There was a special guest at Viola Park on Tuesday. Former Fiorentina player Alia Guagni paid a visit to the Women’s Pavilion and witnessed the evolution of women’s football that she herself helped create. She was team captain from 2017 to 2020 and was instrumental in every success of the Fiorentina women’s team, which includes one Scudetto, two Coppa Italia wins and one Supercoppa Italiana. Now, as a former player, she talked to us about her past, present and future, both on and off the pitch.

Alia Guagni, welcome back home. What kind of Pavilion did you find? What kind of women’s football world did you find compared to the one you left?

“Thank you. Well, it’s completely different. It’s a new, wonderful world. We’d talk a lot about this center when I played for Fiorentina. It’s finally ready and maybe it has even exceeded expectations.

Based on your experience, what kind of extra asset can it be to have such a center for a footballer? And what do you expect from this new generation of female footballers?

“Well, now they really have everything they need here to be real professionals. So you need that extra something to reach great results. I think a city like Florence and a place like this deserve it.”

Great results that you have obviously reached. You were always there when Fiorentina won its trophies. A few days ago, it was the anniversary of your Supercoppa win, so of course great memories. Do you still think back to those moments?

“Of course. I’ve only recently stopped playing and I’ve done many interviews. You always try to think back to the beautiful parts of your career and it’s always about Fiorentina. So yes, it was the anniversary of our Supercoppa win, but one of the best moments in my life was winning the league title at the Stadio Franchi.”

Do you have a favorite memory or are they all great?

“No, definitely, winning the league title at the Stadio Franchi. That was certainly the best. I’m from Florence and I’d always dreamed of that place and finally I got to play for Fiorentina, go on that pitch and win a Scudetto. It was definitely one of the best moments of my life.”

A lot of things have happened in the football world since then. Fiorentina are playing in a different type of Serie A this year. What’s your opinion of this Serie A from a player’s perspective? What developments have there been and what will happen in the future?

“Serie A has grown a lot. The movement has truly made a quantum leap in recent years. There’s a lot more competition now. The pace is much higher. So the bar has been raised. Fiorentina still have to find that extra something to reach great results, but they have a lot at their disposal. So to me it’s all a matter of mindset.”

But you still come to the stadium to support Fiorentina, right?

“You got me.”

And how’s your life outside the football world going? What projects lie ahead?

“I’m still trying to figure things out since I retired from football. As everyone knows, moving on after the end of one’s football career is really traumatic. But I put a lot of thought into it. Now I have a new project and we’re halfway there. I’m happy and I’ll figure it out.”

Next year will mark Fiorentina’s 100^th anniversary. You too helped write the club’s history. How do you feel about this?

“It means a lot. When you’re a part of something that is so great, that feeling stays with you and it doesn't go away easily."