Implementing Provocative Football (Calcio Provocatorio) in Futsal (5v5)
Journaling the Creative Process of Implementing Calcio Provocatorio to a 5v5 Futsal Team
Hosei Kijima
Introduction
I fell in love with Roberto De Zerbi during his Brighton & Hove Albion tenure. His playing style was creative, innovative, and, most importantly, courageous. I began to study him, analyze film, and read articles to understand his philosophy and what his teams ultimately aimed to achieve. In this project, I attempt to implement his playing style, which I call “Provocative Football,” into a 5v5 futsal team—a concept that, to my knowledge, has never been attempted.
The inspiration for this project came from De Zerbi’s departure from traditional youth development teachings. He challenged several unwritten rules, such as avoiding using the sole of the foot to control the ball, refraining from square passes, and keeping the ball in continuous motion without stopping it dead. Coincidentally, I’ve always been fascinated with non-conformity and an unorthodox approach, especially on the pitch, so this break from convention sparked my curiosity and compelled me to act.
Around the same time, I stumbled upon a Wake Forest University intramural futsal league match, and an idea struck me: What if I implemented Roberto De Zerbi’s playing style in futsal? Has it been done before? Could I be the first? With those questions in mind, I decided to coach a team and document the entire process in an academic paper. I meticulously recorded details about the training sessions and the creative process of implementing De Zerbi’s philosophy into futsal.
We won the playoff tournament by suffocating opponents with our bold, protagonist style of play, which often left them demoralized. The relentless pressure and unorthodox approach frequently led opposing teams to break down mentally, even causing them to argue among themselves—a satisfying confirmation that our strategy was working. Watching my team successfully implement this unconventional style and conquer such a daunting challenge fills me with pride.
In this paper, I share not only the tactical nuances and insights gained from studying Roberto De Zerbi’s philosophy but also the journey of adapting it to futsal. This process involved continuous reflection, adaptation, and creative problem-solving, all documented in detail. My hope is that this project will encourage others to explore unconventional methods in player development and team strategy.
