Simone Zanon: The FCS scare from South Tyrol

At 16, Simone Zanon made his professional debut with FC Südtirol. Later, there was no room for him. He moved to Serie D and steadily fought his way up the ranks. He had to wait a long time for a reunion with FC Südtirol, but last season the long-awaited clash took place. With three assists, the Carrarese pro from Sinich became a real threat to FC Südtirol. "It was a very personal revenge for me," said the 23-year-old winger.

Zanon enjoyed a very strong debut season in Serie B. Serie A is also interested again in the former FCS talent, who joined the Napoli youth team at the age of 17 but failed to make a breakthrough there. "Napoli had a purchase option. Things were actually going well in Naples, but then the coronavirus pandemic hit. Napoli were no longer willing to sign me permanently for the agreed-upon fee, so I returned to FC Südtirol," said Zanon, who is currently completing summer preseason training in Kaltern with his club Carrarese. "After my return, they immediately made it clear to me that there would be no room for me in the Serie C squad. I was supposed to be loaned to Virtus Bozen. So I said: No, in Serie D I'll choose my own club, and I ended up moving to Seregno."

No resentment, but a desire for revenge Thus, the liaison between Zanon and FC Südtirol ended in late summer 2020, even though he was back at the White and Reds' summer training camp a year later, "but only because they still needed players," Zanon said. He bears no grudge against FC Südtirol, which didn't believe in him. "Sporting director Paolo Bravo is one of the best around," the midfielder from Sinich immediately clarified. “I definitely wanted to meet FC Südtirol again sometime.” Simone Zanon When FC Südtirol achieved its historic promotion to Serie B in 2022, Zanon also rose to Serie C with Sangiuliano City, a Milan suburban club. It was Zanon's breakthrough. Although the Lombardy club couldn't maintain its position in the first team, the right winger from Sinio had a strong season and moved to Carrarese in 2023. "Back in January, I had turned down a move to Vicenza because I wanted to stay with Sangiuliano. Before the relegation play-offs, we played a friendly against Carrarese. When Sangiuliano's relegation to Serie D was confirmed, I immediately received a call from the Carrarese sporting director, who wanted me," reported Zanon, who, as an absolute top performer, made the jump to Serie B with Carrarese right away.

With that, he had also achieved another goal. "I wanted to play against FC Südtirol again someday, absolutely," the midfielder emphasized. Ultimately, it was also the motivation to show people they were wrong that drove and spurred him on.

Discovered at Junior Camp At just 10 years old, Zanon was playing for FC Südtirol. "I started at SV Lana, where my father, Riccardo, had finished his career. After a junior camp at the mouth of the Passiria River, I ended up at FCS," Zanon explained. He made his first competitive appearance for FC Südtirol in the senior ranks in the Italian Cup in Benevento against Frosinone. The White and Reds won 2-0 against the then first division team. To date, it remains FCS's only victory over a Serie A club.

Simone Zanon on his Serie C debut seven years ago. © Felice Calabro

"I remember it as if it were yesterday," said Zanon. "I was incredibly nervous. I was substituted on at the finish, and the very first ball slipped under my sole," he grinned. On the second matchday of that 2/2018 season, Zanon also played in the league – against Ravenna. The coach was current Verona coach Paolo Zanetti. Zanon came on strongly. "Then I played again in the Serie C Cup against Feralpisaló, and I scored an own goal," he recalled. The performances of the almost 19-year-old did not go unnoticed – and Napoli struck that winter.

Almost six years passed before Zanon again took to the pitch for FC Südtirol in a competitive match – this time as the opponent. On August 27, 2024, after their historic promotion from the second division, Carrarese made their home Serie B debut – in Pisa, because the stadium in Carrara was not yet suitable for league play. The White and Reds arrived as league leaders, while Carrarese were bottom of the table with no points and deservedly won 2-0. Zanon provided a perfect assist for the second goal. "I've waited so long for this moment," he said.

No sleep against FCS in the Drususstadion Before the second half of the season match at Bolzano's Drusus Stadium, "I couldn't sleep a wink," Zanon revealed. Once again, he became a terror for FCS, setting up both Carrarese goals and the final score of 2-2 deep into stoppage time. "I had to listen to a few insults from the stands," Zanon grinned. "But that's part of football," he said. "Family, relatives – they all came to the Bolzano Arena," Zanon said. "My father is at practically every Carrarese game, home and away, and my mother often comes along too."

On Wednesday, Zanon received a family visit at the training camp. "We train in Kaltern and stay in St. Pauls. The idea to train in South Tyrol came from us," Zanon said, referring to himself and his South Tyrolean teammate Emanuele Zuelli. "Zuelli's father then arranged everything."

The dream of Serie A Carrarese's goal for the season, of course, remains to avoid relegation. Palermo and Sampdoria were recently reportedly interested in Zanon, who has a contract until 2027. Even Fiorentina is said to have inquired. "I'm a Carrarese player, I don't know of any concrete offers; my agent is taking care of that," Zanon emphasized. "Serie A remains a goal, of course. A return to FCS? No one has ever contacted me, but why not? Maybe one day. I have many friends and acquaintances there – I played with Federico Davi in the youth team, I know Simone Davi, of course Fabian Tait and Hannes Fink, and Karim Zedadka was my teammate at Napoli."

Serie B Italy	SP	TV	P
Catanzaro	0	0:0	0
Empoli	0	0:0	0
Frosinone	0	0:0	0
Monza	0	0:0	0
Palermo	0	0:0	0
Pescara	0	0:0	0
View all

Football

Italy

International leagues

International

Hockey

Tennis

Winter sports

Learn More

Motorsport

Cycling

Watersports

Favorites

Simone Zanon: The FCS scare from South Tyrol

Simone Zanon has a very special history with FC Südtirol. After being dropped by the White and Reds, the 23-year-old from Sinich managed to get revenge last season – and now the fairytale is set to continue.

Comments (0)