Monaldo and Marra on the bench of Altotevere

Even without Marco Bartolini, ErmGroup Altotevere is opting for continuity on the bench. The two men, who until a few weeks ago were the coach’s trusted assistants, are both moving up a notch, with Mirko Monaldi as the new head coach and Davide Marra as assistant coach, retaining his crucial role as athletic trainer. Their sixth consecutive season makes them both veterans in the white-and-blues: they also arrived with Bartolini in the summer of 2021 (the last Serie B championship), and are now preparing for their fifth consecutive stint in the A3 Credem Banca league, recalling that Marra was both a player and captain in the first three years. Mirko Monaldi, 49, from Città di Castello, was a spiker as a player, playing for Albisola, Vercelli, and especially Biella (ten seasons between B2 and B1), before returning to Città di Castello in Serie C. As a coach, he led youth teams, first as Bartolini’s assistant at Città di Castello in Serie B, then as Giampaolo Rossi’s assistant at Trestina women’s team (B2), and finally as Bartolini’s assistant again at Altotevere. This is his debut as a coach of a senior team. “It’s true, officially that’s the case,” Monaldi clarifies, “but fully sharing decisions with Bartolini has allowed me to practically enjoy a wonderful experience here at San Giustino as head coach, and for me, it’s a positive one. The same goes for Marra, with whom I’m confident we’ll continue to work in harmony: it will be necessary, because there will be new players on the roster, so we’ll have to focus on reuniting the group right away. Clearly, this role fills me with pride: if nothing else, it’s a reward for the work I’ve done over the years.” And Monaldi doesn’t stop there: “I’ll put all my skills, my expertise, and my experience at your disposal, as well as, of course, full cooperation with the staff. We have specific and ambitious goals, but we know that great things can’t be achieved alone. Only by working in total synergy—on the pitch, at the desks, and in the locker room—can we make a difference. By sticking together, we’ll overcome every obstacle. I’m convinced that, together, and only together, we can help this team reach its full potential.” Davide Marra, 42 years old and with a long and brilliant career between the top division and the national team, no longer needs any introduction.