Italian volleyball legend Samuele Papi is returning to Piacenza, this time as part of the coaching staff of Gas Sales Bluenergy Volley Piacenza. This was reported by volleynews.it. His contract is for the next two seasons, and his task will be to assist head coach Dante Boninfante — a person with whom he shares a long-standing friendship and professional relationship.
A return to where his glorious playing career ended
Samuele Papi, born in Ancona in 1973, ended his remarkable career as a player in Piacenza in 2017 and now returns to the city where he was one of the team's great heroes for six consecutive championships. For nearly three decades on the courts, Papi established himself as one of the greatest in world volleyball, with 339 matches for the Italian national team and a rich display of accolades.
One of the most decorated volleyball players in history
In his career, Papi won:
2 World Titles,
3 European Titles,
5 World League trophies,
6 Scudetti,
3 Champions League titles,
6 Italian Cups, the last one with the Piacenza team.
He experienced long and successful periods in clubs such as Falconara, Treviso, Cuneo and Piacenza. In 2022, he was inducted into theVolleyball Hall of Fame — another recognition for the career of "Il Fenomeno".
A new path near the court — from the Italian national team to Greece and Taranto
After stepping down from the court, Papi became the manager of the Italian men's national team, and later accepted the challenge to return to the hall as a coach. In February 2022, he joined Tinet Prata di Pordenone as an assistant to Boninfante — a friend and former teammate from their days in Treviso and Piacenza. The two remained for three seasons in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, with Papi also gaining European experience with the Greek national team, again in tandem with Boninfante, who debuted last season as a coach in the Superlega with the Taranto team.
"It's an honor to be part of the Piacenza family again"
In his first official statement after the news, Samuele Papi shared:
"It is certainly an honor to be part of the Gas Sales Bluenergy Volley Piacenza family. When Dante, with whom I started this life as a coach and with whom I have an excellent relationship, called me and asked if I wanted to come with him as a second coach in Piacenza, I didn't hesitate for a second, because it's a serious club with very clear ideas."
He added that he comes with great enthusiasm and a desire to do well:
"A very interesting team has been created, there will be work, but we will have fun. I am really happy to return to Piacenza — a city where I lived for several years, and I can't wait to start this new adventure."
Piacenza is building an ambitious project
With the recruitment of a figure like Papi to the coaching staff, Gas Sales Bluenergy Volley Piacenza demonstrates serious ambitions to fight for the highest honors in Italy and Europe. In the Boninfante-Papi tandem, the club will rely on rich experience and proven chemistry to take the team to a new level.
