Andrea Tedesco, the new head coach of the U-17 National Team, has arrived in Albania to immediately begin his experience as the head of the young red and blacks.
Tedesco takes on this role at an important time, as the U-17 National Team will participate for the first time in the final stage of the 2025 U-17 European Championship, which will be held for the first time in Albania, organized by the Albanian Football Association in collaboration with UEFA.
In his first statement to Fshf.org, the Italian trainer recounted his beginnings as a coach, starting with Casertana and then moving to Napoli and the Malta U-19 National Team, after which he received the invitation to lead the Albanian U-17 National Team.
“I started coaching in Serie C in Italy with the Casertana team, then i moved to Romania, to the Romanian Serie A with the FC U Craiova team, where I served as assistant coach. After this experience, I began coaching, firstly with Malta’s U-19 team. Then I moved to Napoli, initially with the U-18 team, and later I coached the youth team this year. Meanwhile, I received a call from the technical director of AFA, Fulvio Pea, who gave me this opportunity, to come here and lead the U-17 National Team of Albania,” expressed Tedesco, noting his valuable experience working with youth.
He then elaborated on the agreement with the Albanian Football Federation for the role of U-17 National Team trainer and the significance of organizing the U-17 European Championship finals in Albania next year.
“When i communicated with AFA, there wasn’t much to discuss because we quickly reached an agreement, and then it took a few weeks to finalize the negotiations.” Of course, i understand the great importance of working with the U-17 National Team because this is a historic moment for the football community, for all the opportunities we will have, for those who take the field, for the entire team, the leaders, and the Association itself.
It is the first time that the U-17 National Team participates in the finals of a European Championship, especially playing at home and in front of its own audience. I am convinced that all the fans, the families, and the players themselves have the privilege of playing the group matches and will be very happy and give their all. “We, as a staff, will also give our all,” the Italian trainer emphasized.
Tedesco also highlighted that football in Albania has seen significant growth and that representing the country in a European competition is a privilege.
“It is evident that football in Albania has grown in recent years, thanks in part to the investments coming from the Albanian Football Association and numerous clubs. Therefore, being here is a privilege and an honor, and we will do everything to represent this nation through football when the opportunity arises to play matches and approach a European competition,” added the Albanian U-17 coach.
Meanwhile, the Italian coach shared an interesting detail with Fshf.org followers regarding his heritage, which is partly Albanian, while he also praised the atmosphere he has found in Albania since his arrival and looks forward to starting work with the U-17 National Team.
“I have a small Albanian heritage, as my grandfather was part of the Arbëresh community in Calabria, so it was probably fate that brought me to this place, where I feel very comfortable.
I have been here for 24 hours, and i have met many people who are very kind, all the collaborators, the media, the coaches, and the entire staff with whom I will work in the future. I can’t wait to start with the matches. On August 12th, we have our first training session with part of the team, and I am very curious to get to know the players, to get on the field, and to coach,” Tedesco said.
Finally, the Italian coach expressed that he has ambition and a winning mentality and that the focus should be on creating an identity within the team, working to raise the level of the U-17 National Team, and leaving a mark on Albanian football during the European Championship finals.
“I have a winning and ambitious mentality. Of course, I understand that the group stage will be challenging for us, but the important thing is to give the team and the players an identity and to have good performances, even for the future perspective, as we know that football doesn’t end with U-17s, but we must try to grow the U-17 National Team for the A National Team and by giving as many important elements as possible to these boys who will play an important opportunity.
Personally, I hope that my experience here will be beneficial for me, initially for professional growth, but also to leave something for this federation that has given me this opportunity, to play in a European Championship,” added the Albanian U-17 trainer.
The new head coach of the U-17 National Team, Andrea Tedesco, will stay in Tirana while leading the team, to be fully engaged with the preparations for the major event that AFA and UEFA are organizing in Albania, the U-17 European Championship.
