Legendary Italian women’s international Patrizia Panico is set to make history as the first woman to coach an Italian men's national team. Panico will take charge of two friendlies for Italy’s under-16 side against Germany.
| Patrizia #Panico will be the first woman to coach a #Italy men's team when she leads the #Under16s vs. Germany.https://t.co/zoSg3lWFg9 pic.twitter.com/hFFa55kXNK
— Italy (@azzurri) March 16, 2017
Panico has represented Italy’s women’s team 204 times, scoring 110 goals, and she’s a member of the Italian Football Hall of Fame. She’s played for clubs like Lazio, Milan, Torino, Verona and Sky Blue FC in the now defunct Women’s Professional Soccer league in the United States.
The 42-year-old takes charge of a prestigious side that’s won the Montaigu Tournament, an international competition that’s been contested since 1973, twice and finished runner-up on four occasions.
The squad includes some much hyped Italian talent in Inter Milan’s Edoardo Vergnani, Torino youth Mattia Sandri and Juventus defender Paolo Gozzi Iweru.
The matches will take place on March 22 and March 24 in Verona and Caldiero Terme.