Former Italy goalkeeper Marco Amelia has been appointed head coach of Hamrun Spartans, taking charge of one of Malta’s leading clubs ahead of the new domestic season.
Amelia’s first match in the role is scheduled for 14 August, when the Maltese championship gets under way. The appointment gives the former international goalkeeper a new position in football after his playing career, as he prepares to lead Hamrun Spartans from the technical area.
Hamrun Spartans are regarded as one of the best-established clubs in Malta. The club has won the country’s championship four times in recent years, underlining the level of expectation Amelia will face when the new campaign begins.
His arrival also brings a coach with experience of one of the most significant moments in Italian football. Amelia was the second-choice goalkeeper for the Italy national team at the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
That tournament remains the most recent World Cup won by Italy. The Azzurri lifted the trophy in 2006, and Amelia was part of the squad during their successful campaign, although he did not occupy the team’s starting goalkeeper position.
The move to Hamrun Spartans represents Amelia’s next step in football and places him in charge of a club with a recent record of domestic success. His first competitive appearance as the team’s coach will come on 14 August, at the start of the new Maltese championship season.
For Hamrun Spartans, the appointment comes with the opportunity to begin a fresh campaign under a manager whose playing background includes involvement with Italy’s World Cup-winning squad. Amelia will now be responsible for guiding the four-time Maltese champions as they begin the latest chapter in their domestic campaign.
The former Italy goalkeeper’s new role therefore combines international experience with the demands of managing one of Malta’s most successful clubs. His debut on the opening day of the championship will mark the formal start of his time in charge of Hamrun Spartans.
