Eracle Sport Football Club

What Eracle Sport Football Club does

Eracle Sport Football Club is an Italian youth football academy organized as an SSD (non-profit amateur sports association) and based in Casnate con Bernate, Como province. Founded by Gianluca Zambrotta — a 2006 FIFA World Cup winner — in the post-COVID period, the club operates an integrated youth-development platform serving children from age 2 through 15, anchored by its Scuola Calcio Eracle core program, the earlier-entry Go-all Asilo del Calcio program (ages 2–6), and the Azzurrini Academy for children with autism. The club is the first in Italy to operate as an exclusive AC Milan Milan Academy Centro Tecnico for the Como province.

The core product stack combines conventional football coaching — delivered by a multidisciplinary staff including a UEFA B–licensed head coach, sport psychologist, physiotherapist, and nutritionist — with a technology layer that is uncommon for a regional academy. In November 2024 the club inaugurated Italy's first Cognitive Training Room, built on a partnership with Samsung and Mind Training Arena, integrating VR headsets, tablets, and sensors to deliver cognitive drills alongside physical training. The club also runs an annual international youth tournament, the Memorial Franco Chignoli, which in its 4th edition (May 2025) hosted 12 professional clubs including Bayern Munich, Schalke 04, Leeds United, and Olympique Marseille.

Revenue is generated through a long tail of small-ticket, B2C transactions: annual Scuola Calcio memberships, seasonal camp fees (e.g., Easter Camp at €80/child), individual technique-lesson packages, and event-related fees from tournament participation. The club supplements operating income with annual charity events that have collectively raised approximately €60,000 across four editions. The legal SSD structure means surpluses are reinvested rather than distributed, and the workforce of 11–50 staff is concentrated at the single Casnate con Bernate facility, anchoring both the operating model and the geographic concentration risk.

Name

Eracle Sport Football Club

Legal name

ERACLE SPORT FOOTBALL CLUB SSD

Website

https://eraclecalcio.it

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Eracle Sport Football Club is an Italian youth football academy in Como province serving ages 2–15 through its Milan Academy-affiliated Scuola Calcio, inclusive Azzurrini Academy for autism, and Go-all pre-school program, with revenue from memberships, camps, lessons, and tournament hosting.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Sports Training

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Single-Sport Skill Academies (Soccer, Basketball, Tennis, etc.) (MPAKAJAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth & Amateur Sports Tournaments (MPAGAMAF), Adaptive & Para-Sport Training Programs (MPAKAJAK)

Keywords

• Youth football training
• Football academy services
• Inclusive sports programs
• Sports coaching education
• Youth athletic development

Headquarters

HQ city

Como

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Youth Football Membership Fees: Annual membership fees for children enrolled in the Scuola Calcio (football school) program across age categories from Piccoli Amici (ages 4–5) through Giovanissimi U14. Fees fund training sessions, facility access, and club affiliation with Milan Academy.
2. Camp Fees (Easter Camp, Summer Camps): Revenue from themed sports camps. Eracle Easter Camp 2026 charged 80 euros per child (ages 2013–2018), inclusive of insurance and snacks. Open Day sessions and free training periods serve as customer acquisition before converting to paid memberships.
3. Individual and Group Technique Lessons: Package-based individual or small-group training sessions (max 5 participants) across four packages: Area Tecnica (technical skills), Area Performance + Tecnica, Area Performance U14–U17, and Anthropometric Evaluations. Sold as 5–10 session packages to supplement regular membership.
4. Tournament Entry and Spectator Fees: Revenue from organizing and hosting youth tournaments including the Memorial Franco Chignoli (ticket sales), Eracle Cup, GZ19 Cup, and other competitive events. The Memorial Franco Chignoli attracts professional youth teams and public attendance.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Eracle Sport Football Club is a youth football academy affiliated with AC Milan's Milan Academy, delivering age-structured football training (Attività di Base and Attività Agonistica) for children ages 4–15 at the Centro Sportivo Renato Rossi in Casnate con Bernate, Como. The club also runs the Azzurrini Academy inclusive football program for children with autism spectrum disorders, supported by a Samsung-equipped Cognitive Training Room, and offers pre-school motor activity, individual technique lessons, holiday camps, and youth tournaments.

Product overview

Eracle Sport Football Club operates as a unified youth football academy offering a portfolio of interconnected programs. The core is Scuola Calcio Eracle, affiliated with Milan Academy Centro Tecnico, providing football training for ages 4-15 through Base Activities and Competitive Activities. Supporting the core are specialized programs: Azzurrini Academy (inclusive football for children with autism/intellectual disabilities, featuring a Cognitive Training Room), Go-all Asilo del Calcio (motor development for ages 2-6), individual technical lessons, and seasonal camps (Easter Camp). The club also hosts major tournaments (Eracle Cup, Memorial Franco Chignoli, GZ19 Cup, Azzurrini Academy Tournament) and regular OPEN DAY recruitment events, all centered at the Centro Sportivo Eracle facility in Casnate con Bernate.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Azzurrini Academy: An inclusive football and motor activity program for children with autism spectrum disorders and/or mild intellectual disabilities. Uses advanced technologies for cognitive training and emotional intelligence development. Founded by Gianluca Zambrotta.

