Emiliano Viviano – exclusive: “Italian football has structural issues, but the future can be positive” (VIDEO) proviene da Soccer Made In Italy.
