Angelo Schirinzi
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Angelo Schirinzi | |
|---|---|
 Schirinzi in 2013 | |
| Born | 5 November 1972 Basel, Switzerland |
| Occupations | Beach soccer player and coach |
| Years active | 2001–present |
| Employer | Swiss Beach Soccer GmbH (partner) |
| Known for | Developing beach soccer in Switzerland; coaching Switzerland and Tahiti national teams; FIFA beach soccer instructor |
| Title | Head coach, Switzerland national beach soccer team |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance | French Polynesia |
| Rank | Knight |
| Awards | Order of Tahiti Nui (Knight, 2013) |
Angelo Schirinzi (born 5 November 1972) is a beach soccer player and coach. He is Coach of Switzerland national beach soccer team, and the former Tahiti national beach soccer team Coach 2012-2015.[1][2] He is the main developer of beach soccer in Switzerland.[3]
Schirinzi has been a FIFA Expert since 2008 and has supervised more than 35 seminars in the last years.[4]
Schirinzi was born in Basel.[5] He was a professional footballer until the age of 26. During his short grass career, he played for FC Riehen and FC Solothurn. He then switched to being a professional trainer. In 2001, at the age of 30, he switched to playing beach soccer with the Sable Dancers of Bern. He also became coach-player of the Swiss beach soccer team.[5]
Schirinzi has been a FIFA instructor since 2008,[6] UEFA PRO coach and partner of Swiss Beach Soccer GMBH, the company that manages beach soccer in Switzerland. He has a UEFA Pro License, wrote the Beach Soccer manual.[4][5]
After the Swiss team failed to qualify for the 2013 World Cup, Schirinzi accepted the position of coach of the Tahitian national team. He won these 6 preparation matches against France and the Netherlands. Organizer of the World Cup, the Tiki-Toa won an unexpected 4th place.[5] He later won the Swiss championship with his team.[6]
In October 2013 he was appointed a knight of the Order of Tahiti Nui.[7][8]
Schirinzi is widely regarded as a leading global expert in beach soccer, often referred to as a "beach soccer guru."[9] He has conducted numerous FIFA coaching courses worldwide, including in the Pacific region (e.g., Solomon Islands, Tahiti, Tonga, Fiji), Africa (e.g., Tanzania), and elsewhere, contributing to the sport's global development.[10][11] He has authored a textbook on beach soccer technique and training.[12]
As of 2025, Schirinzi continues as head coach of the Switzerland national team and serves on FIFA Technical Study Groups, such as for the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Seychelles 2025.[13]