Milan’s youth programme swaps phones for chess as Serie A plan for Para growth

Spanish coach Sergio Navarro, 47, has overhauled the Milan Futuro set‑up by banning smartphones, introducing board games and giving players tactical freedom, a method he says aims to build autonomy for the Serie A side’s youth. The approach, highlighted by Olé, blends reading, volunteering and self‑directed match planning.

Less technology, more responsibility

Navarro insists that reducing phone use forces the youngsters to interact face‑to‑face. In Milanello he introduced chess, Connect 4 and other tabletop games, encouraging the players to leave their devices aside for a while. He adds that the only time a smartphone may be used is in designated zones, after which the focus returns to collective play.

Players decide tactics

During a recent training match against Everton, Navarro let the squad choose how to attack, defend and organise set‑pieces. "They decided," he recalled, noting that when asked about mistakes the answer was, "They don’t make mistakes, they are better than me." The coach also lets a goal count only if the whole team celebrates together, and the players set their own behavioural rules, internal fines and even vote for four captains.

Individual development is another pillar. Navarro recorded 100 one‑to‑one meetings in his first two months, probing beyond football to hobbies, relationships and personal goals. He believes this holistic insight is more valuable than any GPS data, which he says can never measure a player’s humanity.

Outside the pitch, Navarro recommends books such as Timothy Gallwey’s The Inner Game of Tennis and Jerome Kagan’s The Story of Life. He also organises volunteer work with organisations for cerebral palsy and abandoned dogs, drawing on experiences from his spells at Villarreal and Athletic Club de Bilbao.

The ultimate ambition is clear: within two years Navarro hopes Milan Futuro will become the senior Milan side. He stresses that love and trust among the players are the true drivers of performance, not tactical statistics.