NEXT GEN – THE JUVENTUS PROJECT

JUVENTUS NEXT GEN: WHAT IS IT?

Founded on August 3, 2018, following the reintroduction of reserve teams in Italian football, Juventus Next Gen is the second team of Juventus Football Club. Initially established under the name Juventus U23, the team, currently coached by Massimo Brambilla, competes in Serie C, the third tier of the Italian football league system. The Juventus second team shares the same colors and symbols as the first team, playing in the same jersey adorned with the iconic crest.

For home matches, Juventus Next Gen plays at the Giuseppe Moccagatta Stadium (also used by Alessandria). However, for high-profile matches, such as the Serie C Italian Cup final against Vicenza, the second team can use the Allianz Stadium, home to the Serie A squad. The organizational structure mirrors that of the first team, with Gianluca Ferrero as president and the Agnelli family as owners through EXOR N.V.

RESERVE TEAMS: REQUIREMENTS AND LIMITATIONS

After this brief introduction, let’s delve into the rules and constraints governing reserve teams, also known as “second teams,” in Italy. While Juventus Next Gen is the first active example of its kind, reserve teams experienced a golden era between 1904 and 1976. Following World War II, reserve teams competed in the First Division, the De Martino Championship, and the Cadet Championship. The latter was replaced in 1962 by the Primavera Championship, and the De Martino Championship was discontinued in 1976, effectively eliminating competitions for reserve teams and leaving only the current Primavera Championship. However, starting from the 2018-2019 football season, reserve teams were reintroduced, and Juventus developed an ambitious project that is now beginning to bear fruit.

How does it work in practice? Each country has its own regulations. In Italy, Serie A clubs can establish a reserve team that, based on available spots, is admitted to Serie C. A second team can be promoted to Serie B but cannot be relegated to Serie D, having the option to apply for reinstatement instead. Furthermore, it cannot compete in the same league as the first team. Should the first team be relegated, the reserve team would be automatically demoted. Thus, in the case of Juventus Next Gen, the team could participate in Serie B by winning the championship or via playoffs but could not ascend to Serie A. Additionally, reserve teams cannot enter the National Italian Cup but may compete in the Serie C Super Cup and Serie C Italian Cup, the latter of which Juventus Next Gen won during the 2019-2020 season, marking their first historic trophy.

Other notable points about reserve teams in the Italian sports system include: reserve teams can comprise players no older than 20 years (at the start of the season), with up to four overage players allowed. Players listed in the official Serie A squad or with 50 appearances in any top-tier league cannot participate in reserve team matches. Conversely, reserve team players can be called up to the first team, provided they do not exceed five appearances. Once this threshold is surpassed, the player becomes ineligible for reserve team matches. This represents a key difference from the Primavera Championship, where professional players may participate (theoretically), often to regain match fitness following an injury.

A PROJECT THAT WORKS ON THE FIELD

It’s worth noting that Juventus Next Gen differs from the Primavera team (part of the youth sector, thus U19) as it precedes it in the hierarchy and represents the second strongest unit within Juventus’ organizational structure.

After outlining the rules and limitations, let’s examine the (current) results of this project. First, we must ask: why would a Serie A club establish a team in the third division, especially when there is already a Primavera team? In recent years, this question has been widely debated. So, what does a highly successful club like Juventus aim to achieve with such a project? The main answer is experience—but in what sense?

The evolution of Italian football has seen fewer young players from Primavera teams deemed ready to debut in the first team. This is because the Primavera Championship is not considered intense or challenging enough to prepare players for top-tier football. A significant gap has emerged, almost insurmountable, separating a Primavera player from a Serie A player. Typically, a young player in a Serie A U19 team is increasingly loaned out to Serie B, C, or D clubs to gain experience—accumulating minutes, developing situational awareness, and adapting to the intensity of “real” football. However, this often exposes players to unsuitable environments, risks demoralization, or wastes crucial time for their careers.

Juventus, demonstrating foresight, has mitigated these issues by creating a competitive team in both Serie C and the Italian Cup. This initiative allows young players to grow at their own pace and develop in a demanding and challenging environment like the third tier of Italian football.

Another key factor is the selection of overage players, whose primary role in Juventus Next Gen is to mentor and guide young talents from the youth sector. This helps create a supportive environment where players can reach their potential. The results of this commitment are evident on the field, where Massimiliano Allegri, Juventus’ head coach, can rely on players who are almost ready for the first team. Over 20 players have transitioned from the U23 squad to the first team, even if only for one match, which is a testament to the project’s success at a club of Juventus’ caliber.

This season alone, several young players have made decisive contributions to the senior team, such as Nicolò Fagioli’s (born in 2001) crucial goal against Lecce or Samuel Iling-Junior’s (born in 2003) key assist against Atalanta. The 2022-2023 Juventus squad features several players nurtured in the second team, including Fagioli, Iling-Junior, Miretti, Soulé, Barrenechea, and others who represent the future of Italian football.

In essence, this is a winning bet by the Juventus management that will likely inspire other major Italian and European clubs to invest in similar projects.