Interview with Antonio Illuminato: Pathway to becoming a Pro soccer player in Europe
For this post, I had the opportunity to sit down with my former teammate and good friend, Antonio Illuminato. A former Napoli academy player, Antonio spent his entire youth career playing for Naples before testing the waters in Italy’s second and third divisions. Eventually, he made the decision to come to Drexel University to pursue a Master’s in Business Administration. Though he never broke into Napoli’s first team, his academy experience and performances opened doors for him to play professionally in Italy’s lower divisions before he ultimately shifted his focus to higher education in the U.S.
Growing up in such a respected academy came with its own set of challenges and privileges, something Antonio reflected on with a mix of gratitude and realism.
“My experience training at Napoli’s academy was amazing,” he told me. “We were exposed to elite coaching at an early age, and the level of competition was really high. Technical ability, tactical awareness, and mental focus—those were the priorities at the club. You had to grow up fast and adjust to the demands of professional football because there was always someone waiting to take your spot. Every week, new kids would come on trial from South America, Africa, Asia, and all over Europe. That pressure kept the training environment at an incredibly high level. But it was also inspiring—seeing the first team around the grounds, eating in the cafeteria alongside players you’d watch on TV, superstars. It pushed us to be at our best every day. It’s an experience I’m truly grateful for, and I know how lucky I was to be a part of it.”
Even though Antonio didn’t make it to Napoli’s first team, the academy experience still played a crucial role in securing professional opportunities elsewhere. He explained that being part of a well-known academy carries a certain reputation that can open doors—sometimes even for players who might not necessarily deserve it as much.
“Clubs in Serie B and Serie C knew I had received top-tier training, which gave me a leg up over players without that background,” he admitted. “But I also faced my own setbacks. I tore my ACL when I was eighteen, the most important age in the academy when they decide whether or not to graduate you. When I came back, I wasn’t performing at my best, and I completely understand why the club chose not to sign me. But thanks to the network I built within Italian football—people I played with, people I played against—it was much easier for me to find professional opportunities after adding ‘Napoli Academy’ to my player profile. That first year, at nineteen, I had a number of options.”
Despite his love for the game, Antonio eventually made the difficult decision to walk away from professional soccer and pursue a university degree in the U.S.
“Honestly, it was about lifestyle,” he said. “Football is my passion, there’s no doubt about that. But I had to think about the bigger picture—the way I could change my family’s life by earning a U.S. salary after getting a master’s degree. My father is a laborer, and my mother is a maid. If I go home to southern Italy with a six-figure salary in USD, I can live like a king and retire my parents. As much as I loved playing, at some point, you have to think about the future. Football isn’t forever.”
Antonio’s journey is a testament to the highly competitive yet structured path to becoming a professional soccer player in Italy. While not every academy player makes it to the first team, the connections and experiences gained can lead to other career opportunities—whether within football or beyond. His decision to shift gears and prioritize education underscores the importance of long-term planning, proving that success comes in many forms, both on and off the field.