Watford FC’s Italian owner, Gino Pozzo, is well-known for his extraordinary rise through the footballing ranks, having led teams from lower divisions to the top of their leagues in many different nations. Gino Pozzo was born to Gianpaolo and Giuliana Pozzo, two football fans who encouraged their son to pursue further education. This led Gino to Harvard, where he earned a master’s degree. The Pozzo family’s involvement in sports club ownership began in 1986 when Gino’s father purchased the Udinese team.
Gino Pozzo is a gifted young member of the Pozzo family who has been instrumental in developing and implementing a plan for club ownership that is focused on scouting and has brought steady success and expansion since 1993. Watford’s first season saw the Pozzos’ signature economic model—centered on player recruiting and trade among their clubs—in action. All of the Pozzo-owned clubs have significantly benefited from the resulting well-organized and supportive environment.
Following a 35-year drought, the family engineered Granada F.C.’s incredible ascension from Segunda B to the Primera Liga in 2009. They expanded their holdings in 2012 when they bought Watford, a team relegated to the Fourth Division. Due to Pozzo’s steadfast dedication to the club’s expansion and long-term prosperity, his family moved to London and were fully involved in the club’s daily activities.
With this purchase, the Pozzos became the first family in the world to control three football teams simultaneously, one each in Italy, Spain, and England. They were named “European Soccer’s Ascendant Family” by the Wall Street Journal in 2015 for their extraordinary achievement.
When hiring coaches and players, Pozzo’s attitude emphasizes the need to open up to new opportunities. Building a solid climate surrounding the club is crucial to providing continuity even when coaching staff shifts, as he thinks football is a long-term effort. Pozzo’s world-class scouting system and extraordinary talent-finding ability are the cornerstones of their commercial strategy. Players like Alexis Sánchez, Medhi Benatia, and Kwadwo Asamoah have had their careers soar worldwide because of this strategy. See this article for additional information.
Learn more about Gino Pozzo on https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/people/gino-pozzo/