The Udinese Model

By: Dylan | July 13th, 2011

After a goalless draw with Serie A Champions AC Milan on the last day of the 2010/11 season, Udinese qualified for the UEFA Champions League for the first time in five years.

An extremely unpredictable result considering they were in the midst of a relegation battle the season before, eventually finishing fifteenth. They also lost key players that summer, including Simone Pepe and Gaetano D’Agostino among others. Even at the start of this season it looked highly unlikely as they lost their first four games and drew the fifth.

After that poor start however, they became unstoppable. Antonio Di Natale and Alexis Sanchez formed a devastating partnership, netting thirty-nine goals in total. Kwadwo Asamoah, Gokhan Inler and Mauricio Isla made up a complete midfield. While Cristian Zapata was holding the defensive responsibilities. Manager Franceso Guidolin acted as a calming presence for the fans, but at the same time motivated the players. The Italian press even dubbed them the ‘Barcelona B’, as there attacking style presisted even when losing.

Antonio Di Natale Antonio Di Natale (#10) of Udinese celebrates after scoring their first goal during the Serie A match between Udinese and Livorno at Stadio Friuli on November 28, 2009 in Udine, Italy.

So after such a great season, how are the team from Udine preparing for the Champions League next season?

So far it looks as though the talismanic Sanchez is on his way to Barcelona. While crucial midfielder Gokhan Inler moved to rivals Napoli. Defensive rock Zapata’s move to Villarreal was confirmed today. Back-up attackers Antonio Floro Flores and German Denis also look to be on the way out. Udinese have loaned/sold a total of twenty-four players so far this transfer window. Yet only recalled/bought seven.

So you would think that Guidolin’s team would be linked to lots of exciting talent with the money being injected. Giovanni Dos Santos, Marco Parolo and Gaston Ramirez have been the names linked so far. Not going to set Europe alight are they? Many are evn claiming Udinese might ‘do a Sampdoria’, by qualifing for the Champions League one season and getting relegated the next. The reality is very far off, as Samp was a very different and unique case. That does not mean that they will not have a bad Champions League season, as so far reinforcements have not been made in key positions.

It’s not as bad as it sounds though little Zebras. Over the last fifteen years Udinese have qualified for Europe eight times, and they have lost start players before. Udinese make a percentage of what the ‘big’ teams around them make, yet they still manage to stay up there. Ever so often they have a bad year, take the year before this, but their system brings them back time and time again.

They are the first Italian team to adopt the Spainsh way of running a club. By investing in their scouting network and not splashing out on big name players. The money they will make from the supposed Sanchez sail is not going in to an immediate replacement, as they already have the next Sanchez in the reserves. Instead it is going into a replacement for the ‘next Sanchez’ in the reserves, aka the scouting network.

In theory they should already have the ‘next’ Inler and Zapata too, but it will not always work. If the up and coming star fails, the system hits a bumb in the road. Which results in a lacklustre season, or a costly signing. Either way it is the cheapest and the best way to grow a team, the only downside being it takes time.

Gino Pozzo, son of Udinese owner Giampaolo, explained this last May in La Republica:

“People have started calling us a phenomenon. However, in reality, we have been working in a certain way for a very long time and this is now starting to pay off”.

Although it has its doubters, the ‘Spanish system’ works in the long run, even though it is 100% dependent on its scouting network. People should be applauding Udinese, not being sceptical.

Some Related Serie A Posts:

Category: Serie A, Udinese

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Comrade

I would be hugely pissed if Juventus followed this model. Trophies give me joy, not balance sheet.

Having said that, Udinese are pretty impressive and have won admirers all over Europe. The fact that they are selling their top players is actually not confusing since that has been their model for quite some time. (Correct me if I'm wrong)
Dylan Fahy

Your right, but in the long term (if the it all goes to plan) Udinese will be winning trophies every year. It takes time...but look at Barcelona!
Djindan

I really think Udinese wont win substantial trophy with this approach. And its not about time either. They'll provide HUGE profit for selling their product but (again) not a sustainable title or trophy, not even as a challenger. Ajax is doing the same thing for Serie A on the mid 90s till round the millennium, and they need all their star player to win the one and only Champions League.
Sampath

I thought at the start of last season they were screwed, they got rid of a whole of the good players.
They are starting to do the same thing again this year lets see if they can follow it up.

The next Zapata:

Ricardo Charáor
Danilo

The next Inler:

Thierry Doubai

The next Sanchez:
Diego FabbriniTheir cycle is just gonna continue and continue
Sampath

Theres a kid at Granada owned by Udinese called Orellana. Plays very much in the same style as Sanchez, and he is Chilean.
Dylan Fahy

Yeah the players they have loaned to Granada are the reason that side are doing so well.
Sampath

very true.
Jose P

to all you udinese supporters:
the joy you must feel!!! you don't expect your club to perform well, and yet they surpass even your expectations, let alone everybody else. i think this club can make it past the group stage if they aren't grouped with two powerhouses. but who can say for sure?
Pragathish

Didn't they play their skins off to seal the CL spot?Heck,Old Guidolin even danced like a drunk gorilla to celebrate it.
And now they act like they have no European ambitions at all,by giving away their best players.
I'm confused.
Dylan Fahy

Your not alone!
Elaine

I've always thought Udinese were smart, and should be amply prepared for the new financial fair play rules. But what about the fans? Do they deserve more? All season long they grow to love their team, only to have their best & favorite players sold? And it is also difficult to earn trophies this way, too.
Dylan Fahy

Perhaps one or two 'big names' wouldn't go a miss for the fans sake, but I would much rather have a home grown talent become a star. The system does take time, but look at Barcelona, Udinese could become that big a team with time.
Elaine

But haven't they already done this for a while? Achieve maybe top 5 or 6, then sell? I would think fans would trade a Scudetto or two for watching their homegrown talent succeed elsewhere.
Dylan Fahy

I'm not sure it's as simple as signing a big player/s to win the Scudetto, the money they make goes straight back into the scouting network and they can't change that....the system!
Elaine

No, not necessarily new signings. I think a lot of people are curious to see what they can do by holding on to a team like this year's for once and seeing what they can do together one year out. What they may lack in big name talent they make up for in solid talent across the board. IMO a really good team that has had a year to gel can become a great team.
Dylan Fahy

I agree, but I don't think they will ever to that, because they have (I hate saying it!) their system and selling is what keeps them afloat. They make 10% of what Inter make on an average match-day for example. For a fans point of view it's a nightmare, but from a directors it's a dream.
Dylan Fahy

Sorrry it's up so late, Wordpress deleted it, but here it is, with about a hundred spelling errors I guess.
Elaine

Word Press is the greatest evil ever to grace the face of the earth.
Dylan Fahy

took four hours to finally get it up.....
jorid22

TWSS!
Elaine

Hahaha! I was waiting for someone to say it! Where's Danny when you need him?
jorid22

He's probably praying to Lord Tim during his lunch break at work or something.