Long-serving club coach steps up to lead the seven-time European champions into a new era
Club Natacio Sabadell have appointed Enric Arnella as the new head coach of their women’s first team ahead of the 2026/27 season.
Arnella succeeds David Palma, bringing an end to one of the most successful coaching eras in women’s club water polo while maintaining a strong sense of continuity within the Sabadell project.
Rather than appointing an external coach, Sabadell have placed their trust in someone who already understands the club’s structure, culture and expectations.
Arnella has spent more than 20 years at Sabadell in a variety of roles. He developed within the club’s youth system before later working as a coach, coordinator, scout and member of the senior team’s technical staff.
His promotion is therefore not a new arrival, but the next step in a long relationship with the club.
“I don’t feel at home; I am at home,” Arnella said during his presentation.
Continuity after the David Palma era
Arnella takes over following the departure of Palma, who had led the women’s team since 2017.
During Palma’s nine seasons in charge, Sabadell won three Champions League titles, in 2019, 2023 and 2024, alongside six Spanish league championships and numerous domestic and European trophies.
Arnella was closely involved in much of that success as part of the technical staff.
During his time working around the first team, Sabadell collected two Champions League titles, two European Super Cups, six Spanish league championships, five Queen’s Cups, five Spanish Super Cups and five Catalan Cups.
That experience means he already understands the pressure attached to one of the biggest jobs in women’s water polo.
“The club will aspire to everything, and we demand that we continue aspiring to everything,” Arnella said.
A coach developed within Sabadell
Arnella’s appointment also reflects Sabadell’s belief in its own development system.
Alongside his work with the senior team, he has played an important role within the club’s academy and has helped players progress through the youth structure.
That pathway is expected to remain central to his plans for the first team. Arnella has spoken about building a side with a clear identity while continuing to create opportunities for players developed within the club.
He has also gained considerable international experience with Spain’s junior national teams.
His achievements at youth international level include World Championship gold in 2021 and European Championship titles in 2022 and 2024, as well as several silver medals at recent world competitions.
The combination of senior experience and a strong background in player development makes Arnella a logical choice for a club entering a new cycle.
A demanding challenge
Sabadell remain one of the defining teams in the history of women’s club water polo.
The Catalan club have won the Champions League seven times, placing them among the competition’s most successful teams. Their triumphs in 2023 and 2024 reinforced their position at the top of the European game.
However, the 2025/26 season proved more difficult. Sabadell reached the Champions League quarterfinals but were eliminated by eventual champions Olympiacos.
They also faced growing competition domestically, with Mataro winning the Spanish championship and Sant Andreu continuing to establish themselves among Europe’s leading sides.
That means Arnella must oversee a period of transition while ensuring Sabadell remain capable of challenging for major trophies.
The club described his appointment as a natural progression rather than a change in direction.
“We do not welcome him because he has long been part of the club, but rather celebrate that he is taking on a new responsibility and leadership role,” Sabadell said.
Arnella now inherits one of the most prestigious positions in women’s water polo. After more than two decades within the club, he will be responsible for leading Sabadell’s next generation and keeping the seven-time European champions among the sport’s elite.
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