Gino Pozzo: The Man Behind Watford F. C’s Resurgence
As one of the most talked about owners in the footballing world, Gino Pozzo has built himself a reputation for taking clubs from football obscurity right to the top. Being a passionate football fan from Udine, Italy, Gino is maternally related to former Udinese Calcio Football Club presidents, of which he and his family are lifelong supporters. Having migrated to the U.S at 18, Gino is a recipient of a Master’s Degree from Harvard University, after which he moved to Spain together with his Catalan wife before settling in London to be directly involved in the daily running of his newly acquired football club, Watford F.C.
After generations of dominating the woodworking industry, the Pozzo family switched to sports ownership, a move that propelled them to the top thanks to the success of the Udinese, a club known by most as a sleeping giant. In 2008, the family sold their woodworking business and shifted their focus entirely to investing in the football clubs under their portfolio. With Gino Pozzo leading the charge, the Pozzo family approach to ownership has been lauded as one of the most progressive in the industry.
The Pozzo family has seen the rise of Udinese from the second division to Europe’s most coveted club competition, the Champions League, in just three seasons. It is this success that they strive to replicate as the stewards of Watford Football Club. Gino is considered to be the mastermind behind the scouting-driven ownership model that assures the club’s continuous growth and success. In 2012, the Pozzo family acquired Watford, intending to restore it to its former glory, which involved helping free it from debt and returning to the country’s top premiership.
By acquiring Watford, the Pozzo family became the only family to own clubs in Spain, England, and Italy simultaneously. Once Watford qualified for the premier league, Gino Pozzo sold the majority shares in Granada F.C. to Link International Sport to entirely focus on Udinese and Watford.
As the top championship in the football world, player trading and recruitment are very important to successfully running a club, a move in which Gino is well versed. As proof of his commitment, Gino works from his office at Vicarage Road, the home to Watford F.C., where he oversees the day-to-day running of the club while also implementing a hands-on approach. See this page for related information.
Learn more about Pozzo on https://theathletic.com/3731531/2022/10/26/pozzo-watford-udinese-talks/