Diego Placente’s Motivational Gifts to Argentina’s U-20 Team

Diego Placente, the coach of Argentina's U-20 team, has taken an unconventional approach to motivating his players during the U-20 World Cup. Instead of relying solely on traditional coaching methods, he chose to gift each of the 21 players a notebook, with some players also receiving a book of football stories. This initiative, revealed by his wife Juli Rubinstein, aims to encourage the young athletes to reflect on their personal identities and experiences beyond their roles as footballers.

The notebooks, designed by El Niño Rodríguez, feature the inspiring message "First you believe it, then you create it," emphasizing the power of self-belief and visualization. Placente’s approach echoes the principles of José Néstor Pekerman, who prioritized the development of individuals as much as their athletic skills.

Argentina is set to face Colombia in the World Cup semi-final. The team has shown strong performance throughout the tournament, winning all five of their matches. Placente, who took over as coach in November 2024, has fostered a close-knit team environment, focusing on humility and mutual support. This mirrors the leadership style of Lionel Scaloni, the coach of the senior national team.

Diego Placente gifted notebooks and some players storybooks to the Argentina U-20 team.

The notebook features the message: "First you believe it, then you create it."

Do you think that Placente's approach using old-school notebooks is a good way to motivate players? Share this article with others who need to stay ahead of this trend! Sources: Clarín article