In the illustrious, often tumultuous, world of Italian football, few names resonate with the depth of experience and personal fortitude quite like Giorgio Perinetti. A veteran executive with over five decades spent navigating the beautiful, brutal game, Perinetti has witnessed its grand transformations, from the tactical genius of Herrera to the contemporary dominance of modern giants. Yet, beneath the veneer of a successful career, lies a story of profound personal sorrow, a testament to the fact that even those who orchestrate grand sporting narratives can face their most challenging battles at home.
A Life Forged on the Pitch, Fractured by Loss
Perinetti`s journey through football is a saga unto itself. He`s been the architect of dreams and the bearer of difficult news, famously delivering the crushing blow of a cocaine ban to none other than Diego Maradona. His path crossed with countless legends, including a memorable, and inadvertently prophetic, exchange with Carlo Ancelotti during a Champions League match. “We were playing Olympiacos-Juve,” Perinetti recalls, “and Ancelotti wanted to bring on Fonseca for Conte. I fumbled with the substitution board, delaying the change… and Conte scored! I turned to Carlo, `See, I told you to wait!`” Sometimes, even administrative blunders align with destiny.
He`s credited with spotting Antonio Conte`s managerial potential and bringing the acclaimed Sven-Göran Eriksson to Italy. From the youthful exuberance of coaching prospects in Athletic Palermo, aiming to “give them a dream,” to the high stakes of top-tier clubs like Roma, Napoli, and Juventus, Perinetti’s career has been nothing short of a masterclass in football management.
Carlo Ancelotti and Giorgio Perinetti during their time together at Juventus.
However, the grandstands and locker rooms, the victories and defeats, have also served as a necessary distraction from a far more devastating personal reality. In recent years, Perinetti has faced unimaginable grief: first the passing of his wife in 2015, and then, the even more crushing loss of his daughter, Emanuela, to anorexia. This “insidious disease,” as he calls it, has left an indelible mark, fueling a guilt that no amount of football glory can assuage.
The Unseen Battle: Raising Awareness for Anorexia
Perinetti has poured his heart and soul into a book, “Quello che non ho visto arrivare” (What I Didn`t See Coming), a poignant account of Emanuela’s battle. Initially hesitant to chronicle such profound pain, the encouragement of his other daughter, Chiara, and a powerful realization spurred him on. “It was excruciating to relive everything,” he admits, “but in a way, it sustained me. My hope is to shine a spotlight on eating disorders.” He recounts a doctor`s story: a patient, after reading Emanuela`s journey, finally accepted hospitalization. “That was my motivation,” he states, highlighting the transformative power of shared experience.
“An intelligent girl who had everything. Surviving a child is unnatural; losing her in this way was devastating.”
The weight of a parent`s guilt is a heavy burden, and Perinetti carries it visibly. “A parent gives themselves a thousand reasons to feel guilty, asks a thousand questions, and finds no answers.” He reflects on Emanuela`s childhood requests to “invent something together,” which he now sees as desperate pleas for help he tragically misunderstood. “I didn`t understand her, I didn`t pick up the signals, and that is my greatest despair,” he confesses, a poignant admission from a man celebrated for his astute judgment in a cutthroat industry.
Football as Solace, Life as a Lesson
In the wake of such profound loss, football, paradoxically, became his anchor. “Both after the death of my wife, when I accepted Venezia a month later, and after my daughter`s passing, between Avellino and Athletic Palermo… it`s necessary to keep your mind occupied,” he explains. The relentless demands of the game offered a therapeutic structure, a world where the immediate challenge overshadowed pervasive grief, even if only temporarily.
Beyond the personal tragedies, Perinetti’s life has been rich with unique experiences. He casually mentions attending classical high school with famous actors Carlo Verdone and Christian De Sica. “Carlo and I still speak every day,” he notes, a testament to enduring friendships forged long before the spotlights found them.
Reflecting on his career`s highs and lows, Perinetti points to both satisfaction and profound disappointment linked to Eriksson. “Winning the Coppa Italia with him at Roma was the deepest joy. The disappointment, however, was losing a Scudetto to Juventus because of a home defeat against Lecce. I was very young, winning a championship at 34… Today I would never have lost that game. But it was a defeat that taught me more than any victory.” This sentiment encapsulates the essence of his journey: lessons forged in both triumph and tribulation.
Giorgio Perinetti`s narrative is a powerful reminder that life`s most impactful stories often unfold beyond the headlines of sporting glory. It is a story of a man who, despite experiencing the pinnacles of professional success, has chosen to confront his deepest sorrows publicly, transforming personal grief into a profound mission of awareness. His dedication to football remains, but his most important legacy may well be the light he shines on the unseen battles, ensuring that other families might “see what`s coming” before it`s too late.
Benedict Kingsley 
Adrian Whitmore