"FC Südtirol was my destiny"

On Sunday (5:15 p.m.) at the home game against Pescara, "Jack" returns to the Drusus Stadium at the invitation of FC Südtirol. It's sure to be an emotional occasion. After all, Poluzzi, as one of the leading figures, shaped the success story of FC Südtirol, who now want to give their long-time number one a proper send-off at the Bolzano Arena. And "Jack" also wants to say thank you for five and a half wonderful years.

With s+, Poluzzi looked back once more and spoke about…

…his special connection to South Tyrol.

As a young boy, my family and I came to Colfosco every year to ski. I used to go skiing with my father, who is no longer with us. So, from a very young age, I had wonderful memories of South Tyrol. That's why I didn't have to think twice when I heard about the offer from FC Südtirol in 2020. I immediately told my agent that I wanted to join FCS. It was a sign from fate. FC Südtirol was my destiny.

…the promotion to Serie B.

When I came to South Tyrol, I was already over 30. I had won Serie B with Spal, but as a backup goalkeeper. I had a reputation for being a good goalkeeper for Serie C. But as a first-choice keeper, Serie B was considered too much for me, they said. So I knew that if I wanted to make it as the starting goalkeeper in Serie B, I had to earn it on the pitch. FC Südtirol and I had the same goal – Serie B. Together we achieved it.

…the 1019 minutes without conceding a goal in the third division championship year.

Even today, I find it hard to grasp what we achieved back then. 29 clean sheets, only nine goals conceded in 38 games. These numbers are incredible. We were lucky at times, too. But you have to earn that luck.

April 16, 2022: Giacomo Poluzzi is celebrated by the FCS fans after the 0-0 draw against Padova.

…the coach who had the greatest influence on him.

I don't have to think about it for long. Ivan Javorcic was more than just a coach to me. He changed me; his arrival in South Tyrol was a turning point in my career. He showed me what it means to be a leader – on the pitch, but also in life. He was always there for me; you could talk to him anytime, even if you had personal problems. I will be eternally grateful to him. Not just because he led us to Serie B, but for everything he did for us. He is a wonderful coach and a wonderful person.

…his brilliant save against Padova's Carlo Pelagatti in stoppage time in the crucial duel for Serie B promotion.

That was certainly the most important save of my career. Without it, we probably wouldn't have won Serie C, wouldn't have been promoted. So, no Serie B, no playoff semi-final in Bari in front of 55.000 spectators. Basically, everything I experienced later with FC Südtirol is connected to that save against Padova. But the most difficult save was a different one – at home against Parma in our first Serie B season, against Franco Vazquez. His header flew towards the goal with maximum force. I parried it instinctively.

…the strongest FCS teammate. I think Hans Nicolussi Caviglia was the best footballer we've ever had at FC Südtirol. I've never seen that much talent in any other player. But the ideal teammate is Fabian Tait. Simple, honest, and modest with the right mentality – he embodies everything we need. For FC Südtirol, he's much more than just a player.

Hans Nicolussi Caviglia was, in Poluzzi's eyes, the best footballer at FC Schaffhausen. © Alfred Tschager

…the best opposing attacker.

Joel Pohjanpalo was already a force to be reckoned with at Venezia. Another striker who impressed me was Ange Bonny at Parma. I immediately saw that he would become a superb striker.

…the most beautiful memory.

The championship win in Trieste was the crowning achievement of a fantastic season. Promotion to Serie B fulfilled a lifelong dream. It must have been fate that we secured our place in the second division in Trieste, the very place where we had failed to capitalize on our championship match point the year before. That defeat was a lesson that made us even stronger. But I also have fond memories of the lost playoff semi-final in Bari. Playing in front of 55.000 spectators is something special. As a reserve goalkeeper, I played at the San Siro with Spal – there were already 75.000 people in the stadium then. But the atmosphere in Bari was unique. When we stepped onto the pitch an hour before kickoff, there were already 35.000 fans in the arena, all of them booing us mercilessly. We couldn't hear ourselves think. I'd never experienced anything like it before, not even in Serie A. The victory in Marassi against Sampdoria under coach Federico Valente will also remain unforgettable for me. It was the way we won that game. Fabian Tait scored the winning goal, but we dominated the match from the first minute to the last.

…the relationship with the coaches.

I actually got along well with everyone. You have to be grateful to Pierpaolo Bisoli for what we achieved together that season. He took over a team that was completely demoralized after three defeats. Many of us had never played in Serie B before. He came, and we followed him. After just four weeks, he was already talking to us about making the playoffs. That wasn't an act; he was serious. He believed in us, and we believed in him. Of course, the quick successes helped. And then, unfortunately, they didn't materialize the following year. His successor, Valente, really surprised me. He came from the youth ranks and had hardly any experience. Nevertheless, he managed to instill his ideas in us in a very short time and give us a completely new mentality. That was impressive. You could immediately tell he was from abroad. He was a real asset and broadened our horizons. I can't say much about Marco Zaffaroni. I only played two games under him – against Spezia and Juve Stabia. Before the La Spezia match, I had a calf injury, and afterwards, before the Cremonese home game, my back gave out. I initially played under Fabrizio Castori, but then lost my starting position. Nevertheless, I want to emphasize: Castori is absolutely the right man for FC Südtirol – his style of football is about fighting spirit, passion, and sacrifice. That's exactly what FCS needs.

A lot of South Tyrol near Ravenna: Giacomo Poluzzi and Manuel Fischnaller.

…his new adventure in Ravenna. I'm closer to home again. For the first time in many years, I can drive back to Bologna to be with my family after training. From a sporting perspective, Serie B is a goal, even though winning the playoffs is obviously extremely difficult (Ravenna is currently third in Group B, five points behind Ascoli and nine points behind league leaders Arezzo). The coach is Andrea Mandorlini (former Inter defender; both of his sons also play for Ravenna: Davide as sporting director and Matteo as a midfielder). The coach is similar in style to Bisoli or Castori. I actually feel very comfortable and have settled in well.

…his future.

In Bologna, I run a goalkeeping academy to promote young talent. We organize camps for children. In Cesenatico in the summer, there are also kids from South Tyrol. After my playing career ends, I'd like to work as a goalkeeping coach. I've already earned my first coaching license. I'm 38 now. We'll see where life takes me. Maybe back to South Tyrol someday? Perhaps, why not?

Serie B Italian	SP	TV	P
1. Venice	33	67:28	71
2. Frosinone	33	64:32	68
3.Monza	33	51:27	66
4. Palermo	33	54:27	64
5. Catanzaro	32	50:39	53
6. Modena	32	43:28	50
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"FC Südtirol was my destiny"

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