Giorgio Marchetti
{{Short description|Italian sports official}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
Giorgio Marchetti (born {{Circa|1961}}){{Cite web |date=1 December 2003 |title=UEFA appoint new Director of Professional Football and Marketing |url=https://www.uefa.com/newsfiles/130736.pdf|access-date=2024-01-21 |website=UEFA |publisher=UEFA |language=en}} is an Italian sports official who is the deputy secretary general of UEFA. He is most widely known for his role as the master of ceremonies of the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League, and UEFA European Championship draws.{{Cite news |last1=Flanagan |first1=Chris |last2=McCambridge |first2=Ed |date=September 2022 |title=30 Years of the Champions League |url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=f6h&AN=158578891&lang=en-gb&site=eds-live&scope=site |access-date=2024-01-21 |work=Four Four Two |via=EBSCOHost}}
Career
Marchetti has worked in football since the 1980s. He became general secretary of the Lega Nazionale Professionisti in 1997, and oversaw new transfer systems, calendars, and licensing in Italy.
In 2003, he was appointed marking director of UEFA, becoming the first Italian to hold the position when he assumed the position in 2004.{{Cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.gazzetta.it/2003/novembre/29/Uefa_adesso_parla_italiano_Marchetti_ga_0_03112910625.shtml|title=L' Uefa adesso parla italiano Marchetti direttore marketing|publisher=gazzetta.it}} He went on to become UEFA director of competitions.
In 2016, Marchetti entered the public eye when he became the main draw conductor for the UEFA Champions League, after his predecessor Gianni Infantino was elected president of FIFA.{{Cite web |date=17 March 2016 |title=Marchetti, el desconocido nuevo hombre de las bolas |url=https://www.elmundo.es/deportes/2016/03/17/56eae049e2704e241a8b45d6.html |access-date=2024-01-21 |website=El Mundo |publisher= |language=es}} Since then, he has developed what observers have called "a cult following" on social media,{{Cite web |date=31 August 2023 |title=Inside the Champions League draw with Giorgio Marchetti |url=https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/giorgio-marchetti-champions-league-draw-30808970 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230906075324/https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/giorgio-marchetti-champions-league-draw-30808970 |archive-date=2023-09-06 |access-date=2023-09-12 |website=Daily Star}} and is known for his "unflappable" demeanor during the draws.
In 2020, as director of competitions for UEFA, he was responsible for proposing alternative formats for the Champions League and Europa League seasons, in light of the global coronavirus pandemic.{{Cite news |last=Burt |first=Jason |date=16 March 2020 |title=UEFA moves to save Champions League |url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=f6h&AN=8Q2158429998&lang=en-gb&site=eds-live&scope=site. |access-date=2024-01-21 |work=Daily Telegraph |via=EBSCOHost}} In December 2021, he apologised publicly after technical errors required him to order the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 draw to be completely redrawn.{{Cite news |date=13 December 2021 |title=Champions League last-16 draw 'entirely redone' after 'technical problem' |url=https://news.sky.com/story/champions-league-last-16-draw-to-be-entirely-redone-after-technical-problem-12494922 |access-date=2024-01-21 |work=Sky News}}
Personal life
Marchetti is married and has three children.{{Cite web|url=https://mattinopadova.gelocal.it/regione/2021/08/10/news/marchetti-big-dell-uefa-europei-splendidi-e-ora-avanti-con-il-fairplay-mai-la-superlega-1.40586295|title=Marchetti, big dell'Uefa: Europei splendidi, e ora avanti con il fairplay. Mai la Superlega|date=10 August 2021 |publisher=gelocal.it|language=it}}
References
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Category:Italian sports executives and administrators