For coach Alberto Salmaso, the 2026-27 SuperLega season will mark his third consecutive year as assistant coach of Sonepar Padova. This confirmation provides continuity to the work done within the Juventus coaching staff and demonstrates the growth achieved in recent seasons.
“This confirmation is certainly a source of pride and a testament to the work accomplished thus far,” said Salmaso. “Over the past two years, I have challenged myself in this new role, and continuing this path means that something good has been achieved, both on my part and with the staff and the team.”
Recalling his first two seasons as assistant coach, Coach Salmaso emphasized how his experience on the bench allowed him to experience the team and the competition from a different perspective. “These have been very stimulating years, especially during the competitive phase. Watching the game from the bench is completely different than watching it from the outside: the contact with the players and the staff is direct, and this has helped me better understand the dynamics within the group and the pressure you feel on the court when you have to achieve a result.”
Padua has always focused on young, promising rosters, an aspect that Salmaso considers particularly motivating, also from a human perspective. “I’m thirty years old, and until recently, many players were my age or even older than me. Today, the situation has reversed, and much of the team is younger. It’s an important motivation because it means keeping up with the kids, understanding how the new generations are developing, and engaging with their way of experiencing volleyball on a daily basis.”
Speaking about the identity of the Juventus club, Salmaso emphasized how daily work and technical continuity are the club’s distinctive elements. “For newcomers, it’s important to see firsthand how many athletes who have passed through Padua over the years have gone on to achieve significant goals, both nationally and with other clubs. This, combined with the club’s solidity, is an excellent calling card. Padua’s identity is built on hard work, sacrifice, and a fighting spirit, always with a knife between the teeth. You have to be willing to suffer, knowing that through that journey, you can achieve great satisfaction.”
