IT IS THE PEOPLE THAT MAKE SERIE B SO SPECIAL

Feature, Health and Fitness, Sport
C.S

September 12, 2024

“HERE YOU MUST SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL FOOTBALL TEAM, AND I LOVE THAT.”

LUIGI DI MASO AND HIS LOVE FOR SERIE B

Born in Puglia, the Southern region forming the heel of Italy’s “boot,” known for its whitewashed hill towns, centuries-old farmland and hundreds of kilometres of Mediterranean coastline, Luigi Di Maso has long been fascinated with the culture of football which pulses throughout every province in italy.

There is no one badge however that Luigi feels an attachment to or any club that can truly claim his heart. Instead, his love belongs entirely to the game, and the emotions it inflicts upon us.

It is the wider culture of Calcio that enthrals Luigi, and the beauty of Serie B that he captures through his lens. As a photographer for Lega B, the governing body that organises Serie B, Luigi brings to life the stories of agony and ecstasy which exist in the ‘League of Italian fans.’

Italy may have given birth to movements such as the Renaissance, with masters such as Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and Raphael influencing Western art with their groundbreaking techniques and humanistic themes. However, it is the art of football that seduces this country of football lovers. None more so in Serie B, where the passion of fans runs wild and free.

This season we will be featuring Luigi’s journey and adventures throughout Serie B, highlighting the highs and the lows he witnesses and the people who make the beautiful game.

We caught up with Luigi before he embarks on his voyage of discovery, to learn more about his love for football and photography.

I PRACTICALLY GREW UP ON THE FOOTBALL PITCH

I was born in Puglia, in Foggia, a city known in football for the history of Zemanlandia (Zdeněk Zeman). After finishing school I moved to Tuscany, first to Florence, and for the past two years, I’ve been living in Livorno, another city famous primarily for its football team and heritage.

My love for football was passed down to me by my father. He was a big AC Milan fan and also worked with Foggia Calcio.

I practically grew up on the football pitch. Now I don’t support any football team, but I’ve many clubs who I love and follow and appreciate both their identity and cities. Clubs like Livorno, Genoa, Sampdoria, Union Berlin and Arsenal.

PEOPLE MAKE THIS FOOTBALL LEAGUE SO SPECIAL

I’ve always had a passion for photography, but it is only recently that I decided to seriously begin this part of my life, and by that, I mean, ‘telling the story of the world of football through photography.’

The truth is, I felt something inside; I wanted to capture and share the culture surrounding football and its passion.

For a living, my job is to create content and manage communication on social media for leagues, brands, footballers and clubs and I am also in my fourth season with Lega B. What a journey it has been.

It is the “League of Italian Fans” and I can confirm it. In fact, it is the people that make this football league so special. In this league, you can find the ‘wholesome Italian culture of the province.’

A MOMENT OF PURE ADRENALINE

In this league, the competition every year is unpredictable. Here you don’t support and follow big European teams like Juventus, AC Milan or Internazionale Milano, you must support your local football team, and I love that.

I think my style reflects what I love, which is both simplicity and spontaneity. In almost all my photos the subject never knows he’s being photographed. For me this is crucial.

I like the idea of capturing the moment in which a fan or a footballer shows themselves for what they are in a moment of pure adrenaline, with a hint of vintage feeling.

This season it will be more unpredictable than last year, I’m sure of that. The group of clubs that will compete for promotion will include Palermo, Cremonese, Sassuolo and watch out to for Cesena, the “Cavalluccio marino” could be a nice surprise.

The relegation battle will be very close this season. It may involve some of the new clubs coming from Serie C and those who were involved in the battle last year. I can’t say any names though of course, as I’ve many friends at various clubs and I respect each club in the division.