He then played at Serie B level for two seasons with Vicenza, and then back to top flight football with Atalanta and Chievo.

[1] He then signed a one-year contract with Serie B side Padova on 4 July 2011, and ended his career in 2013 after a lone season with Lega Pro Prima Divisione club Lumezzane.

In June 2014 he was named new head coach of Lega Pro club Real Vicenza, being however sacked later in January 2015 and then re-appointed in February to complete the season in seventh place.

He successively served as head coach of Pavia from August to December 2015, and then took over at Santarcangelo for the club's full 2016–17 Lega Pro campaign.

[9] On 15 December 2022, Marcolini was hired as the new head coach of the Malta national football team, succeeding Devis Mangia to the role, agreeing a contract until the end of 2024.