Products and services

• Scuola Calcio Eracle Core youth football training program affiliated with AC Milan's Milan Academy, serving children ages 4–15 in Como and province through both Attività di Base (grassroots) and Attività Agonistica (competitive) tracks. Open to boys and girls, with structured technical, tactical, physical and mental development.
• Azzurrini Academy Inclusive football and motor activity program for children and teens with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders and/or mild intellectual disabilities, integrating sport, cognitive technology and psychopedagogical support.
• Go-all – Asilo del Calcio Motor activity program for toddlers and preschoolers ages 2–6 based on ball-focused play, designed to develop motor, psychological and relational skills before entry into formal football school.
• Lezioni di Tecnica Individuale Individual and small-group (max 5 participants) technical training packages covering technical skills (passing, controlling, shooting, heading, feints, dribbling), role-specific techniques, plyometric and isometric circuits, strength, speed, agility, mobility, and anthropometric evaluations for U7–U17 athletes.
• Eracle Easter Camp Themed Easter holiday sports camp for children born 2013–2018, with two tracks (football or multi-activity) including technical training, tournaments, team games, creative workshops, and relaxation periods, priced at 80 euros per child.
• Eracle Cup Annual youth football tournament hosted at Centro Sportivo Eracle Casnate for Esordienti and Primi Calci categories, attracting participation from professional club youth academies including Como 1907, AC Renate, Atalanta, Juventus, and AC Milan.
• Memorial Franco Chignoli International FIGC-sanctioned youth football tournament for the Pulcini 2° anno category, co-organized by Eracle Sport FC, DiCOmo srl, and Milan Club Cernobbio, with participation from leading European club youth academies and charitable fundraising for causes including Azzurrini Academy.
• GZ19 Cup Youth football tournament hosted at Centro Sportivo Eracle Casnate featuring youth academies from Monza, Como, Juventus, and Atalanta, focused on Pulcini and Piccoli Amici categories.
• Torneo Azzurrini Academy Inclusive football tournament hosted at Centro Sportivo Renato Rossi, featuring Azzurrini Academy teams and promoting inclusion through sport, with corporate sponsorship from Gruppo Pontiggia and Italian Pack.
• Evolution Programme FIGC-coordinated technical sports development program providing a unified formative and educational approach to territory-level football development, involving coaches, managers, parents, and technicians.

Quantifiable outcome

• First in Italy to integrate structured cognitive training with on-field football training for youth athletes born 2012–2014
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered major, flagship, core and minor.

