Trieste at the Center of Italian Water Polo Maurizio Mirarchi joins the Settebello staff: he will be Alessandro Campagna’s assistant coach

Trieste is increasingly becoming a focal point for Italian water polo: Maurizio Mirarchi, head coach of Pallanuoto Trieste’s men’s Serie A1 team, is the new assistant coach of the Settebello, the Italian men’s national water polo team.

Mirarchi, who joined Trieste in the 2024/25 season, was selected by the Italian Swimming Federation (FIN) to work alongside head coach Alessandro Campagna.

“This is a major opportunity for the growth and development of our sport in Trieste,” commented Pallanuoto Trieste’s general manager Andrea Brazzatti. “We’re really proud of this appointment, which confirms what we already saw in him: a highly talented coach who brings great added value. Mirarchi will handle both roles, and we’ve been in close contact with the Federation for some time to coordinate schedules so that Maurizio can work effectively on both fronts.”

“I’m truly happy — it couldn’t be otherwise,” said the new Settebello assistant coach. “My gratitude goes to Pallanuoto Trieste, to president Enrico Samer, and to the Italian Swimming Federation for giving me this opportunity. This is a dual commitment of great importance, and I’m ready to take it on with the utmost dedication, fully aware of the many responsibilities it entails.”

Mirarchi’s appointment further highlights Trieste’s growing prominence, as confirmed by FIN official Fabio Conti, head of Competitive Sectors and Facilities:

“Beyond purely technical considerations, we believe this decision can provide additional momentum to the many ambitious projects revolving around the Trieste Federal Center, which is of great importance to the Federation. So best of luck to Maurizio, Pallanuoto Trieste, and the Settebello.”

Maurizio Mirarchi, born in 1961, joined the alabardati (Trieste’s team nickname) in the 2024/25 season. On the bench of the men’s Serie A1 team sponsored by Samer & Co. Shipping, he immediately achieved impressive results: a Coppa Italia semifinal, fourth place in the regular season, and a hard-fought scudetto semifinal against AN Brescia, thus bringing Pallanuoto Trieste back to European competitions.

On the national stage, in 2023 he was appointed technical coordinator of the women’s youth sector, and in the summer of 2025 he led the Italian women’s university national team to a bronze medal at the Duisburg Universiade, as well as the women’s U20 national team to a fourth-place finish at the World Championships in Salvador de Bahia.

The growth of Pallanuoto Trieste is also tied to the expansion of available facilities: the Trieste Campus plays a key role, enabling the club to create a supportive ecosystem for athletes. A genuine community of athletes, families, and coaches is taking shape, with the “campus” concept becoming firmly established in via Locchi.

Looking ahead, the club’s projects focus on further development and integration with the outdoor pool at the Polo Natatorio, for which a project financing plan is underway to build a movable roof, allowing year-round use.

This ambitious plan aims to create a true “Waterpolo Arena”, a facility capable of attracting sports tourism — training camps, gatherings, and international tournaments — and helping to make water polo increasingly popular in Trieste.