Born close to Naples, Flavio Ceriello, the founder of La Pelota Futbol was brought up in a household besotted and obsessed with football. Needless to say, living so close to a city where the passion for football burns brighter than the sun which beats down on the Bay of Naples means it would be impossible not to be captivated by it. It is in essence, a place which breathes football, and there is an almost uncontrollable love and lust for it in these parts.
ask me 3 names to explain my idea of football I’ll tell you Roberto Baggio, Zidane and Redondo.
“At my home, we were always told about football,” explains Flavio. “My father was a goalkeeper and grew up in Napoli playing for the club and in Serie A for a short time. So I was born with it in my veins. He founded a football school when I was a child and today he still trains kids there. I can’t remember a day without football in my life.
Despite his Neapolitan roots, it was another team that would eventually capture his heart. “My team is Lazio, I lived for a few years close to Rome and my endless passion for them is inspired by players like Beppe Signori, Nedved, and Veron. If you ask me 3 other names to explain my idea of football I’ll tell you Roberto Baggio, Zidane and Redondo.”
I live football as a form of culture
Growing up Flavio was always attracted to creativity and visual art. “I remember a few things perfectly. I used to pass my time drawing everything and anything and was inspired by the Italian teams who were the best in Europe at the time! Different from today of course.”
It was Flavio’s passion for football culture and graphic design that led him to create, La Pelota Futbol, producing prints, scarves, tees, and artwork and working in collaboration with other brands. “I live football as a form of culture trying to mix the aesthetics of classic and modern football. I make lettering for each player or club based on skills, such as nationality or associations with the name, sometimes there are also references to iconic sponsors on soccer jerseys.
“When I was a child my dream was to design t-shirts and now I work as a clothing graphic designer and illustrator. My work finds inspiration in what surrounds me, looking at the trends of the present and the past, I try to share them recognisably in the collective imagination, as a designer every day and also in the La Pelota project.”
La Pelota Futbol’s creative and distinctive style is now part of one of the most historic triumphs in Napoli’s history. ‘The Campioni’ scarves and tees can be seen worn by fans absolutely drenched in delirium as they celebrated the club’s 3rd Scudetto.
“I’d say the ‘Campioni’ scarf is my favourite project so far. It embodies the retro style of football that I like. I also love doing the simple player lettering bootlegs, which gives me great joy. Among the lettering that I have produced, I’d say my preferences are for Gascoigne, Diego, Mbappe, Kvara, Casemiro, Del Piero and many more.”
FOOTBALL IS FOR EVERYONE
It promises to be a busy 2024 with several projects on the horizon, such as an upcycled section with sweatshirts and bags and a sticker pack of selected works, as well as an exciting rework product launch featuring Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund.
“I love what I do. To me, football is culture. It is currently the best vehicle for social aggregation, football is for everyone, and it’s a sense of belonging that connects people differently. It’s now also a means of aesthetic expression, in recent years there have been many collaborations between fashion brands and clubs. If lived in a healthy way it can reduce distances between people and create communities.”
With all our thanks to La Pelota Futbol
To visit La Pelota Futbol website click here