Cesc Fàbregas has transformed Como 1907 from a Serie D afterthought into a Serie A contender in just a few years. The tiny Italian club, bought by Indonesia’s Djarum Group in 2019, now sits near the top of the table under the former Arsenal and Barcelona star’s management. Fàbregas’s formula? A 4-2-3-1 formation, relentless high pressing, and a strict emphasis on signing players who are “hungry” and “humble.”
Last Sunday’s goalless draw with Napoli showcased Como’s defensive solidity — the best in the league — but also their attacking flair, having scored more than any team except Inter. The match was played at the scenic Stadio Sinigaglia, where 12,000 fans create a sellout atmosphere. President Mirwan Suwarso likens the club to a “theme park,” drawing parallels to Disney. The scene is a far cry from the amateur days when crowds numbered in the hundreds.
Fàbregas joined Como as a player in August 2022, retired the following summer, and immediately began coaching the primavera (under-19) team. In November 2023, he became interim first-team manager, later assisting Osian Roberts – hired on Thierry Henry’s recommendation – before taking the helm permanently after promotion. Como finished 10th in Serie A last season and now chase Champions League football.
“Innovation is very important,” Fàbregas said ahead of the Napoli match. “But more than innovation is new ideas. You have to comprehend your own team.” He stresses the importance of youth: Como boasts one of the youngest squads in Europe. “We always try to bring players here that are humble enough, are hungry enough, to be able to listen and to learn.”
Key to that recruitment is Barend Verkerk, director of recruitment. As a child, Verkerk played Football Manager by exporting data into spreadsheets and writing his own algorithms. Now he leads a team of six scouts, three tactical analysts, and two sports psychologists. The results include Nicolás Paz, a 21-year-old Argentine signed from Real Madrid for €6m in 2024 with a buy-back clause, and Jacobo Ramón, a €2.5m centre-back from Madrid. Both have excelled, with Paz contributing 19 league goal involvements and winning the third-most tackles in Serie A.
Fàbregas also balances youth with experience. Veterans like Álvaro Morata and Sergi Roberto – both Champions League winners – regularly come off the bench, while Pepe Reina and Raphaël Varane (now an investor and club ambassador) helped stabilize the dressing room last season. “Keeping the chemistry is not easy with such a high turnover of players,” said Osian Roberts, now head of development. Morata’s small gestures, like doubling back to high-five a mascot after an official missed, create lasting memories.
The long-term vision includes sustainability. Como reported a pre-tax loss of €105.1m, but Suwarso compares it to a “start-up” and aims for profitability within two years. The stadium will receive a facelift and a few thousand new seats in 2027. Meanwhile, the women’s team has been promoted to Serie A for the first time, and the primavera are on the verge of joining them.
Fàbregas’s own growth as a coach is evident. He regularly spends 16-hour days at the training ground and reflects on his evolution: “I look at when we got promoted from Serie B to Serie A … and now I’m saying: ‘I would never do this in my life.’” He adds, “We were humble enough and open-minded enough to be always constantly growing and getting better.”
Como’s rise is not just a Cinderella story but a blueprint for modern football: a data-driven, player-centric approach led by a legend willing to learn. As Fàbregas continues to refine his methods, the club’s trajectory suggests they are building a foundation for sustained success.
Based on reporting from The Guardian.
