Gino Pozzo is a businessman, club owner, and passionate footballer. His parents Giampaolo and Giuliana were as dedicated to their football team as any fan. They raised Gino to be a responsible professional as well as instilled their pride in football. Growing up with such support and focus was profoundly influential.
Early Business Ventures
The Pozzo family is very successful. Gino Pozzo continues to add to the legacy. The first football club the family owned was made possible in 1986. Their favorite team, Udinese Calcio Club, was struggling. It was in need of their influence.
The success of the Pozzo family was established before they ever took over ownership of their first football franchise. Fortunes were found in woodworking, tool making, electrical appliances, and several other businesses. Their ventures flourished throughout Spain and Italy.
The Foundation of a Successful Football Franchise
As one might imagine Gino Pozzo had football pulsing through his blood. He understood what it took to win. Oftentimes, professional teams become complacent. This can take place both at a player and managerial levels. Gino never let this happen.
Owning Udinese was very insightful. So was the process that Gino Pozzo had to undergo to experience a winning team. With the help of the family, Udinese got the players and resources it needed to return to prominence. Once the club was back at the top Serie A league it stayed there. The club would even go on to the UEFA championship. The Pozzo family is credited with much of the success.
Becoming a Major Player as a Football Owner
Investing in a football franchise became too successful to ignore. The Pozzo family decided to commit to their passion in 2008. They began by selling their woodworking business. By 2009, the family had worked a deal to purchase Spain’s Granada Football Club.
Like Udinese, Granada was struggling. The club had both financial and performance issues. Their situation was so dire that the club had fallen down to the third division. Gino Pozzo and his family succeed in turning around this franchise as well.
It became clear at this time that Gino Pozzo had a gift bestowed upon few. He would take the Granada Football Club to the top. In Spain’s Primera Liga, Granada would play world renowned teams like F.C. Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Acquiring the Watford Football Club
Gino purchased the Watford Football Club in 2012. He relocated the team to London in 2013. There his family could directly oversee operations. What transpired was exciting to say the least. Several managers were given the opportunity to make the club successful. It was a process that few owners would ever consider.
Hands on Approach
Watford’s success is undoubtedly owed to the transformational process undergone in London. The team worked tirelessly to return to its glory days at the top of the English Premier League. By 2016, Gino had established a reputation as one of the brightest owners in football. In 2019, Gino’s talent for building football clubs and demand for perfection took center stage with Watford in the FA Cup Final.
Unmatched Character
Gino seems obsessed with perfection. He is known to be one of the most demanding owners in the game. Much is owed to his upbringing. Without his parents’ commitment and passion, Gino would not have achieved so much so quickly. Even with the odds stacked in his favor, Gino is clearly a special individual. He proves this every day and it’s no more apparent than in the success of his football clubs.
