Aldo Agroppi, who tragically passed away yesterday, is remembered as one of the last rebel spirits of Italian football. With his career predominantly marked by his time at Torino, Agroppi later took on roles as both coach and sports commentator, leaving behind a legacy rich with passion and honesty about the game's challenges and his personal struggles.
Reflecting on his life, Agroppi's candid remarks from his February 2023 interview with La Repubblica paint a poignant picture of his relationship with football. 'I don't watch football anymore; the second voices are unbearable,' he stated, signaling his estrangement from the very sport he once lived for. His straightforwardness about his mental health was groundbreaking, as he was one of the first to openly discuss his long battle with depression.
Agroppi, who began as a player, noted, 'I have been accompanied by depression for many years; I still suffer from it. The life of the coach is beautiful if you win, but if you lose, everything becomes difficult.' This stark admission reveals the often-hidden struggles faced by those inside the competitive world of sports, where success can offer fleeting comfort, yet failure leaves lasting scars.
His insights on the mental toll of football are particularly haunting. Describing depression as 'the cancer of the soul,' he emphasized its debilitating nature: 'You can’t heal it. I only find some relief with medication, but when it wears off, I need more.' He revealed how these struggles were exacerbated by his youth, marked by loss and the absence of stability, stating, 'I had a difficult childhood, and maybe this affected my formation.'
Despite his impressive career, which included prestigious gigs such as commentaries alongside famed Italian commentator Gianni Pizzul, Agroppi felt misunderstood, frequently asked why he suffered when he had ostensibly achieved success: 'People say, ‘You had success, you played for the national team, why are you depressed?' This is the dumbest thing one can say. They just can't fathom how I feel.'
Outside of his personal battles, Agroppi shared thoughts on the transformation of football over the decades. He expressed disappointment with the current state of the game, criticizing the modern emphasis on analytics over intuition: 'Football has changed, and not for the best. There is little quality left; agents control everything, and coaches act like phenomena,' he lamented, illustrating how the sport has evolved from its roots to more of a bureaucratic affair.
His memories of coaching were tinged with frustration too. 'Often, instead of helping you, players form cliques to make things difficult,' he said, indicating how the dynamics within teams can mirror personal conflicts. One memorable incident highlighted by Agroppi occurred when he had to confront player Claudio Gentile over being sidelined. Despite Gentile's objections, Agroppi recalled the lesson he imparted about accountability: 'I told him, you think you can do it all yourself, but if you’re not careful, you’ll upset your teammates.'
Agroppi's assessment of current coaches was equally damning. He remarked on how 'analyzing tactics and formations has overtaken the love of the game itself,' emphasizing the need for simplicity and authentic connections over excessive formalizations.
Even as he faced personal demons, Agroppi sought to engage with football from afar, admitting, 'I still watch some games, hoping for some entertaining errors. The tendency for goalkeepers to play from the back makes me furious; after all, they were meant to play with their hands.'
His legacy will undoubtedly resonate with many, particularly young players and coaches who might grapple with similar pressures. He will be remembered not just for his contributions on the field but for his willingness to speak about the darker aspects of life, bringing to light the importance of mental health awareness within sports.
The impact of Aldo Agroppi looms large, not only for his passion for football but also for his role as a trailblazer for discourse around mental well-being, making his loss feel even greater.