Andrea Fondelli has announced his retirement from water polo at the age of 32, bringing an end to a highly successful playing career with Pro Recco and the Italian national team.
Fondelli will remain with the Italian champions, taking on a new position as Head of the Youth Sector and Academy Project.
Born and raised in Recco, Fondelli began his career with Camogli before joining Pro Recco in 2011. He spent 11 seasons representing the club across three separate spells, while also playing on loan for Sport Management between 2017 and 2019 and Savona from 2020 to 2022.
During his time with Pro Recco, the Italian defender won 10 Serie A1 titles, eight Italian Cups, three Champions League trophies, three European Super Cups, one Euro Cup and one Adriatic League title.
Fondelli also made more than 200 appearances for Italy and was part of several successful national teams. He won Olympic bronze at Rio 2016, silver medals at the 2022 and 2024 World Championships, European Championship bronze in 2014 and 2024, World League gold in 2022 and World Cup silver in 2023.
His decision to retire followed a serious health issue that required surgery in March 2025, shortly after Pro Recco’s Italian Cup victory in Naples.
Fondelli explained that the experience forced him to consider the possibility that he might not be able to continue playing. Although his recovery was successful, discussions with Pro Recco later led to an agreement for him to begin working with the club’s younger players.
His retirement is the latest significant change to Pro Recco’s squad ahead of the new season.
Second goalkeeper Tommaso Negri has also ended his playing career and will remain at the club in a management role. Francesco Di Fulvio has joined Barceloneta, while Luke Pavillard is expected to move to Mladost and apply for Croatian citizenship.
Lorenzo Demarchi is also leaving, alongside Pro Recco’s Slovakian centre-forward, who has been linked with a move to Jadran Herceg Novi.
The Italian champions have responded by bringing Marko Bijač back from Jadran Split and Gergő Zalánki from Olympiacos. Tommaso Gianazza has joined from Brescia, Mattia Di Corato has arrived from Roma Vis Nova and Alessandro Carnesecchi has signed from Ortigia.
Gianazza and Carnesecchi are currently representing Italy at the World Cup Final Eight in Australia.
Read more about confirmed water polo transfers
Read more water polo transfer rumours and gossip
Follow Waterpolo 360 on Facebook, Instagram and X