Malta FA appoint Menichelli as new Futsal national team coach

The Malta FA announced that Roberto Menichelli has been appointed the new head coach of the Malta Futsal National Team.

Menichelli is an established name in the international futsal scene, having served as head coach of the Italian Futsal National Team from 2009 to 2018. During his tenure, the team made history, winning its second UEFA Futsal Euro title in 2014.

Menichelli’s CV also includes a stint as head coach of the Italian Women’s National Futsal Team, a role he occupied from 2015 to 2018.

He also enjoyed a successful playing career, having won two Futsal Serie A championships and five Coppa Italia titles, all with Torino. He had 28 caps with the Italian National Team, scoring two goals in the process, while also forming part of the squad for the 1992 Futsal World Cup in Hong Kong.

Commenting on the appointment, Malta FA senior vice president Dr Matthew Paris remarked: “This appointment is another step forward in ensuring further growth of futsal in Malta.”

“After the successful spell of Gabriel Dobre, the Malta FA opted to appoint yet another experienced futsal coach to lead the Malta Futsal National Team for the years to come. This is not just a statement of intent, but it is also a clear message that futsal is on the top agenda of the Malta FA,” he continued.

Dr Paris added: “I thank Roberto for accepting our offer and welcome him to the growing community of futsal in Malta.”

From his end, Menichelli thanked the Malta FA for the role, which he accepted with great interest and satisfaction.

“The development of futsal for the Malta FA represents one of the most important objectives to be achieved in the coming years, and it is the main reason why I decided to accept the role,” he said.

“I will commit myself to contributing to the Association and to the futsal movement it represents,” Menichelli continued.

Menichelli’s first matches leading the Malta Futsal National Team will come later this month, with his side having two international friendlies in Bucharest, Romania.

The first one will be against Romania on November 8 at 4pm, while the second will be against Latvia on November 10 at 12pm.