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Respected soccer journalist inks multi-year deal to create soccer content on multiple ESPN media;

Adds to ESPN’s line-up of leading soccer analysts worldwide

Gabriele Marcotti, the renowned international soccer journalist, is joining ESPN as a writer and analyst across the sports media company’s soccer coverage worldwide on TV, and, as a writer for ESPNFC, its new multi-language, multi-country brand for soccer fans around the world.

Online, Marcotti will write several times a week for ESPNFC, and will contribute other stories around news or topical events.  His writing will range from news and insight to comment and opinion, and will cover soccer leagues and competitions worldwide. In the coming weeks, ESPNFC will bring together all of ESPN’s soccer properties and house them under one universally recognized name, ensuring coverage of all news and developments 24/7 of all leagues globally.

Marcotti will also appear regularly on Press Pass, the soccer discussion show that looks, daily, at the global game with a global perspective six days a week at 11.30pm. He joins an outstanding and diverse group of contributors – including former professionals such as Frank LeBoeuf and Craig Burley, commentators and top journalists – that bring viewers a smart daily discussion and a particular focus on soccer in the UK and Europe. Press Pass is available to view online.

Based in London, Marcotti serves as a correspondent for The Times in England, Sunday Herald in Scotland, Corriere dello Sport in Italy, and, the Wall Street Journal and Melbourne Age in Australia. He has also written several books, including The Italian Job, co-authored with ex Chelsea and ex-Italy international Gianluca Vialli, Portait of a Winner, a biography of Fabio Capello, and Paolo Di Canio: The Autobiography.

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed watching, consuming – and, periodically, contributing to – ESPN’s soccer coverage around the world,” said Marcotti. “ESPN brings a uniquely global and distinctive offering to soccer fans and one which I’m looking forward to working on.”

“Gabriele is one of the very best authorities on the global game of soccer and brings a supreme level of professionalism and excellence to his work,” said Patrick Stiegman, editor-in-chief, ESPN.com.  “Few can bring his insight into global soccer allied to his experience, personality and knowledge which we think will fit perfectly with our teams online and on TV worldwide.”

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