Marouf in contention as Iran names 4+2 shortlist for volleyball team job
Former Iranian captain and world-class setter Saeed Marouf is a surprise candidate for the national team job after the Iranian Volleyball Federation unveiled a list of six coaches on Monday.
The position has been vacant since Behrouz Ataei stepped down from his role in the aftermath of a 3-1 defeat against the Czech Republic midway through the FIVB Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Rio de Janeiro.
Iran finished second from bottom in the eight-team table of Pool A, failing to secure direct qualification for next year’s Paris Olympics, though the Asian powerhouse will have a second chance to seal a quota through the FIVB Men’s World Ranking by the end of the preliminary phase of 2024 Volleyball Nations League.
“I spoke with Saeed last week and asked him to help the national team,” Mohammadreza Davarzani, the chairman of the federation, said after Monday’s Technical Committee meeting, adding: “He said he has no intention of resuming his international career after his retirement in 2021, suggesting we stick with the rebuild project within the squad, but he would be thrilled to help the team in other capacities.”
Marouf played an integral role during the so-called ‘golden era’ of the Iranian volleyball, leading the national team to double Asian Championships trophies as well as the gold medal at the Asian Games in 2014 and 2018.
He was also a part of the team during the impressive campaigns at the 2014 World League, in which Iran finished fourth, and the Volleyball Nations League in 2019, when Iran made it to the Final Six in Chicago.
Also on the list is Russian Vladimir Alekno, who steered his country to a famous five-set victory over Brazil in the London 2012 final but has been without a team since parting ways with Iran after the Tokyo Olympics, as well as.
Gianlorenzo Blengini is believed to be Davarzani’s favorite candidate, but Iran still faces a tough task in securing the 51-year-old Italian’s services as he is under contract with Volley Lube club in his home country.
Blengini’s fellow Italian Roberto Piazza, the Netherlands’ coach in the Olympic qualifiers, is also in the list but, like his compatriot, is committed to club duty with Allianz Milano in the Italian league.
Payman Akbari is the other Iranian shortlisted, though few would fancy the 46-year-old – a decorated coach in domestic and continental club competitions – to be eventually handed the job.
High-profile Belgian Vital Heynen is probably the most exciting name in the list for many Iranian fans.
Heynen, 54, led Germany to the bronze medal at the 2014 World Championships before his storied three-year spell on Poland’s bench inspired the volleyball heavyweight to the world title in 2018, as well as a silver and a bronze at the Volleyball Nations League.
The Iranians, however, would best remember the Belgian for coaching Poland in some thrilling matches against Iran over the years – including a five-setter won by Alekno’s men in Tokyo.
With Germany, Brazil, Poland, Canada, USA, and Japan having already joined host France, and Egypt likely to take the African slot for the Olympics, only four quotas remain up for grabs.
As it stands in the FIVB ranking, third-placed Italy, Argentina (sixth), Slovenia (seventh), and Serbia (ninth) are the favorites to book a ticket for the French capital, with Iran lagging behind in the 15th place.
Davarzani, however, insisted that the new head coach, whoever that might be, will have to devise “a five-year strategy with the ultimate goal being a podium finish at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.”