At the age of 46, after winning the Over 45 European Championship, he left playing basketball: Rodolfo Rombaldoni, from Forlì by adoption and former captain of Basketball 2.015, becomes team manager of Raggisolaris Faenza. A few kilometers from home the partnership with coach Gigi Garelli who led Unieuro, with Rombaldoni in the field, to the promotion from Serie B in 2016 is recomposed. Both from Forlì by adoption, they find themselves on the front line in Faenza. In addition to the coach, Rombaldoni will have another point of reference on the pitch: Sebastian Vico, another protagonist of that promotion in the red and white jersey.
In the past of Rombaldoni there is the silver medal at the Athens Olympics in 2004, and then two championships with Fortitudo Bologna (200405) and with Mens Sana Siena (200607). And so on until the last promotion, with the Baskers Forlimpopoli from Serie D to C Gold, with the same shirt with which he ended his career a few months ago. It is curious that the idea of choosing Faenza came to him from Simone Pierich, another former of Basketball 2.015 (and before that, of FulgorLibertas; in both cases coached by Garelli) and an adoptive Forlì: Pierich was the team manager of Raggisolaris in the last season, and is now in Trento in A1.
“Simone mentioned my name to the management from Faenza – explains Rombaldoni -. Right from the first meeting with the managers I was struck and the impressions I had from outside have been confirmed: the Raggisolaris are a serious, ambitious and growing club, which has grown year round. after year thanks to work, programming and passion. I’m not a guy who talks a lot, but I’d like to pass the message that everyone must be an example for others, it’s the same philosophy that coach Garelli also has and I’m sure that it will be our strength “.
And the withdrawal? “I do not deny that I have a bit of melancholy in thinking that I will not play anymore, a wonderful adventure that lasted many years has ended, but I knew that sooner or later it would have to happen. I thank the Baskérs who understood my intentions”.
