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]

Angelo Schirinzi
Angelo Schirinzi
Schirinzi in 2013
Born (1972-11-05) 5 November 1972 (age 53)
Basel, Switzerland
OccupationsBeach soccer player and coach
Years active2001–present
EmployerSwiss Beach Soccer GmbH (partner)
Known forDeveloping beach soccer in Switzerland; coaching Switzerland and Tahiti national teams; FIFA beach soccer instructor
TitleHead coach, Switzerland national beach soccer team
Military career
AllegianceFrench Polynesia
Rank
Knight
AwardsOrder of Tahiti Nui (Knight, 2013)

Schirinzi has been a FIFA Expert since 2008 and has supervised more than 35 seminars in the last years.[4]

Biography

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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]

Coaching career

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Switzerland national team

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Schirinzi has been the long-time head coach (and formerly player-coach) of the Switzerland national beach soccer team, leading them in multiple FIFA Beach Soccer World Cups (as player-coach in 2009 and 2011, player in 2015, coach in 2017 and beyond).[14] During his tenure, Switzerland achieved notable successes, including runner-up at the 2009 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Dubai (their debut), European Beach Soccer League titles (e.g., 2012 champions, and 2022 European champions after a 10-year wait), and a bronze medal at the 2021 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Russia.[15]

Tahiti national team

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From 2012 to 2015, Schirinzi coached the Tahiti national team (known as Tiki Toa), guiding them to a surprise fourth place as hosts at the 2013 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup.[5] He has continued involvement with Tahiti as a technical advisor/consultant in later years, including during the 2024 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup qualifiers and events.[16]

Club coaching

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Schirinzi has coached Russian club BSC Kristall, winning multiple titles including the Russian Championship (several times), Nazare Cup, Euro Winners Cup (beach soccer "Champions League"), and Intercup.[17]

Awards

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Awards with other teams than Swiss national team

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References

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  1. "Amateure – aber auf höchstem Niveau". nfz.ch.
  2. "Schirinzi: Ein Leben für den Beach Soccer".
  3. "Equipe de Suisse de Beach Soccer - Angelo Schirinzi : " J'aime ce sport "". Number5. 14 September 2012. Archived from the original on 4 October 2013.
  4. 1 2 "Angelo Schirinzi". Swiss Beach Soccer. Archived from the original on 14 July 2013.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "Angelo Schirinzi, le coach des Tiki Toa refait le match" (in French). Tahiti Infos. 4 October 2013. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
  6. 1 2 "Who is Angelo Schirinzi?". OFC. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016.
  7. "LISTE DES TITULAIRES". 21 July 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
  8. "L'Ordre de Tahiti Nui pour les Tiki Toa" (in French). Tahiti Infos. 4 October 2013. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
  9. "The coaching guru who inspired Tahiti to Beach Soccer success". Oceania Football Confederation. 24 August 2023.
  10. "Angelo Schirinzi conducts coaching course in Fiji". Beach Soccer Worldwide. 28 April 2022.
  11. "Schirinzi: A life dedicated to beach soccer". FIFA. 14 June 2021.
  12. "Schirinzi: A life dedicated to beach soccer". FIFA. 14 June 2021.
  13. "Set for Seychelles: FIFA TSG land for Beach Soccer World Cup 2025". FIFA Training Centre. 24 April 2025.
  14. "Schirinzi: A life dedicated to beach soccer". FIFA. 14 June 2021.
  15. "Switzerland win first European title in 10 years". Beach Soccer Worldwide. 11 September 2022.
  16. "Interview". YouTube. YouTube / OFC. February 2024.
  17. Existing awards section below