West Chester native Alex Menta is heading to Venice, Italy to become the director of analytics for Venezia FC, a soccer team that competes in the nation’s second-highest division, and to ultimately help it return to the spotlight, writes Jonathan Tannenwald for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

The team that managed to find its way from the fourth tier to Serie B under the direction of American CEO Ted Philipakos quickly grew in popularity in Italy and the U.S. But when Philipakos left at the end of the season, the team returned to relative anonymity.

However, Venezia, with Menta’s help, is now ready to return to the spotlight.

The 29-year-old fell in love with soccer during the 2006 World Cup in Germany. His family has Venetian roots, which prompted him to start following Italian soccer and Venezia.

And now that he is part of the team, he has big plans for it.

“Obviously, promotion is always on our mind, but we’re not trying to just buy it,” Menta said. “We’ll build it slow, and we’ll get there on our own terms, but I think it’s doable within the next two to three years.”

Read more about Alex Menta in The Philadelphia Inquirer here.

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