Rita Guarino (born 1971 in Turin) is an Italian football manager and former forward. A prolific striker in her playing days (approximately 35 goals in 99 Italy caps), she transitioned early into coaching. In 2015 she took charge of Italy’s U-17 women’s national team, after having worked with Italy’s youth national teams as assistant coach since 2008 and two years later was appointed as the first head coach of Juventus Women. Under Guarino’s leadership (2017–2021) the newly formed Juventus side quickly became dominant in Serie A. In June 2021 she left Juventus and was hired as head coach of Inter Women. After three seasons at Inter, the club announced in June 2024 that it had “reached an agreement” to terminate her contract.
Coaching Career and Timeline
- 2008-2015 Italy U-17 (Assistant Coach). During this period, she helped develop Italy’s top youth talent and achieved two bronze medals at European championship in 2013 (England) and at the world cup in 2014 (Costa Rica).
- 2015–2017: Italy U-17 (Head Coach). Guarino made her coaching debut with Italy’s U-17 women’s team in 2015, leading the team to the final European Championship in the 2016.
- 2017–2021: Juventus Women (Head Coach). In June 2017 Guarino was named the head coach of Juventus Women – the club’s inaugural season. She would lead Juventus to unprecedented success over four seasons (details below).
- 2021–2024: Inter Women (Head Coach). On 17 June 2021 Guarino was announced as the new head coach of Inter Milan’s women’s team. She remained in charge for three seasons, leaving by mutual agreement in June 2024.
Guarino is widely respected as one of Italian women’s football’s leading figures. As Pirelli’s life-magazine notes, “Guarino is one of the most important faces of Italian women’s football,” both as a former champion player and as a coach. She herself has said she feels “part of the path taken by women’s football…our journey has just begun,” emphasizing the ongoing development of the women’s game.
Juventus Women (2017–2021): Dominance and Silverware
Guarino’s tenure at Juventus Women was marked by instant and sustained success. She took charge of a newly formed team and immediately instilled a winning culture. In their 2017–18 debut Serie A season, Juventus and Brescia finished level on points. In a historic title playoff on 20 May 2018 at Novara, Guarino’s side won on penalties (5–4) to claim Juventus’s first-ever Scudetto. This victory set the tone for an era of dominance.
Over the next three seasons, Guarino’s Juventus swept almost all domestic honours:
- 2018–19: Retained the Serie A title and won the Coppa Italia for the first time.
- 2019–20: Won a third consecutive Serie A title and captured the Supercoppa Italiana (her first Super Cup).
- 2020–21: Delivered a fourth straight Serie A title – this time completing a perfect 22–0 record in the league – and a second Supercoppa.
Her four league titles, one Coppa Italia, and two Supercoppa titles earned her a total of seven trophies during four seasons in Turin. (As Inter’s announcement notes, Guarino “boasts four league titles, one Coppa Italia, and two Italian Super Cups”.) In all competitions she won over 80% of her games with Juventus, and her teams scored far more goals than they conceded. Juventus’s official farewell message praised her leadership and “ruthless” high standards, noting that under her tutelage the players developed a winning mentality from the very first match.
Guarino’s Juventus teams were known for attacking width and possession control. In tactical analyses of her play, observers note that she favored a 4-3-3 formation, with fullbacks and wingers stretching the field. For example, in one analysis of a 2019–20 match against Milan, Juventus was described as “the most comfortable side” in the first half – they “held onto possession better” than Milan and built play through close passing triangles. Guarino’s teams frequently switched the ball to open up the flanks, and attackers such as Cristiana Girelli and Barbara Bonansea had the freedom to exploit space. Her emphasis on possession with purpose and technical skill was praised by players. England star Eniola Aluko, who played for Guarino in Turin, called her “one of the best technical coaches I have had in my career” and noted that Guarino often personally demonstrated techniques to the team. Aluko also said Guarino was “an extremely technical coach who gave me a lot of freedom last season to express myself on the field”. These comments reflect Guarino’s reputation for technical training and player freedom.
Crucially, Guarino’s impact extended beyond tactics. Juventus credited her with exceptional leadership and player development: under Guarino, the young squad “established itself as the best in Italy right from the start”. She coached and developed many of Italy’s top players – for example, long-time captain Sara Gama, goal keeper Laura Giuliani, defenders Lisa Boattin and Cecilia Salvai, midfielders Martina Rosucci, Aurora Galli, Arianna Caruso and Valentina Cernoia, forwards Barbara Bonansea, Benedetta Glionna, Sofia Cantore and Cristiana Girelli (now Italy’s leading scorer) all flourished under her (Guarino has been praised for giving young Italians confidence – “her leadership, work ethic and knowledge” allowed players to pursue and achieve their dreams.) Team players have spoken warmly of her; in one interview Aluko thanked teammates like Lisa Boattin and Aurora Galli for their support, implicitly noting the positive environment Guarino helped create. In interviews, Guarino emphasized values such as passion, loyalty, and sportsmanship. She has remarked that the values of women’s football – passion, fairness and close fan support – should never change, praising the healthy support fans show their teams.
