The Malta FA would like to announce a new Male National Teams Technical setup for the 2025/26 season, including some key appointments.
The setup, led by National Teams Head Coach Emilio De Leo, together with Assistant National Teams Head Coach Pietro Matafora, Director of Admin and Operations Roderick Vella and Technical Coordinator Ivan Woods, will undergo some changes across different categories.
National Team ‘A’
Senior National Team, led by Head Coach Emilio De Leo, together with Assistant Coaches Pietro Matafora, Ivan Woods and Mirko Valdifiori, will include new additions with the appointments of Francesco Cotugno as Goalkeeper Coach and Fabio Esposito as Fitness Coach, with the latter joining current coach Luca Pagani.
Cotugno is a former professional goalkeeper who played in Serie C and Serie D throughout his career. He is also a former Italy U21 international, having featured during his time at Benevento Calcio. Following his retirement, Cotugno became a Goalkeeper Coach for different Italian teams, as well as having successful stints at Chinese clubs Tianjin Quanjian and Guangzhou Evergrande. He most recently spent a season as Goalkeeper Coach at Benevento Calcio. Additionally, he also has a UEFA Diploma B Goalkeeping Licence, certified through the Italian Football Federation.
Esposito is a seasoned athletic trainer, having spent several years as Head of Physical Preparation at multiple Italian clubs throughout his extensive career. These include stints at Cagliari Calcio, Virtus Entella Chiavari, US Cremonese Calcio, SPAL, and US Avellino Calcio, among others. He is qualified as a Professional GIFC Athletic Trainer and also holds a UEFA B Coach Qualification.
U21 National Team
The Under-21 National Team, under the guidance of Coach Davide Mazzotta, will be assisted by Stefano Grima and Paul Gatt, both experienced coaches within the National Teams Technical setup.
The rest of the coaching staff includes Iván Rivera as Goalkeeper Coach, David Fenech as Fitness Coach, and Gabriele Tumino as Match Analyst.
U19 National Team
The Under-19 National Team will now be led by Salvatore Colantuono, He will be assisted by Jonathan Holland.
Colantuono is a seasoned coach and match analyst, holding a UEFA A Licence in coaching. Throughout his career he has led a number of teams in Italy. Only last season, he was coach of Parma Women, leading the side to a memorable promotion to the top flight.
The coaching staff will also include Alex Ramella as Goalkeeper Coach, Andrea Grech as Fitness Coach, and Roderick Bajada as Match Analyst.
U18 National Team
The Under-18 National Team will be led by Coach Stefano Grima, who will now be assisted by Coach Salvatore Colantuono, whilst Ivan Rivera will serve as Goalkeeper Coach, Andrea Grech and Gabriele Tumino will serve as Fitness Coach and Match Analyst, respectively.
U17 National Team
Francesco Macri will remain Coach of the Under-17 National Team, with Adrian Buttigieg assisting him.
Additionally, Jonathan Vella will serve as Goalkeeper Coach, with Emerson Farrugia as Fitness Coach and Antonio Di Marino as Match Analyst.
U16 National Team
Coach Davide Mazzotta will now also be leading the Under-16 National Team, a dual role specifically aimed at giving the needed guidance from the start of the development pathway.
In this new role, he will be assisted by Assistant Coach Francesco Macri, who will also serve as Match Analyst.
The rest of the coaching staff includes Alex Ramella as Goalkeeper Coach, Fabio Esposito as Fitness Coach, and Luigi Miccio as Match Analyst.
U15 National Team
The Under-15 National Team will continue to be led by Coach Jonathan Holland.
In the role, he will be assisted by Assistant Coach Charles Sciberras, with Francesco Cotugno serving as Goalkeeper Coach. Andrea Grech will serve as Fitness Coach, with Antonio Di Marino as Match Analyst.
Performance Department
The Performance Department will also have a new Strength and Conditioning Coach, namely Andrea Spagnolo.
Spagnolo is a highly qualified sport scientist with over four years of experience working at a number of high-level football clubs across the United Kingdom, including Wolverhampton Wanderers (Wolves) FC, Blackpool FC and Oldham Athletic FC. He is particularly skilled in planning resistance and on-field training in order to meet the demands of the sport in accordance with the planned cycle.
In the next weeks the MFA Technical Centre quarters will be relocated to the new National Football Centre within the Ta’ Qali Football Complex.
The Malta FA would like to thank the outgoing professionals for their services given to the Association throughout the years and wish them well in their future endeavours.
