11.05.25Club news

A Jersey That Speaks: Alia Guagni’s Farewell Is a Call to Action. F.C. Como Women and Guagni turn a retirement into a message about life after the game.

Como, 11 May 2025 – In football, a jersey is more than just fabric stitched with numbers and names. It carries pride, identity, and memory. But at pivotal moments, it can become something greater—a symbol of purpose and a voice for change. As Alia Guagni closes an extraordinary chapter in her professional career, she and F.C. Como Women have chosen to use this symbol to shed light on an often-overlooked reality: life after sport for female athletes.

With the creative collaboration of international agency LePub, a one-of-a-kind jersey was designed, featuring Guagni’s professional résumé printed across its fabric. This striking visual statement transforms a retirement moment into a message of responsibility—one that calls for reflection and action around the uncertain future many women face after their playing careers end.

Rather than a public outcry, this initiative is a call to care. It acknowledges a truth: while strength on the field is celebrated, resilience off the field is equally vital. Athletes deserve the opportunity to transition into the next phase of their lives with clarity, dignity, and support.

Photo Credits: Fulvio Bonavia

Alia Guagni, a pioneer in Italian women’s football and an icon of commitment, chose this moment to share not just her achievements, but her message. Alia Guagni takes her final steps as a player, she leaves behind not only a legacy of leadership, but a beacon for the next generation. This isn’t just the end of a career—it’s the beginning of a broader awareness.

“I’ve never been someone who seeks the spotlight. But there are times when speaking up is the only right thing to do—especially when it might help those who come next,” Guagni said. “I was fortunate to have a plan, but balancing preparation for the future with the demands of professional sport is never simple. A career on the pitch has a natural end. Ensuring there’s a beginning after that end should be part of the journey. Why not help the champions of tomorrow start building their futures today?”

F.C. Como Women, a club that supports its players beyond the pitch, continues this mission through its ‘Beyond’ program—an initiative designed to provide guidance, tools, and opportunities to plan for life after sport. The CV-jersey is a powerful extension of this commitment: a wearable manifesto that invites conversation and opens doors for change. 

F.C. Como Women will pledge to only accept sponsors who commit to hiring its players once they have finished their sporting careers. This long-term commitment ensures that athletes are not left behind but are instead supported in building meaningful, fulfilling futures beyond football.


About Alia Guagni: The Career of an icon of Italian Women’s Football

Alia Guagni is one of the most prominent figures in Italian women’s football. Born in Florence in 1987, she began her professional career in 2002, wearing the jersey of her hometown club—then known as Firenze Calcio Femminile—for over 20 years. She became a captain and a symbol of the team, which later became Fiorentina. With the Viola shirt, she won one league title (Scudetto), two Coppa Italia trophies, and an Italian Super Cup.

On the international stage, she earned over 100 caps with the Italian national team, taking part in two UEFA European Championships and the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France, where she played a key role in Italy’s historic run to the quarter-finals. During her career, Guagni also played abroad, including a spell in the United States and a significant period with Atlético Madrid in Spain, where she won a Spanish Super Cup. A right-sided defender known for her speed, leadership, and work ethic, Guagni was consistently ranked among the top players in her position across Europe and was twice named Italy’s Player of the Year.