From childhood passion to navigating international sports politics, Evelina Christillin offers a unique, unfiltered perspective on Juventus, the Agnelli family, and the controversies that defined an era.
In the vibrant tapestry of Italian sports, few threads are as intricately woven and as enduring as those spun by Evelina Christillin. A former national-level skier, a respected sports executive, and a confidante to the legendary Gianni Agnelli, Christillin`s life story is a fascinating narrative spanning decades of Italian football and winter sports. Her voice, rich with personal anecdotes and sharp insights, offers an unparalleled window into an era defined by charismatic leaders, iconic players, and seismic shifts in the sporting world.
From Childhood Obsession to Alpine Slopes
Evelina Christillin`s affinity for sport wasn`t a casual dalliance but an ingrained passion from a tender age. While other girls her age yearned for animal sticker albums, she gravitated towards footballers. Her first true Juventus love affair began in the 1966-67 season, with rugged defender Sandro Salvadore holding a special place due to his “nice face” and shared November birthday. This early fascination eventually led her to the world of Fantasy Football, a testament to her lifelong engagement with the beautiful game.
Yet, her sporting prowess wasn`t confined to the stands. Christillin was a talented skier, earning a place in Italy`s national B-team and competing in World Cup races. She recounts an amusing memory of skiing with Gianni Agnelli in his helicopter – a rather exclusive mode of transport for a day on the slopes – as he assessed her talent. Agnelli, with his characteristic wit, even bestowed upon her the nickname “Moon Face” for her round visage, a moniker she still fondly remembers and now playfully shares with her granddaughter.
The Enduring Shadow of Gianni Agnelli
Central to Christillin`s narrative is her profound connection to the Agnelli family, stemming from her school days with Gianni`s daughter, Margherita, and her father`s friendship with the industrial magnate. This proximity offered her a unique vantage point into the world of “L`Avvocato” (The Lawyer), a man whose influence on Juventus and Italian society was immense.
Agnelli`s personality shines through Christillin`s recollections: his razor-sharp intellect, his penchant for playful jabs, and his deep, albeit sometimes unconventional, love for Juventus. He famously acquired Michel Platini for a pittance from Saint-Étienne, quipping, “We bought Platini for a crust of bread and put foie gras on top.” Christillin reveals Agnelli`s particular fondness for Platini, attributing it to the Frenchman`s superior intelligence and readiness to match Agnelli`s banter – a stark contrast to other players who remained deferentially silent.
His nicknames for players were legendary: “Bello di Notte” (Night Beauty) for Zbigniew Boniek, “Pinturicchio” for Alessandro Del Piero, “Coniglio Bagnato” (Wet Rabbit) for Roberto Baggio. These epithets, often delivered with a mischievous twinkle, highlighted his keen observation and sharp tongue.
Christillin also recounts Agnelli`s silent displeasure when Luciano Moggi and Antonio Giraudo sold Zinedine Zidane to Real Madrid after assuring him they wouldn`t. Agnelli, despite his strong feelings, never interfered in the day-to-day management, a testament to his respect for the roles he delegated.
Agnelli’s sense of humor extended to his long-time president, Giampiero Boniperti. A classic derby prank involved Agnelli fabricating absurd match events to a results-averse Boniperti, who would retreat home with earplugs to avoid hearing the stadium roars. And then there was the ongoing, affectionate teasing about Boniperti missing out on a young Maradona, allegedly due to Boniperti`s “too Catholic” sensibilities regarding the name. One can almost picture Agnelli`s delighted chuckle at these antics.
Beyond Juventus: Torino 2006 and International Sports Politics
Christillin`s career wasn`t solely confined to Juventus. Agnelli, recognizing her capabilities, handpicked her to lead the organizing committee for the Torino 2006 Winter Olympics. This role saw her navigate skepticism, particularly from Jean-Claude Killy, a skiing legend who initially gave Torino a “one in a thousand” chance. Her persistence, and a surprising football-focused conversation with IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch, eventually won them over. The Games, under her leadership, proved a resounding success, culminating in Killy himself enthusiastically chairing the coordination commission.
Her journey eventually led her to the international stage, representing UEFA on the FIFA Council. It was here, in 2021, that she found herself at the epicenter of a “perfect storm”: the ill-fated Super League project. Andrea Agnelli, then Juventus chairman, had secretly joined the breakaway league, putting Christillin in an agonizing position between her loyalty to UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin and her deep-seated allegiance to the Agnelli family.
“I came out of that story humanly shattered. It was a tragic night in the UEFA war room in Montreux, Switzerland. Čeferin was receiving calls from Macron and Boris Johnson. Many thought I was the snake in the grass, the traitor on behalf of Andrea Agnelli. It wasn`t true. I asked Čeferin if I should resign and he told me: `Absolutely not, I know you are loyal to us.`”
She recounts the emotional toll, driving alone back to Turin, stopping at her parents` graves in Valle d`Aosta to weep and talk to them. The betrayal was so profound that she has not attended a Juventus match at the Allianz Stadium since, making an exception only for a farewell game for her friend Sara Gama from Juventus Women.
Reflections on Calciopoli, Tragedy, and the Current Juventus
Christillin also offers her take on the infamous Calciopoli scandal of 2006. She believes Gianni Agnelli, who passed away in 2003, would have reacted much like his heir John Elkann: accepting the Serie B relegation, albeit “with a heavy heart.” While acknowledging the “psychological subservience” of referees towards Juventus, she subtly points out that questionable practices weren`t exclusive to one club, citing Inter`s Recoba passport scandal.
Her life, however, has not been without its somber moments. She poignantly recalls the suicide of Edoardo Agnelli, Gianni`s son, a “wonderful but fragile boy” unable to bear the weight of his family`s legacy. More recently, as a former skier, she speaks with deep sorrow about the tragic deaths of young Italian skiers Matteo Franzoso and Matilde Lorenzi, highlighting concerns about safety disparities between training and competition. Her perspective here is strictly technical, rooted in a clear understanding of the sport`s inherent risks and the evolving equipment.
The Juventus of Today: A Dignified Reality
What of the current Juventus? Christillin`s assessment is pragmatic, almost understated. “The team seems organized,” she notes, without illusions of returning to the dominant eras of Trapattoni, Lippi, or Conte. Her verdict: “It is a dignified Juventus, and today we make do with it.” It`s a statement tinged with a blend of enduring loyalty and clear-eyed realism, reflecting the journey of a woman who has witnessed the club`s glorious peaks and its challenging valleys.
Evelina Christillin`s narrative is a compelling testament to a life lived at the heart of Italian sports. It is a story of passion, privilege, political intrigue, and profound personal sacrifice, told with the candidness of someone who has not only observed history but helped shape it, often with a mischievous smile and always with an unwavering, if sometimes conflicted, heart.
