The sky?s the limit for Speranza

For a footballer, the task of achieving this beauty goes well beyond luck ? it is down to hard work. Having just turned 19-years of age, Giorgio Speranza is the epitome of hard work.
A left-sided defender with a workmanlike attitude and a silky touch of the football, Speranza resembles the likes of Socceroos defender Scott Chipperfield, and international superstars Paolo Maldini and Fabio Grosso.
This ambitious, quiet achiever has a bright future ahead of him. The no nonsense approach to his football is a characteristic of a player well beyond his young years, a true testament to the dedication applied to his game.  
His huge leap into not only the first team at Marconi Stallions, but managing to maintain a regular starting spot in one of the NSW Premier League?s biggest club sides has been an achievement of gigantic proportion.
?At first, I didn?t think that I?d get into first grade so fast,? commented Speranza.
?Right when I got the call up from Lee (Sterrey), I was pretty stoked. I didn?t expect it so early.?
?I didn?t expect to start in basically every game since the start of the season, so it?s pretty exciting. I guess if you put in the hard work, then you?ll get there.?
Having started his youth representative career at Northern Spirit at age eleven, Speranza spent a number of years benefiting from a club philosophy that focused on the player?s development and enjoyment of the game.
Speranza?s game then took on another dimension at Bankstown City Lions, where the left-sided defender enjoyed both team and personal success, before getting a look-in at Grade-20 level. It was Marconi though that offered the youngster the opportunity to play in the top-flight.
?This has been the highlight of my career so far. I?ve been lucky to have Lee as a coach.
?He is full of encouragement and shown confidence in my abilities, which is fantastic for me, and also the other young players in the group. I?m just trying to give back what he has given to me.?
In any footballing environment, the importance of leaders in the group is vital, especially in the relatively young group Stallions boss Lee Sterrey has assembled in 2010. The likes of Nahuel Arrarte and James Chronopoulos to name a few, in addition to Sterrey himself, play an important role in the development of the younger players.
?It?s awesome. They are great role models for young players like us.
?They obviously have lots of knowledge of the game, having played in the NSL and the Premier League for many years, so they have heaps of experience, and they can give us good feedback on what we?re doing, right and wrong.?
Speranza?s performances to-date have caught the eye of some A-League clubs, and for a young Sydney-sider, no bigger honour could be handed out than a call-up to the Sydney FC National Youth League side.
?I?m looking forward to the opportunity of training and playing alongside the likes of Alex Brosque and Nicky Carle, players like that, it?s something I can?t wait to get involved in.
?I?m also looking forward to the facilities at Sydney FC, and travelling around Australia.”
Speranza?s talent was noticed by new Sydney FC National Youth League coach Steve Corica, the former Sydney FC midfielder another reason why Speranza?s decision to join the club was an easy one to make.
?To have Steve Corica as a coach as well, I?m pretty excited to have someone like him coach me, since he has played for Sydney FC, and overseas, for so long.
?His experience and overall understanding of the game is something I am really looking forward to working with.?
Despite the excitement around his call up to the Sydney FC setup where Speranza has already commenced training ? including call-ups to the senior team in recent pre-season friendly matches ? the Marconi defender has a job to finish for the Stallions before committing himself to the Sydney FC challenge.
?There won?t be any interference as the A-league does not start for some time, so I will be able to concentrate until the end of the season with Marconi.
?So basically, right after I finish with Marconi, I?ll go straight into the Sydney FC setup, and concentrate solely on my new club,? added Speranza.
?I want to finish the season strongly with Marconi though, and my teammates are all looking forward to a strong finish.?
The Stallions have somewhat dropped off the pace in the League, recording only one win in their recent league outings. Despite the drop in terms of results, Speranza believes the Stallions are still a real shot for league success this season, to add to the triumphant McDonald?s Cup victory.
?Confidence is a bit down at the moment, and I guess the results show that.
?Considering we were in a strong position one-month ago in first-spot, there has been a drop, though we are all working hard, looking to do the basic things on the park and keeping our football simple.
?We perhaps were a bit guilty of trying to do a little too much at once, though I?m confident all the boys will be up for a strong finish to the season leading into the finals.?
As is the case for many footballers in Australia, the A-League is a common goal across the country. However, with the game still developing in Australia, the ultimate ambition for every young footballer is to move abroad and make a go of a career in Europe. Giorgio Speranza?s dream is no different.
?Of course I?d like to go overseas and play for a team like Juventus [a huge supporter of Italy?s Old Lady], but so far, to get an opportunity like this with Sydney FC is huge, and I will take it with both hands,? expressed the level headed youngster.
?I will concentrate on this next stage in my development and look to improve as much as I can as a player. Should this one day open the door to go overseas, then I?ll take that as well. 
?Just for now though, I am very happy with the chance I have been given with Sydney FC, and I hope to make a mark in the league here without looking too far ahead.?
Speranza?s talents extend outside of the football arena, with the 19-year old studying a Bachelor of Health & Science PDHPE at UWS.
?I am studying at university, and have just started the final semester in my second year.
?My football and my studies are the two main priorities in my life at the moment, and I hope to succeed in both,? Speranza ended.

– Joe Carlucci