New volleyball coach Piazza aiming at ‘world’s top eight’ with Iran
Roberto Piazza, the newly-appointed head coach of Iran’s national volleyball team, says his ultimate goal at the job is to restore the Asian powerhouse to the top eight in the FIVB World Ranking.
Former coach of the Netherlands and now in charge of top-flight side Powervolley Milano in his home country, the 56-year-old Italian signed a four-year contract with the Iranian Volleyball Federation earlier this month, replacing Brazilian Mauricio Paes.
Paes was sacked midway through June’s Volleyball Nations League after only seven games in charge, with his number two Payman Akbari serving as the interim coach for the remainder of the campaign as Iran finished second from bottom in the 16-team table of the preliminary round.
“I’m so excited to be taking on this new role. This is the position I wanted for a long time,” the Italian said in a first interview since his appointment.
“A constant place among the top eight teams in the world in not just a dream for us, but our primary objective, and we will have to remain committed to that goal,” added Piazza, who is set to start in the new role ahead of next June’s Volleyball Nations League.
“My dream for the Iranian volleyball is to achieve its goal of succeeding at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.”
Sitting 15th in the latest World Ranking, Iran spent the best part of the 2023 season in the top 10, with the previous stint in the top eight coming during the 2022 World Championship, where then-coach Behrouz Ataei’s men made it to the last 16 before being knocked out by Brazil.
Asked about his approach to preparation for next year’s two major tournaments before he officially begins his work, Piazza said: “I’m in constant communication with my assistant Tomaso Totolo and some of Iranian analysts. We’re keeping a close eye on all players in the [domestic] league and overseas.”
“Some of them are playing in Italy, some in Poland, and there are also others in France. We’re going to assess their progress in all aspects of their game, not just their attacking or defensive play. We’re also keeping tabs on their physical condition and will be in touch with their fitness coaches to figure out how to bring the best out of the players for [next year’s] Nations League and World Championship.”
Iran is drawn against host nation Philippines, Egypt, and Tunisia in Pool A of the World Championship – starting September 12 next year.
Piazza said he was delighted to see Iran is in the same group as the Philippines, rather than seven top-ranked sides in the first pot of the draw, insisting his team will have to “win the pool first and then start thinking about the rest of the way.”
Iran will be looking for a fresh start under the Italian, following a dire run of results over the past 16 months – during which the Asian team had dreadful campaigns in back-to-back Nations League events and failed to qualify for the Paris Olympics, while being outclassed by Japan on home soil in last year’s Asian Championship final.
Piazza was pleased with the quick progress of the negotiations he had with Milad Taqavi, the head of the national governing body of the sport, saying: “He and I agreed on the deal as soon as he learned about my plans and targets. I want to be in the next Olympics with Iran, and the players, the federation, and I will have to fight to that end.”