HELEVETIC MERCENARIES NAME NEW SPORTING DIRECTOR

Rumours of the Helvetic Mercenaries’ demise appear untrue, as the Swiss team has appointed Wilson Ferretti as their new sporting director in readiness to ramp up preparations for the 2026 European season.

Ferretti begins working with the European League of Football outfit immediately, and is tasked with assembling the roster for the upcoming campaign — a role he may find more difficult following last week’s unveiling of the Alpine Rams, an all-new operation that draws heavily on Mercenaries teams of the past.

Despite having ended the 2025 ELF season in some disarray, and since seen a large proportion of their operation defect to the Rams, Helvetic have high hopes for their new sporting director, who is expected to strengthen the team not only athletically, but also strategically. With his experience in several European football leagues and his academic expertise, he aims to strategically develop talent and provide new impetus for the upcoming seasons.

Ferretti is well-connected in the Swiss football scene, having played for the Calanda Broncos, winning the Fall Cup in 2020 and earning a reputation as a team player and leader in the process. In addition to stints in Austria, Spain and Germany, he also made his mark in Italy — including seasons with the Milano Seamen, with whom he won several titles, the Bergamo Lions and the Legnano Frogs — which should allow him to act as a bridge between Swiss and Italian-European football.

Besides his athletic experience, Ferretti also brings a solid academic background to the Mercenaries job, having earned a BSc in Business Administration from the University of Applied Sciences Graubünden (FHGR), with a major in Sports Management.

“Teamwork and communication are my strengths — managing priorities, finding solutions and creating positive environments are my roots,” he claims, emphasising that he wants to act as a role model not only on the field but also as a person. “Lead by example — that’s my motto.”

Speaking to Gridiron at the end of the 2025 campaign, former Mercenaries GM and head coach Joshua Fitzgerald — now with the Rams — indicated that the team’s preference was to continue in the ELF in 2026, but also acknowledged the financial implications of operating out of Switzerland. The ELF has not indicated whether Helvetic will be amongst their number should the league survive into 2026. Similarly, the Alpine Rams have not yet confirmed which side of the divide they expect to fall next season, although it would be a surprise not to see them swell the ranks of the European Football Alliance.