Mr. Internatural: Marco Mario Accinni
(FIFA Master 25th edition)

From the moment he stepped into Greek kindergarten in Germany, Marco Mario Accinni has been an internatural. The journey of this Munich-born Roman shows how early and continuous exposure to various cultures and languages has shaped both his personal identity and his ambitions in the global sports industry.

In 1990, Marco’s parents moved to Munich, where his dad began work with the European Patent Office – and where Marco and his older brother would grow up. But his family’s Roman roots were never lost. Throughout his youth, Marco and his family travelled to Rome several times a year. “I definitely grew up in an Italian household, although I was in Germany basically my whole life.”

Growing up between Germany and Italy, Marco’s international outlook was solidified by his experience in a diverse and multilingual school for children of European institution staff. “These kinds of organizations need people from all over Europe and they want to give their kids the chance to learn the official languages of all EU countries, which are taught by native-speaking teachers,” he explains. The full immersive curriculum, taught in different languages, wasn’t a challenge for Marco. “It wasn’t strange to me because it’s all I know really.”

While a multilinguist from a young age, Marco’s parents ensured that he connected with German culture. Growing up, this took the form, for example, of watching German language TV and cartoons. “I’m super grateful because they always kept my Italian roots, but at the same time they made sure that I integrated myself in Germany.”

Still, as he admits, it was sport that offered Marco the perfect opportunity to connect with both the German community and his Italian heritage. “At five or six, I started football, tennis, and swimming, and that was the best way to integrate myself in Germany even more.” Playing club sports allowed Marco to branch out from his school community. “You play football with these kids who have a completely different background than you, so you get thrown in into completely different ecosystem,” he remembers. “It was good to get out and see the reality in Munich.”

Despite having a claim to the Münchner title, nothing would prevent Marco from abandoning his support for AS Roma. “My relatives are all pretty crazy about it.” From an early age, Marco remembers his family wrapping a Roma scarf around his head, playing the drums in a full Roma kit, and watching matches in a crowded apartment where every game turned into a loud and heated affair. “From my relatives’ reactions, I understood early on that following Roma was going to be painful at times, but no defeat could ever beat the passion for this club.”

Marco’s involvement beyond sports provided another outlet for both self-expression and cultural exchange. His adventures in an after-school theatre programme, for example, was the creative stage on which he made life-long friends. “I remember watching my friends’ theatre performance and thinking, ‘That looks fun.’ So, I joined, and it turned into one of my favorite experiences.” The troupe toured Europe to perform their play, stopping in places such as Frankfurt, Brussels, and Luxembourg.

When it came time to choose a career path, Marco initially settled on law. True to form, his first year of study took him across international waters – this time to London. “My dad was a lawyer, and I saw law as a good way to get into a variety of industries, particularly specializing in sports.” Marco was beginning to master the English legal system…and then Brexit came. This brought him back to Germany to study, an undertaking he initially hoped to avoid due to its elongated process. After a couple of years of rigorous study, Marco recognized his heart wasn’t in it. “I realized I didn’t have enough passion to really pull through.” The next logical move for Marco was to pivot to business administration, a choice he found to be more aligned with his interests. “It was a great three years even though it was during Covid.”

Marco’s first job out of university was with sports marketing agency Glöckner & Company, where he took on various roles, each requiring a keen eye for detail. “We had clients in football, tennis, and golf. Each client had unique demands, from pitching ideas to ensuring seamless event execution.” This exposure not only honed his ability to navigate diverse challenges but also allowed him to collaborate with high-profile athletes such as Thomas Müller. “It really helped me understand the international side of sports marketing,” Marco said, reflecting on how the experience broadened his perspective.

Marco discovered the FIFA Master while researching top sports business programmes, and now, surrounded by 24 other students from around the world, he feels right at home, particularly now as a class rep in Milan. “Now that I’m here, it really feels like the right time to be doing this. I have some experience, but I’m still early in my career, so I think this is going to give me the strong foundation I need to really kick-start my path in sports.”

Marco remains open-minded about where that path will take him. “I’m very open to working anywhere in the world throughout my career. I’m not tied to one location.” For Marco, it’s the multicultural environments that bring out the best in him, where diverse perspectives encourage the most innovative ideas. Reflecting on how his life has been shaped by various influences, Marco predicts that wherever he lands, his international experiences will be as integral to his career as they are his identity. “Growing up in Germany and having an Italian family gave me the best of both worlds. I feel at home both in Italy and Germany. That international exposure has really shaped who I am today.”

By Geneva Decker

FIFA Master 25th edition student

FIFA Master - International Master in Management, Law and Humanities of Sport, ranked Europe's No.1 course a record 12 times by SportBusiness.

Organised by CIES in partnership with De Montfort University (UK), SDA Bocconi School of Management (Italy) and the University of Neuchâtel (Switzerland).