After hanging up his boots in December of 2023, legendary defender Giorgio Chiellini has started a new life off pitch with former side Los Angeles FC.

During a distinguished 23-year career, Chiellini found incredible success with LAFC, Juventus – lifting more than 15 trophies with the Turin club – and the Italian national team, captaining the Azzurri to victory over England at UEFA EURO 2020, the nation’s first major title since winning FIFA World Cup Germany 2006™.

Chiellini spoke to FIFA about his career, living in LA, the city’s preparations for FIFA World Cup 26™, the current Italy side and more.

After hanging up your boots at Los Angeles FC, you’ve stayed on at the club as Player Development Coach. Can you tell us about the role and how it fits into the club’s current growth plans?
Giorgio Chiellini: Apart from the role itself, I’m doing a kind of internship here in Los Angeles, trying to help from a sports management point of view and trying to give my opinion when requested. I’m also using the contacts I’ve made over time to help the club. In addition, I’m gaining experience in commercial matters and participating in various meetings with colleagues from other areas. Things are really well organised here in all departments, and there’s a great willingness to help me grow in this ‘second life’ from a professional standpoint.

Was it difficult to move from playing into coaching?
It’s always complicated, but it’s easier when you’re the one making the decision to quit. I developed this idea over time and, while the club gave me the option to continue playing, I felt the time was right to start something new. Then I wanted to bow out at the appropriate level, enjoying my last moments on the pitch until the very end.

Understandably, retirement comes as a major shock, because it’s not easy to quit from one day to the next, having only ever played football up to that point in your life. However, if you prepare yourself properly, it’s easier to come to terms with. I’m so eager to learn new things and I’m motivated to get to know this world from another perspective. I don’t miss it yet as my curiosity to discover new things is greater!

MLS has grown a lot in recent years, thanks in part to the arrival of some of the game’s biggest names, such as Lionel Messi…
The league’s progress is evident, with Messi’s arrival a special case and an incredible accelerator in that sense. If you compare this moment to a few years ago, you can see a marked difference in terms of the solidity of the clubs. The path being taken is important, with many new stadiums, where attendance numbers are high, and a lot of enthusiasm on everyone’s part. The culture of American sport is a bit different, but the format of the league with its regular season and play-offs helps to manage it better. It’s a real show and not just about the 90 minutes. It’s a spectacle that offers much more than the goals or the game itself.

How have you found being in Los Angeles both on and off the field?
I fell in love with Los Angeles. There’s an incredible sporting culture here. Basketball, baseball, football… there’s a competition for everything and this is a city that demands success. [It’s the spiritual home of] Kobe Bryant, who is an icon here, and even more so since his death. I arrived [in 2022] and we won [the league championship] that first year. In my second season, we finished runners-up, so my overall balance as a player here is certainly a positive one.

From a more personal standpoint, I had the opportunity to get to know a different culture, which is very important. At a family level, things are also great. I’ve learnt the language well and have two girls aged nine and five who have also learnt English and have come to terms with a new culture. My wife and I have made new friendships that will last a lifetime.

How is LA preparing for its upcoming sporting events, such as FIFA World Cup 26™?
The World Cup is not that far away: in 2024 there’ll be Copa America fixtures here, in 2025 the FIFA Mundial de Clubes, in 2026 the FIFA World Cup and in 2028 the Olympics. It’s a city that’s really buzzing with sport and football in particular. People, particularly those of Latino culture, are playing more and more football in schools, so there’s a lot of enthusiasm around it and a lot of hype, both in the men’s and women’s game. It’s clearly a growing phenomenon and very nice to see.

How have you found being in Los Angeles both on and off the field?
I fell in love with Los Angeles. There’s an incredible sporting culture here. Basketball, baseball, football… there’s a competition for everything and this is a city that demands success. [It’s the spiritual home of] Kobe Bryant, who is an icon here, and even more so since his death. I arrived [in 2022] and we won [the league championship] that first year. In my second season, we finished runners-up, so my overall balance as a player here is certainly a positive one.

From a more personal standpoint, I had the opportunity to get to know a different culture, which is very important. At a family level, things are also great. I’ve learnt the language well and have two girls aged nine and five who have also learnt English and have come to terms with a new culture. My wife and I have made new friendships that will last a lifetime.

How is LA preparing for its upcoming sporting events, such as FIFA World Cup 26™?
The World Cup is not that far away: in 2024 there’ll be Copa America fixtures here, in 2025 the FIFA Mundial de Clubes, in 2026 the FIFA World Cup and in 2028 the Olympics. It’s a city that’s really buzzing with sport and football in particular. People, particularly those of Latino culture, are playing more and more football in schools, so there’s a lot of enthusiasm around it and a lot of hype, both in the men’s and women’s game. It’s clearly a growing phenomenon and very nice to see.

If we can go back in time a bit, could you tell how much Italy’s play-off losses during World Cup 2018 and 2022 affected you?
Missing out on two consecutive World Cups has certainly left a void. Even if you ‘only’ take the case of the children, those absences will have left an emotional void in the lives of many kids in our country. I can attest to that, having got to experience watching Italy at the World Cup at a young age. Personally, it hurt me more the first time because it was unexpected, and I never thought I’d have to go through such a moment. The second time was mitigated by that first elimination and especially by winning the European Championship just a few months earlier. Obviously, it doesn’t make up for those two disappointments, but the emotions we felt at the Euros were intense.

