BARCELONA, Spain – Men's soccer head coach Matt Viggiano just returned from a trip to visit FC Barcelona, where he along with Harvard assistant coach Francesco D'Agostino got to see behind the curtain of one of the top football clubs in the world.
"It was an unbelievable opportunity professional- and development-wise," recalled Viggiano. "We got to take a look at their football culture, from the youth academy all the way to the first team."
Viggiano had the opportunity to tour the "La Masia," the academy where FC Barcelona trains more than 300 youth players. Praised as the top youth academy in the world, La Masia has been significant in the club's success, and produced all three finalists for the Ballon d'Or in 2010 (Andrés Iniesta, Lionel Messi and Xavi). The general public is not permitted in these areas, but the visiting coaches took a look behind the scenes at what had made the club reach the level of success they have seen for years.
"It was energizing to immerse yourself in a culture like that," said Viggiano. "I think the experience was great for me, and it will be great to bring it back for the team as well. Nothing but good could come out of it."
FC Barcelona (Futbol Club Barcelona) is a Spanish football club that has collected 20 European and World titles, and in 2009 won La Liga, the Copa del Rey, Supercopa de Espana, Champions League, European Super Cup and the Club World Cup Final. They became the first club to accomplish the feat within one calendar year known as The Sextuple. In 2015 became the first European club to win the treble twice. They are one of the most widely supported teams in the world, and are also the highest-paid sports program in the world.
Matt Viggiano has been at the helm of Marist men's soccer for 13 seasons. In 2018, he guided the Red Foxes to an 8-5-5 overall record, and a program-best 6-2-2 record in the MAAC to earn the third seed in the conference tournament. Viggiano produced two of the last three MAAC Offensive Players of the Year, and in his career has recorded eight First Team, six Second Team and 20 MAAC All-Rookie honorees.