Key Juventus Matches and Moments
- Serie A Playoff 2018 (Juventus 5–4 Brescia on penalties): Clinched Juventus’s first title under Guarino.
- Coppa Italia 2019 (Final vs Fiorentina): Juventus won the cup under Guarino’s guidance (semi- and quarter-finals in the cup also saw tactical switching that Guarino highlighted as crucial).
- Supercoppa 2019 & 2020: Victories over Fiorentina (2019) and Roma (2020) added to her trophy haul.
- Last Match 2021 (Juventus 2–0 Napoli): Juventus clinched the 2020–21 league with a 22nd win in a row, a “business-like effort for Rita Guarino and Co.” (as a fan recap noted) and a fitting final match for her Juventus tenure.
Guarino stepped down after the 2020–21 season, seeking a new challenge. As Juventus noted, she left a “glorious” legacy of “unforgettable memories, silverware and pure joy”.
Inter Women (2021–2024): Development, Identity and Structural Challenges
In June 2021, Guarino took charge of Inter Women with a clear objective: not to win immediately, but to structure the technical project and close the competitive gap with Italy’s top teams. The club entrusted her with the task of developing the potential of a young group and gradually raising the team’s level.
From her very first season, Inter showed signs of growth: in the 2021–22 campaign, the team finished fifth and delivered strong performances, especially against the league’s top sides such as Juventus, Roma, Fiorentina and Milan. Guarino’s teams maintained a clear tactical identity, based on possession, organization, and attacking football—even when facing more experienced opponents.
However, over the course of her tenure, there was no consistent long-term planning in building a truly competitive squad. This lack of continuity limited the team’s ability to stabilize results and build a winning cycle. Despite these challenges, Guarino left a clear mark in terms of both methodology and sporting culture.
In June 2024, Guarino and Inter mutually agreed to part ways. The results of her three-year tenure should be viewed in light of the original objectives: growing the team, enhancing its style of play, and strengthening its technical foundations—rather than simply chasing immediate success.
Titles and Achievements (by Season)
- 2017–18 (Juventus): Serie A Champions (first-ever title; won playoff vs Brescia on penalties).
- 2018–19 (Juventus): Serie A Champions, Coppa Italia
- 2019–20 (Juventus): Serie A Champions, Supercoppa Italiana ( the Coppa Italia was cancelled due to Covid-19.)
- 2020–21 (Juventus): Serie A Champions (22–0 record), Supercoppa Italiana
In total Guarino’s Juventus era yielded 4 league titles, 1 Coppa Italia and 2 Supercoppa (7 trophies), establishing the club as Italy’s dominant women’s side. (No trophies were won at Inter, though the team improved its domestic standing under her guidance.)
Notable Players Coached
Guarino worked with many of Italy’s top players. Many of these players thrived in her system and later featured prominently for the Italian national team. Juventus commentators have noted that “many players had played together… but it was Guarino who got this team to establish itself as the best in Italy right from the start”. In interviews, players have highlighted Guarino’s role in allowing their talents to flourish.
At the youth national team level, she helped develop future Italy internationals (for example, several U-17 and U-19 players she coached have since earned senior call-ups). Her reputation for technical training and player trust has made her a respected figure among young Italian footballers.
Coaching Style and Philosophy
Guarino is known as a technically focused, possession-oriented coach. Multiple players and analysts emphasize her emphasis on ball skills and team play. Eni Aluko, writing about her time at Juventus, praised her technical coaching: “There is also a lot of emphasis on technical drills… Rita Guarino is one of the best technical coaches I have had in my career – often she demonstrates a specific technique and shows the players up!”. Tactical analyses describe her teams using width and close passing: Juventus under Guarino used 4-3-3 with fast wingers and overlapping fullbacks, “attacking with speed and width” to break down opponents. Her sides typically build patiently from the back, providing multiple passing options (“close triangles”) so the ball carrier can always find an outlet.
Guarino also emphasizes adaptability and professionalism. In press conferences she has noted that “tactics and organisation will be crucial” against strong opponents. Club statements repeatedly praised her leadership and work ethic. Juventus’s official homage remarked on “Guarino’s impact beyond the trophies,” highlighting that “her leadership, work ethic, [and] knowledge” enabled players to realize their ambitions effortlessly. Her personal philosophy stresses values: she often speaks about passion, loyalty and respect as the core of the women’s game and believes that continuous improvement (rather than complacency) is the key to success.
In sum, Guarino’s methods blend technical training, tactical organization, and man-management. Players are given creative freedom within a structured system. As one Juventus profile noted, from her very first training session she instilled “a winning mentality” and belief in development. This approach has allowed both established stars and young prospects to thrive under her coaching.
Influence and Legacy
Rita Guarino has been a pioneering figure in Italian women’s football. She took on the challenge of building Juventus Women from scratch and led them to national prominence. Her success helped raise the profile of the women’s game in Italy – Juventus’ four titles under her (2018–2021) coincided with a surge of interest and investment in the league. Players and observers credit Guarino with helping to set a professional standard; for example, her physical preparation and training regimes at Juventus introduced new ideas to Italy’s women (as noted by Eni Aluko).
