In the intricate tapestry of Italian sport, few figures have woven as many diverse threads as Evelina Christillin. From the adrenaline-fueled slopes of elite skiing to the executive suites of UEFA and FIFA, and through the hallowed halls of Juventus, Christillin has observed, participated, and shaped a significant slice of sports history. Her story is not merely one of achievement, but a captivating narrative of loyalty, resilience, and an insider`s view into the power dynamics and personal dramas that define the world of professional sport.
A Childhood Steeped in Bianconeri Blueprints
Christillin`s lifelong affair with Juventus began not on the grand stages of Turin`s stadiums, but in the innocent pages of a Panini sticker album. While other girls collected images of animals, young Evelina meticulously filled her albums with footballers, a ritual that anchored her devotion to the Bianconeri from the 1966-67 season. Her early heroes were the robust defender Sandro Salvadore, admired for more than just his on-pitch prowess – a shared birthday, no less – and a curious soft spot for Venezia`s distinctive black and green kits. This childhood passion evolved, transitioning from sticker albums to the more strategic realms of Fantasy Football, a testament to her enduring, yet adaptable, engagement with the beautiful game.
The Agnelli Orbit: From School Friendships to Olympic Leadership
Evelina`s path soon intertwined with arguably the most influential family in Italian industry and sport: the Agnellis. Her father, Emilio, a former Lancia rally driver, was a close friend of Gianni Agnelli, the legendary “Avvocato.” This familial connection meant Evelina grew up alongside Agnelli`s children, Margherita and Edoardo, fostering an intimacy that provided a unique vantage point into the family`s world. Agnelli, known for his sharp wit and equally sharp observations, even bestowed upon her the affectionate nickname “Moon Face” due to her round countenance—a moniker she still recounts with a chuckle, drawing parallels to her own granddaughter`s similar features today.
Before her executive career, Christillin was a competitive skier, representing Italy at the B-team level and even competing in World Cup events. Though she humbly describes herself as “good, not great,” her talent caught Agnelli`s eye. He would often take to the slopes in his private helicopter, a privilege he extended to Evelina, keen to observe her technique firsthand. This personal connection later blossomed into a pivotal professional role when Agnelli, in 1998, personally championed her to lead the bid committee for the Torino 2006 Winter Olympics.
Initially dismissed as “the girl put there by the Avvocato,” Christillin faced an uphill battle. Recalling a dismissive Jean-Claude Killy who gave her “a one-in-a-thousand chance,” and a meeting with IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch where they spoke exclusively of football, the odds seemed stacked against her. Yet, with a mixture of steely resolve and perhaps a dash of Agnelli-esque charm, she persevered. “Avvocato,” she famously challenged Agnelli, “give me two more months. If I don`t succeed, I`ll go back to teaching history at university.” She convinced Samaranch, securing the Olympic bid and subsequently appointing Killy, her childhood idol, to lead the coordination commission – a subtle, yet effective, act of turning skepticism into collaboration.
Gianni Agnelli: The Grand Architect of Juventus and Personal Anecdotes
Christillin`s recollections paint a vivid portrait of Gianni Agnelli, not just as an industrial titan, but as a complex, charismatic figure deeply entwined with Juventus. His helicopter trips, serving as a rapid shuttle between mountain ski resorts, the team`s training ground in Villar Perosa, and the stadium for matches, epitomized his unique blend of leisure, business, and passion. Agnelli`s playful nature extended to the club`s president, Giampiero Boniperti, especially during the emotional Turin derby. Boniperti, known for his ritualistic early departure from the stadium to avoid the final score`s anguish, would be met by Agnelli bearing invented, fantastical match reports, much to his bewildered amusement. “Impossible, impossible,” Boniperti would exclaim, caught in Agnelli`s mischievous web.
Agnelli`s wit also manifested in his knack for bestowing memorable nicknames: Zbigniew Boniek became “Bello di Notte” (Beauty of the Night) for his nocturnal brilliance, Alessandro Del Piero “Pinturicchio” for his artistic touch, and Roberto Baggio “Coniglio Bagnato” (Wet Rabbit) for his perceived shyness. When Agnelli quipped to Boniek about playing a daytime match, the player`s quick retort – “Avvocato, then I`ll wear sunglasses!” – delighted the industrialist, who appreciated a sharp mind.
