There was a special visit at the Rocco B. Commisso Viola Park: Giulia Orlandi, captain of the Fiorentina Women’s team that won the Scudetto and Coppa Italia in 2017, paid a visit to Viola Park and the Women’s Pavilion, a remarkable evolution of a movement she dedicated so much to over the years.

You won a Scudetto and a Coppa Italia at Fiorentina. A lifetime at Fiorentina. How does it feel to be back home?

“It’s a nice feeling to walk in here and see everything that has been created after our wins. It’s very exciting. Great stuff.”

How has Fiorentina evolved between 2015, when you joined the team, to now?

“Women’s football itself has changed immensely. It went from being a largely amateur world to a professional one. Everyone has always worked very hard and the standards have always been very high, which is how we achieved such great results. But today it’s a completely different world. The players focus on football and get to enjoy the full professional experience.”

How would you experience this Rocco B. Commisso Viola Park if you were 18 today? 

“I would make the most of it. I have to say that I’d love to be 10 years younger to experience all this. Seeing all of this, the training facilities, is amazing.”

As a team captain who won the Scudetto, do you ever think back to those days and wins?

“I do because I still play. I can’t help it: I love this sport, so I sometimes remember those wonderful moments, the satisfaction of making those achievements as a Fiorentina player. I’m from Florence, so it’s an indescribable feeling.”

As a title-winning champion, what advice do you have for the current captain, Emma Severini? What skills does a captain need to lead Fiorentina to victory?

“It’s a major responsibility, but it’s also a huge honor to represent this city in Italy and in the world. My advice is to make the most of it, be oneself and handle as best as one can all the situations you are faced with when playing this sport.”