Thirteen years spent in Basel, a long journey across the Gotthard Pass and a wealth of experiences to bring home. For Germano Vailati, FC Lugano’s new goalkeeping coach, returning to Ticino feels like a homecoming and a sense of belonging. “It meant a lot to return to Ticino,” he says. “I had a long spell in Basel, where I lived through some intense years and grew attached to those colours too, but you never forget your roots. It’s lovely to be back.”
A return that holds special significance for someone like him, who grew up in the Bianconeri youth academy. “My connection with Lugano has been deep-rooted since childhood. I played through all the youth teams here right up to the first team. Reuniting with so many people I knew, such as Cao Ortelli – who was my coach in the Under-16s and now works alongside me – is something extraordinary, a great honour.”
After his long spell with Basel, Vailati brings to Cornaredo a methodology and vision honed through years of work in different environments. “I feel as though I left Ticino with a small bag and returned with a suitcase full of experience. I’ve been fortunate enough to experience different environments, in French-speaking and German-speaking Switzerland, and now I want to put everything I’ve learnt at the service of Lugano.”
In his day-to-day approach, the human aspect remains central. “For me, it’s essential to create a calm environment, with motivated and disciplined lads. The pleasure of being on the pitch comes from the quality of the work: if you work well, you have fun too.”
Today, more than twenty years on from that young goalkeeper who left Cornaredo to build a career north of the Gotthard Pass, Vailati feels like a mature man and professional: “I’ve changed a lot. I’ve gained a lot of experience and I try to make the most of it, putting everything at the service of the team. In football, as in life, you grow through your mistakes: I’ve made them too, but they’ve been part of my journey. Now I try to pass on to the lads what I’ve learnt, knowing that they too will have to make mistakes to improve.”
Finally, a thought for the fans: “It was great to see so many familiar faces at the stadium. I hope to see more and more people at Cornaredo: the club is doing well, there’s enthusiasm, lots of families and children. The twelfth man always makes the difference, so the more of us there are, the better.”
WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH GERMANO VAILATI 👇