The assistant referee, an ally of the forward

"How many years has soccer existed? And yet, I had never heard of this concept until a discussion with a colleague!" At 65, with more than thirty years on professional sidelines, Italy's head coach, Luciano Spalletti, has no shortage of experience. Yet, in a clip from a conference, the former Napoli coach shares a seemingly obvious tip he overlooked for years: "The forward should constantly keep an eye on the assistant referee, as they are always positioned in line with the last defender." For the Tuscan coach, this habit allows players to gather information quickly. "If the number 9 knows where the assistant referee is, he can instantly decide whether to make a run into space or check-in, without having to turn and check the defensive line." There’s always something new to learn, no matter your age.