Off the pitch, Guarino has spoken widely about the growth of women’s football. In interviews she has remarked that the game has changed dramatically since 2015, when major men’s clubs began forming women’s sides, and that “women’s football has become an integral part of the professional system”. She remains vocal about the importance of fostering a strong football culture for women, including support for professionalization of the league. Indeed, her public comments – and high-profile roles at Juventus and Inter – have made her an influential voice. As she told Pirelli: “I feel part of the path taken by women’s football…we have experienced standstill moments, but now there is growth, and in reality…our journey has just begun”.
Her legacy also includes mentoring a new generation of Italian coaches and players. Having co-authored a book on women’s coaching methods and regularly speaks at FIGC coaching courses, Guarino is contributing to the development of coaching expertise in Italy. In media coverage, she is often cited as an example of a successful former player turned coach, helping to change perceptions about the role of women in Italian football leadership.
In summary, Rita Guarino’s career is distinguished by consistent winning, technical emphasis, and leadership. Her Juventus teams were unprecedentedly dominant, and her tenure helped elevate the status of the women’s game in Italy. Players and clubs repeatedly highlight her influence: as Juventus wrote, Guarino gave her players the tools to achieve their dreams “effortlessly and with finesse”. With her departure from Inter in 2024, Guarino leaves behind a legacy of trophies, talent development, and an enduring impact on Italian women’s football.
Our Exclusive Interview with Rita Guarino
Who is Rita Guarino outside of football? What values or experiences have shaped your approach to life and leadership?
Outside of football, I’m a curious and reflective person, passionate about discovery. I love traveling, reading, and staying active in the mountains, experiences that help me recharge and maintain personal balance. But I also find deep joy in simple things: a family lunch, dinner with friends, an honest conversation.
The values that guide me were instilled early on. My father, a serious and tireless man, taught me the importance of hard work, respect, and integrity. These principles have become the compass in both my personal and professional life: responsibility, passion, and authenticity are at the heart of everything I do.
You built Juventus Women from the ground up into a dominant force. What were the biggest challenges and lessons in leading a brand-new team to sustained success?
Juventus was a fascinating and unique challenge. When I arrived, there was no existing team and no history, we had to create everything from scratch. Alongside Sport Director Braghin, we immediately built a competitive squad and laid the foundations for an ambitious and forward-thinking project.
The biggest challenge wasn’t just winning, it was winning and continuing to win, maintaining the highest standards over four consecutive seasons. That required an exceptionally strong mindset, both in the staff and the players. We learned that true growth demands vision, structure, daily motivation, and a deep sense of team unity. Every season became a new challenge within the challenge, with new goals to achieve and limits to push beyond.
Your coaching style is often described as technical, possession-based, and player-focused. How would you define your football philosophy, and how has it evolved over the years?
My philosophy has always been centred on the quality of play and the individual. I believe in a structured, possession-oriented style where the team has a clear identity, but within that structure, players are given the freedom to express themselves. Technique, intelligence, and timing are fundamental. Over the years, I’ve refined my tactical ideas, but my core belief remains: football is a game of space, movement, and decision-making. As the women’s game has evolved, I’ve also adapted to new demands, blending tactical discipline with creativity and emotional intelligence in managing the group.
You’ve worked closely with many of Italy’s top talents. What qualities do you look for in a player, and how do you foster growth on and off the pitch?
First of all, I look for an attitude. Talent is important, but without humility, dedication, and the desire to grow, it’s not enough. I value players who are curious, willing to learn, and open to feedback. On the pitch, I encourage them to take responsibility, to think, and to develop technical confidence. Off the pitch, I try to support their growth as people, through dialogue, trust, and a shared culture of professionalism and respect. Growth is holistic: if a player feels seen and supported, she will give her best in every aspect.
Women’s football in Italy has grown significantly in the past decade. What role do you think you’ve played in that transformation, and what still needs to change?
I’ve had the privilege of being part of a key moment of transition, especially through my work at Juventus, where we helped raise the professional standards and visibility of the women’s game. I believe I’ve contributed by building not only winning teams, but a culture based on work ethic, ambition, and credibility. However, there is still a lot to do. We need more continuity in investment, stronger youth development programs, and above all, more female leadership in technical and executive roles. The foundation is there, but the next step is consolidation.
After your time with Inter, what are your future goals? Are you considering club or national roles, or perhaps contributing to the game in a different capacity?
I’m strongly motivated to continue coaching, that remains my passion and my priority. I deeply enjoy the day-to-day work on the pitch: the preparation, the competition, the growth of a team. Right now, I’m evaluating the seriousness and vision behind the projects being proposed, because I believe in working within clear, structured environments where there’s room for development and ambition. I’m open to both club and national roles, as long as they align with my values and my idea of football. At the same time, I remain attentive to broader opportunities that contribute to the game’s evolution, whether in youth development, technical education, or mentoring. Whatever the next step is, it must be meaningful and built on commitment, professionalism, and long-term vision.