What the reason for Italian football's decline?

Great question - in the 80s and 90s it was the best league in the world, as you say.

Calciopoli didn't help, as Ronald explains, but the rot had set in before then. English football really took off in the early 2000s with all the Sky money, advent of the internet, it being a well marketed league with the world's most widely spoken language. This affected Italy (and Spain). In essence England's rise really affected Italy.

Then there's the issues Italian football has at the base level (see calciopoli above), and a decline of its best teams due to mismanagement and not replacing ageing players. It's been a combination of things.

Ironically Italy won the World Cup in 2006 more due to having a point to prove over the scandal. I believe that is what gave the national team the impetus to win that competition.

I think you're being slightly harsh though - it's still a very good league, and it's more exciting to watch now than it has been at times in previous years. It's still one of the top four leagues in Europe at present.

Serie A has been in terminal decline since 2007.Spain (well........at least two and a half teams in that league) and England are hoovering up all the best players because they're most willing to throw, by far, the most money at them, so Serie A will be continuing it's decline along with the rest of Europe. Top talent doesn't go to Italy anymore. It's leaves Italy.

The same problem as english football is experiencing right now!!! i do not agree with Ronnie! the corruption in 2006 didnt help but there are deeper rooted problems!

Gone are the days of the really big talented italian players like baggio, maldini, baresi!!! the problem is italy's youth system! look at how german teams are relying more on their youth system than big name transfers from other countries. It really hurts teams when all their cash reserves are spent on over-hyped talents who in the end fail miserably! Thats what hurt italian football the most. Over the past 5 years how many young italian players can you name that have shown great talent and have gotten the chance to play at the highest level for a high profile team..consistently???

i can name plenty of german and spanish players such as, goetze, draxler, reus, kroos, muller, ozil....isco, martinez, mata, cazorla, illiarmendi, etc...THAT IS THE DIFFERENCE!! players who completely identify with their teams and leagues heightens the play rather than big name transfers for big money!!

@kelly R ... wow what a stupid answer, he wasn't denying that the Italian national team has had success in the past, he was stating that they are not as good as the y have been in the past. This question had NOTHING to do with the Italy's past accomplishments, and didn't discredit them. It also did not say ANYTHING about the USA having better soccer, but even so USA lost to ghana in the ROUND OF 16... Italy failed to GET OUT OF THE GROUP STAGEl.

Because they don't produce top players anymore.

THings are not helping when English teams are aided by oil tycoon. The likes of Chelsea and City don't deserve to be in CL if it weren't for the owners.

And don't forget Bundesliga teams invested much on youth system. It takes year before the teams can enjoying this success. Bundesliga teams are the benchmark for Italian teams. No foreign investment. Rely on youth

the 2006 italian football scandal, the italian fa stripped and relegated juventus and stripped ac milan, the italian fa crippled their own league

Inter survived for a while, and only won the champions league with cowardly defensive play, but since they've fallen the whole thing is down

italian football committed suicide in 2006

Ronnie is right plus a lack of revenue for the bigger clubs

For once i agree with Ronnie

Indians..more on politics..more instant money game..

They are all eating loads of pizza and getting constipated so they can't concentrate.