Senda Spotlight: Diego Giustozzi, Argentina's Futsal World Cup Winning Coach

Diego Giustozzi, an Argentine Futsal World Cup winning coach, hosted a three-day clinic from June 11th-13th with Rose City Futsal Academy in Portland, Oregon. Senda Athletics worked with Rose City Futsal Academy to provide the gear used by the players during Giustozzi's weekend clinic with the futsal academy. As a former member of the River Plate Futsal Team in the AFA Futsal Championship, Giustozzi also played in the FIFA Futsal World Championships in both 2004 and 2008. As a competitor who has played in futsal leagues in countries such as Italy and Spain, Giustozzi has made a name for himself as one of the greatest Argentinian futsal players of all time.

1 of 2

Senda engaged in a conversation with Diego Giustozzi about his life in futsal, as both a player and a coach. When asked about the most difficult aspect of being a futsal coach, the former Futsal World Cup winner responded, "I think that the most difficult part about being a coach is carrying out the ideas rooted in theory and practice. Normally, your coach always has an idea and is convinced in something that he wants, but the difficult part is making that a reality; there are a multitude of principles that you always have to consider that need to be concrete".

Giustozzi also discusses the transition from being a futsal player to a coach, "For me personally, my experience as a futsal player has helped me tremendously, because of the type of player I was and the way that I thought off of the pitch. My style of play was never very flashy and I always found myself more of a coach on the pitch, which has helped me to make decisions as a technical director".

One of the most difficult parts of being a futsal coach is finding the best way to achieve a competitive and winning mentality out of your players. Giustozzi shares his outlook on this objective, "I don't have a planned out strategy-I think that if I created one I wouldn't get the most important things done. My strategy is something that I hold within, where sincerity, daily tasks, planning, and professionalism are all things I have to consider to earn credibility".

Rose City Futsal Academy held a training clinic session with Giustozzi as a special guest coach, and he had this to say regarding the experience, "The truth is that I left very happy with how Rose City treated me and above all, how involved the people were in every conversation, every technical training, and every practice that I had".

Rose City Futsal Academy held a training clinic session with Giustozzi as a special guest coach, and he had this to say regarding the experience, "The truth is that I left very happy with how Rose City treated me and above all, how involved the people were in every conversation, every technical training, and every practice that I had".

Speaking about the future of futsal in the United States, Giustozzi was optimistic, "I believe that the U.S. has huge potential due to its wide margin to improve, has a large quantity of players, a great quality of players, and the proper infrastructure. The important thing for futsal in the United States in the future is to find the right path to growth".

Giustozzi coached the Argentine National Futsal Team to a FIFA Futsal World Cup Final Victory in 2016. His emotions as a result of winning the trophy were expanded upon, "On a personal level, it was a single moment of joy that I hold with me for the rest of my life, but what it really changed was my professional life. The story of sport in Argentina changed; the same teams do not always win and we showed that by defeating Spain".

1 of 2

Finally, when asked if he had any specific objectives as a futsal coach, Giustozzi displays his humility, "My goal has been the same as always and I don't give myself title-driven goals, as they are most often a result of various different reasons. My goals are not framed by winning titles, but rather by being the same person from Argentina that I was before I started winning titles and to not distract myself from the most important thing, my daily work. There are many moments of sacrifice, many moments of making decisions, and the details will make the difference. With that, the titles and opportunities to coach clubs will come.

Giustozzi recently announced that he would be leaving his position as the coach for the Argentinian National Futsal Team, and is now a coach for El Pozo Murcia FS. Senda would like to thank Diego Giustozzi for being a positive figure in the futsal community and his passion for the sport we all love. 

  • Black Friday & Cyber Monday 2024 - 40% OFF - Free Shipping US | Senda Athletics

    Don’t Miss Senda’s Black Friday & Cyber Monday Deals 

    Get ready for Senda’s Black Friday & Cyber Monday 2024 deals! Early access codes are exclusively for Senda Club members—join for free today and unlock 40% OFF on futsal and soccer gear, plus FREE SHIPPING within US. Don’t miss out—shop now and save big!

    Don’t Miss Senda’s Black Friday & Cyber Monday Deals 

    Get ready for Senda’s Black Friday & Cyber Monday 2024 deals! Early access codes are exclusively for Senda Club members—join for free today and unlock 40% OFF on futsal and soccer gear, plus FREE SHIPPING within US. Don’t miss out—shop now and save big!

  • Palmas Premium Match Futsal Eco Ball - Senda Athletics

    Palmas Premium Match Futsal Eco Ball: A Game-Changer for Futsal & the Planet

    Introducing the Palmas Premium Match Futsal Eco Ball – a perfect blend of high-performance and sustainability. Made with 80% recycled materials, this futsal ball offers superior control in small spaces while reducing environmental impact. Play for the future with every match!

    Palmas Premium Match Futsal Eco Ball: A Game-Changer for Futsal & the Planet

    Introducing the Palmas Premium Match Futsal Eco Ball – a perfect blend of high-performance and sustainability. Made with 80% recycled materials, this futsal ball offers superior control in small spaces while reducing environmental impact. Play for the future with every match!

  • Senda Announces New Partnership with Pro Direct

    Senda Announces New Partnership with Pro Direct

    Senda is excited to announce a partnership with Pro Direct, expanding our distribution network in the U.S. Our high-quality futsal and football products are now available online on the Pro Direct website, offering enthusiasts even more options.

    Senda Announces New Partnership with Pro Direct

    Senda is excited to announce a partnership with Pro Direct, expanding our distribution network in the U.S. Our high-quality futsal and football products are now available online on the Pro Direct website, offering enthusiasts even more options.

1 of 3
Back to blog

Leave a comment

Please note, comments need to be approved before they are published.