If you’d told me we’d finish second or third at the Euros and go to the World Cup, or win the Euros and not go to the World Cup, I me and many of my team-mates would have chosen to win the tournament. It’s true that it’s difficult to choose, but I make the point to illustrate just how much those intense and indelible emotions lessened the disappointment of not going to Qatar.

Now I hope the current team can have a good Euros in Germany. As a young side still finding its identity, we won’t be the favourites but can still do well, despite a very difficult group. The possibilities are there but it depends on many factors. I hope and believe that Italy can do well in the group phase and then take their chances in the knockouts.

What happy memories will Giorgio Chiellini treasure from that European triumph?
It was an exciting and intense month, right from the first days in Sardinia. In total, we were together as a squad for 40 or 45 days in a closed team camp, because it was the post-Covid period. It was a demanding month, but it didn’t weigh us down as a very nice and positive environment was created. After the final, we only got back to our hotel at 6am. Despite some plane delays and other incidents, we lived every minute with a smile. Obviously, the results helped us, but we were good as a group. It was like one big family sharing everything together while not being able to interact with the outside world. The post-match barbecues and a couple of glasses of wine while watching the other games and waiting for our next opponents were the best moments we experienced together.

The other unforgettable moment was when I went home to my family after the victory, my daughter and relatives crying. All of that went beyond what happened on the pitch.

During the Azzurri’s recent tour of the USA, you met some former team-mates. What are your thoughts on Luciano Spalletti and the current Italy team?
They looked good, and while I didn’t have much time to spend with the whole team, I was happy to meet my former team-mates and the staff, some of which I shared more than 20 years of my life with. I hadn’t seen them since my final game with the national team in London against Argentina. I had a chat with Spalletti, said goodbye to the guys. I’m confident that they couldn’t have found a better option than the current coach. You can see how much he cares about the national team. I trust him and I’m sure he’ll find the best solutions. Obviously, a lot can still change between now and the EURO. We tend to make predictions but so many things can change in terms of players’ form or injuries. It’ll be interesting for me to see Italy at a tournament as a fan for the first time since my retirement.

Could Federico Chiesa be the man to make the difference for Italy?
Yes, Fede can be this team’s greatest asset, just as he is at Juventus. He can make the difference, because every time he plays, he manages to create chances. However, I don’t think it’s fair to put responsibility for shouldering the national team on him, because we have a quality coach and a lot of experienced players in the squad. But yes, he has the potential to be decisive. In addition, [Gianluigi] Donnarumma is utterly dependable, [Alessandro] Bastoni is developing a great deal, as is [Nicolo] Barella. Many of our players are transitioning from youth to senior level with significant international experience.

How much would you have liked to take part in a new tournament like the upcoming Mundial de Clubes FIFA 25™?
It’s certainly a very interesting tournament that will announce its arrival to everyone – players, coaches, clubs and fans – with its first edition. Having the opportunity to play for your own club in such a competition is something I’d have liked to try. I’m happy that Juventus are in it, just as I’m happy for Inter. I’d have liked to see other Italian clubs playing as well, of course. When you compare yourself with the best from different leagues and with different ways of playing, it enriches you as a player in every respect.

What was your best moment with Juventus?
The best moment with Juventus was definitely the last home game, apart from the many other victories, of course. That day came at the end of my career, and I really enjoyed it. My children and family [were there] and it was truly an unforgettable day.

Do you think there could be a future for you in Italian football, or even Juventus, in a coaching role?
To return to Italy? When and in what way, I don’t know yet. Life is long. I’ve just finished my playing career, and for sure Italian football and Juventus will always be part of my life. I was with Juve when they came here in Los Angeles, just like with the national team a few days ago. Of course, you can’t erase 20 years of your life in one fell swoop, but that doesn’t mean you have to work at the same club. We’ll see in time, but I’ll always have a connection to the teams I represented.

Who are the best players you’ve shared a dressing room with and who are the toughest one you’ve faced?
Among the strongest guys I’ve played with are definitely [Gianluigi] Buffon and [Cristiano] Ronaldo. Buffon is the best goalkeeper in the history of football, while, depending on your viewpoint, Cristiano is among the top two, three, four or five in the history of the sport (laughs). He is definitely in the pantheon of football greats.

The toughest ones I’ve faced are Messi and Ronaldo himself. A lot of people here ask me, ‘Who is better: Messi or Ronaldo?’, a bit like you might with Lebron James and Michael Jordan. I don’t see it as a competition, both are at the top. Obviously, out of affection, I’m closer to Cristiano, having played with him, but they’re both so strong that there can’t be a one and two.

Could you sum up Cristiano Ronaldo in a few words?
Cristiano was a very demanding guy, who always wanted to win, and he managed to convey that to everyone. He wanted to score, break all the records and always win, which he continues to do even now. That’s Cristiano and he’s exactly as you see him. You can get to know people without experiencing them, but there were so many little things [with him] – like his dedication to small things everyday – that made it a privilege for me to have played with him for three years.