His deep understanding of football talent was legendary. Agnelli`s frustration with Boniperti for not signing a young Diego Maradona, a tip he had received through his international Fiat contacts, became a running, affectionate joke. “Boniperti,” Christillin recalls, “would claim he was too Catholic to sign a player with a vaguely blasphemous surname.” More poignantly, Agnelli`s silent anger at the sale of Zinedine Zidane to Real Madrid by Luciano Moggi and Antonio Giraudo revealed his respect for the game`s artistry, even if he maintained a strict policy of non-interference in coaching or management decisions.
Interestingly, Agnelli held a respectful, almost benevolent view of Juventus`s cross-city rivals, Torino FC. He and Boniperti shared a deep reverence for the “Grande Torino” team, tragically lost in the Superga air disaster. While Agnelli`s relationship with Torino was one of respectful rivalry, he acknowledged the visceral hatred Juventus often received from Granata fans. For Juventus, he clarified, the true “Derby d`Italia” was against Inter, underscoring the different emotional weight of various rivalries.
The Tumultuous Era: Calciopoli and Super League Heartbreak
Christillin`s insights extend to two of the most controversial episodes in modern Italian football. On “Calciopoli” in 2006, she believes Gianni Agnelli, had he been alive, would have mirrored his chosen successor, John Elkann. Agnelli, she suggests, would have “with a heavy heart” accepted the Serie B relegation and penalty, understanding the necessity of a decisive response. Her personal take on the scandal is stark: while she acknowledges Moggi`s insistence on innocence and the existence of questionable practices elsewhere (citing Inter`s Recoba passport case), she plainly states that Juventus “clearly enjoyed a certain psychological subservience from the referees.”
However, the Super League saga of 2021 proved to be her most personally devastating professional challenge. As a UEFA member on the FIFA Council, she found herself caught in a perfect storm, torn between her family-like loyalty to Juventus and the Agnelli family (specifically Andrea Agnelli, who spearheaded the Super League) and her professional duty to UEFA. The “tragic night” in Montreux saw her in the UEFA war room, as President Aleksander Čeferin fielded calls from European heads of state. Suspected of being a “snake in the grass” for Andrea Agnelli, she was shattered. “I knew nothing of Andrea`s advanced move,” she asserts. After Čeferin affirmed his trust, she drove back to Turin, making a solitary detour to her parents` graves in Valle d`Aosta. There, in a raw moment of grief and confusion, she found solace, weeping and conversing with them. Since that night, she has not returned to the Juventus Stadium, a silent testament to the personal cost of that seismic event, only making an exception for a friend`s farewell match.
Beyond Football: Personal Tragedies and Enduring Loyalty
Evelina Christillin`s life has been marked by both sporting triumphs and profound personal sorrow. Her reflections on the suicide of Edoardo Agnelli, with whom she grew up, are particularly poignant. She recounts a chilling encounter with him shortly before his death, revealing his profound fragility despite his wonderful nature. “He couldn`t bear the weight of the family,” she observes, reflecting on a childhood where, despite privilege, parental presence was often distant.
The recent tragedies in the skiing world, involving young talents like Matteo Franzoso and Matilde Lorenzi—both of whom she saw grow up at the Sestriere ski club—strike a deep chord. She echoes concerns about the disparity in safety measures between competitive races and training, compounded by modern equipment that allows for terrifying speeds. It`s a sobering reminder, she notes, that “every skier is aware of the risks… a fall at 130 kilometers per hour can have lethal effects,” drawing a parallel to the inherent dangers faced by Formula One drivers.
Juventus Present: A Dignified Enough Legacy
Today, Evelina Christillin views Juventus with a pragmatic blend of hope and realism. She sees a “dignified” team, well-organized and committed, but harbors no illusions of a swift return to the glory days of Trapattoni, Lippi, or Conte. “There`s a long way to go,” she concedes, acknowledging the current team is “dignified enough for us today.” Despite the distance from the stadium, her heart remains firmly Bianconero, a loyalty that has navigated decades of triumphs, scandals, and personal sacrifice. Evelina Christillin remains a compelling voice, a living bridge between Italian sport`s storied past and its ever-evolving future.
Gilbert Pendleton