Barend Verkek, director of recruitment at Como, looks out at the Stadio Sinigaglia and the hills beyond, reflecting on the club's remarkable journey. The serene sound of lapping water is broken only by the whir of a seaplane engine swooping to land, as a crowd gathers well before kick-off. Most will later scale the steep steps of the adjacent Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia, while to the right sits Villa Carminati, a new private members' club that also houses hospitality guests on matchdays. This unique setting, bathed in sunshine for last Sunday's goalless draw with Napoli, makes Como 1907 a waterside paradise. President Mirwan Suwarso draws parallels between the club and Disney, calling it the "theme park" division of the "main brand … Lake Como."
From Amateur Roots to Serie A Contenders
The scene now is markedly different from when the Indonesian Djarum Group bought the club in 2019. Back then, after a series of bankruptcies, Como competed in Serie D, a 168-team, nine-group amateur league, playing in front of a few hundred loyal fans. Now, having meandered through 119 years of existence, 12,000 sell-out crowds watch head coach Cesc Fàbregas's side pushing for Champions League qualification in only their second year back in Serie A.
Such rapid success has the footballing world paying attention. On the field, Fàbregas is front and centre. His formula should not work but somehow does. With Italian football dominated by 3-5-2, Fàbregas plays 4-2-3-1. Como have the most possession in Serie A but also deploy a high-intensity press. They have the division's meanest defence but are easy on the eye and have scored more than anyone except Inter.
Fàbregas's Philosophy and Leadership
"Innovation is very important," Fàbregas says shortly after his pre-Napoli press conference. "But more than innovation is new ideas. You have to comprehend your own team, to see where your team is. We have a very young team, one of the youngest teams in Europe, so we have to be very aware of that. Everyone has their own timing of development." He pushes hard, setting high standards based on what players give him and how open they are to learning. "We always try to bring players here that are humble enough, are hungry enough, to be able to listen and to learn."
The press conference itself, Fàbregas handled masterfully, engaged and passionate, gliding past attempts to draw clickbait headlines. He is obsessive, regularly spending 16-hour days at Como's Mozzate training ground, but relaxed enough to laugh at his own mistakes. "I look at when we got promoted from Serie B to Serie A and I look at the team doing certain things that at the time were working wonders for us and now I'm saying: 'I would never do this in my life,'" he says grinning. "I do want to look back and remember that it's been a long way and that we were humble enough and open-minded enough to be always constantly growing and getting better."
The Recruitment Machine
Fàbregas joined Como as a player in August 2022, retiring the following summer and immediately beginning to coach the under-19 team. In November 2023 he became interim first-team manager, then assisted Osian Roberts, now head of development, while completing his coaching badges. After securing promotion, Fàbregas was appointed permanent manager, and Como finished 10th in Serie A the following season.
To outsiders, Como's ascent has seemed seamless, but it has required meticulous management. "You have to be very careful about group dynamics," says Roberts, who arrived on minority shareholder Thierry Henry's recommendation. "Keeping the chemistry is not easy with such a high turnover of players, which was a risk but a necessary one." As counterbalance, Fàbregas brought in players he had played with, who help manage the dressing room at crucial times, like Pepe Reina and Raphaël Varane, who remains involved as an investor, ambassador, and director. Regular substitutes this year include Álvaro Morata and Sergi Roberto, both Champions League winners, invaluable for their experience.
Young Stars and Smart Scouting
Como's headline grabbers, though, are the young stars. Argentinian Nicolás Paz, 21, is a silky No. 10 with 18 league goal involvements this season and the third most tackles in the league. Signed for €6m in 2024, Real Madrid retains a buy-back clause. Other young signings excelling include Jacobo Ramón, Lucas Da Cunha, Álex Valle, Assane Diao, and Máximo Perrone. Fàbregas has the final say but leans heavily on a recruitment team headed by Barend Verkerk, who as a child played Football Manager by exporting data into a spreadsheet and inputting his own algorithms. Now he leads a team of data scouts, six full-time scouts, three tactical analysts, and two sports psychologists.
Roberts's role is now wider, building future foundations. "There are two things that have always been close to my heart," Roberts says. "Developing players and developing staff. If we can continue to do that then they will help the club to form a strong foundation that will be here for many years to come." The women's team have just been promoted to Serie A for the first time, while the under-19s are a final-day win from also achieving that.
Sustainability and the Business Model
Sustainability will be key to Como's long-term success. The most recent accounts show a pre-tax loss of €105.1m, although Suwarso likens them 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, but cannot compete commercially with Inter and Milan. Instead, Como has adopted a "multi-club servicing model," offering software for data analytics, player behaviour analysis, and health tracking to other sports organisations.
Tourism is another element, with the club's website offering premium lake-side packages and hospitality packages sold out well in advance, attracting celebrities like actor Damian Lewis and UFC fighter Paddy Pimblett. Fashion is vital, with designer Rhuigi Villaseñor appointed as chief brand officer. Adidas now makes Como's kit, while collaborators include Rhude and Italian suit makers Brioni. As part of its multi-club servicing model, Rhude 4 Fans will provide capsule collections for clubs including Everton and Tottenham.
Protecting Core Fans
Within all this, there has been a conscious effort not to alienate history. "Everything that we do, we try to make sure that the interests of the core fans are protected," Suwarso says, adding that season-ticket holders from the club's Serie C days still pay virtually the same for entry. "We are foreigners who came here to manage an Italian soccer team. The people of Como are very proud of their origin. They have their own culture. When we first came, we immediately tried to learn what is the core of our fans. What do they want? What do they stand for? Who are they? As we developed our branding and communication strategy, which is basically the DNA of the team itself, we agreed that we have to become something truly Como. That's why we picked up the slogan 'Semm Cumasch' – 'We are Como.'" Truly Como is becoming truly special. The club is just taking off.