• Gruppo PontiggiamajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Gruppo Pontiggia co-sponsored the 3rd Azzurrini Academy Tournament (June 2025) and contributed to the realization of the Cognitive Training Room. The partnership supports the inclusive sports mission and provides corporate sponsorship visibility at club events.
• Lions Club MonticellomajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Lions Club Monticello supported Azzurrini Academy through the 'Cenando e Ballando sul Palco' charity gala (May 2025, Teatro Sociale di Como), with proceeds benefiting inclusive sports activities for neurodivergent children. The partnership raises funds and community awareness for the inclusive football program.
• Samsung Electronics ItaliaflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2024Samsung provided digital devices (interactive whiteboards, curved monitors, laptops, tablets, Galaxy Tags, VR headsets) and cognitive training software for the Azzurrini Academy Cognitive Training Room inaugurated in November 2024. The partnership aims to create an inclusive, technology-enhanced environment for neurodivergent young athletes, with Samsung affirming its commitment to equitable technology access.
• Milan Academy (AC Milan)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerEracle Sport FC holds an exclusive affiliation as Milan Academy Centro Tecnico for the Como province. This is the club's primary brand partnership, providing access to AC Milan's validated youth training methodology, technical programs, and the right to use the Milan Academy brand. The affiliation elevates the club's credibility and training standards substantially.
• Mind Training ArenacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMind Training Arena partners with Eracle Sport FC to deliver a structured cognitive training program for youth athletes (born 2012, 2013, 2014). The program trains attention, decision-making, mental speed, stress management, self-control, and emotional regulation alongside on-field football practice. CEO Dr. Ina Llapushi leads the program, described as a turning point in integrating mind and emotions into youth sports development.
• Italian PackminorGTM or Marketing PartnerItalian Pack sponsored the 2nd Azzurrini Academy Tournament (October 2024), providing tournament support and corporate visibility.
• DiCOmo srlcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiCOmo srl co-organizes the Memorial Franco Chignoli international youth football tournament alongside Eracle Sport FC and Milan Club Cernobbio. Founded by Olivier Chignoli (president of Milan Club Cernobbio), DiCOmo brings organizational capacity, venue access (Stadio Sinigaglia), and sponsorship networks to the tournament.
• Milan Club CernobbiocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMilan Club Cernobbio co-organizes the Memorial Franco Chignoli tournament with Eracle Sport FC and DiCOmo. The club also organizes charity dinners (raised over 25,000 euro in January 2025) benefiting Azzurrini Academy and other charitable causes, amplifying Eracle FC's CSR reach.
• Fondazione ComomajorGTM or Marketing PartnerFondazione Como partnered as a supporter of the 4th Memorial Franco Chignoli (May 2025), aligning with shared values of sport, solidarity, and social initiatives. The foundation hosted the press conference at Stadio Sinigaglia (home of Como 1907) and provided institutional credibility and venue access.
• PumaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPuma is a brand partner of Eracle Sport FC, appearing in the club's partner logo section. The partnership likely involves apparel sponsorship for the club's staff and/or teams.
• ISC Como (Istituto Scolastico Comprensivo)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerISC Como appears as a partner of Eracle Sport FC, suggesting a school partnership for recruiting student athletes or coordinating school-sport programs.
• Azzurrini AcademyflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerAzzurrini Academy is an inclusive football program founded by Gianluca Zambrotta, hosted at the Eracle Sport FC facility. While founded by Zambrotta independently, it operates in deep integration with Eracle FC's infrastructure, staff, and events. The program targets children with autism spectrum disorders and uses Samsung technology and cognitive training. It has raised over 60,000 euro across four Memorial Franco Chignoli editions for charitable causes.
• Go-allminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGo-all is a brand partner offering the 'Asilo del Calcio' (Football Nursery) pre-football program for children ages 2–6, filling the developmental gap before formal Scuola Calcio enrollment. The partnership extends Eracle FC's service offering to the youngest age segment.
• ASCSport (ASC Sport)minorOthersASC Sport appears as a partner organization, potentially providing additional sporting programs or certifications linked to the club's FIGC affiliation.
• Como 1907majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerComo 1907 participates in Eracle-hosted tournaments (Memorial Franco Chignoli, Eracle Cup) with its youth Pulcini 2014 team. The club shares the Fuori-classe Como 1907 inclusive team with Azzurrini Academy for joint training sessions, and Como 1907's stadium (Stadio Sinigaglia) is used for Memorial Franco Chignoli press events.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• Aspire Academy (Qatar): Aspire Academy is a state-backed multi-sport performance academy in Doha combining elite sport, cognitive and academic development. It mirrors Eracle's holistic-training-plus-cognitive-coaching positioning, though at vastly greater scale and with full residential infrastructure.
• IMG Academy: IMG Academy is a large US-based multi-sport performance academy combining sport-specific coaching with cognitive, athletic and academic development. Its integration of cognitive training with athletic programming is structurally analogous to Eracle's Mind Training Arena partnership.
• AC Milan Youth Academy (Settore Giovanile): AC Milan's formal youth academy is the parent brand under which Eracle operates as a Centro Tecnico. While not a competitor in the Como market, it is the structural anchor of Eracle's offering and the closest comparable Italian elite academy model.
• FC Barcelona La Masia: La Masia is the global benchmark for elite youth football development, combining residential academy structure, methodology and competitive pathways. It serves as the aspirational upper-bound benchmark for any branded academy including Eracle, even though it operates at vastly larger scale.

Direct peers

• FC Internazionale Milano Youth Academy: Inter runs a parallel Italian academy network ('Inter Academy') targeting the same youth demographic with branded coaching methodology, tournaments, and local licensing. It is one of the most direct structural analogues to Eracle's Milan-affiliated academy model in the Como/Lombardy catchment.
• Atalanta BC Youth Sector: Atalanta's youth sector is one of Italy's most prolific talent factories, with extensive age-group programming and tournament participation including Eracle's Memorial Franco Chignoli. It serves as the elite benchmark for Italian youth football development and a direct competitive threat for talent identification.
• AS Roma Youth Academy: AS Roma operates an Italian youth academy network and tournament schedule comparable to Eracle's, targeting the same age groups with branded Serie A methodology. Roma also participates in Eracle-hosted Memorial Franco Chignoli, placing them in the same competitive peer set.
• Juventus Academy (Juventus FC Youth Network): Juventus operates a national and international network of affiliated youth football academies (Scuola Calcio Juventus) using a franchise/satellite model structurally identical to Eracle's Milan Academy Centro Tecnico. Both target Italian children aged 5–15 with branded Serie A methodology, tournament circuits, and premium membership fees.
• Como 1907 Settore Giovanile: Como 1907's youth sector is the most immediate local competitor in the Como province catchment, sharing the same families, FIGC affiliation, and tournament circuit. Eracle and Como 1907 also collaborate on the Fuori-classe inclusive team and use Stadio Sinigaglia for Memorial press events.

Regional players

• FIGC Settore Giovanile e Scolastico (Evolution Programme): The Italian Football Federation's youth and school sector coordinates the Evolution Programme that Eracle participates in. It defines the federal developmental framework across all Italian youth academies and sets the compliance and curriculum baseline against which branded academies differentiate.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/eraclecalcio
• Facebookfacebook.com/EracleCalcio
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/eracle-calcio-milan-academy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Eracle Sport Football Club