23/11/2020 11:00
Vladimir Alekno to lead Iran at re-scheduled Tokyo 2020 Olympics
News from the National Federations
Luxembourg, November 23, 2020. Russian legendary coach Vladimir Alekno will be leading the men’s national team of Iran at the re-scheduled Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Alekno has a wealth of Olympic coaching experience, leading the Russian men’s national team to gold at London 2012 and a bronze medal at Beijing 2008. Under Alekno’s guidance, in 2012 Russia secured their first Olympic title since the Soviet Union had stood on top of the podium back in 1980 in Moscow.
The 53-year-old Alekno succeeds Serbian coach Igor Kolakovic at the helm of Team Iran, who vacated the position in March. Alekno will now coach the reigning Asian champions at the 2021 FIVB Nations League as well as at Tokyo 2020, postponed to the summer of 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Iran have already booked a place in the Olympic contest by winning the Asian qualifier held this past January in Jiangmen, China and they will meet hosts Japan, reigning world champions Poland, Italy, Canada and Venezuela in Pool A.
Alekno, who was born in Polotsk, Belarus, started playing Volleyball aged 10 before going on to study at a sports college in Minsk. His career as a player included stints at SKA Minsk, CSKA Moscow, Bulgaria’s Levski Sofia, Italy’s Asti and Spoleto as well as France’s Cannes and Tours, where he later coached from 1999 to 2004.
He currently coaches Russian club Zenit KAZAN – under his tenure, the team from Tatarstan claimed the elite CEV Champions League Volley title as many as five times (2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018) as well as the FIVB Club World Championship title in 2017.
Vladimir Alekno coached Russia to Olympic gold at London 2012
Iran qualified for the Olympic men’s volleyball contest for the first time at Rio 2016, with the country finishing fifth. They will aim to improve on that position at the Ariake Arena in the Japanese capital, with the men's tournament scheduled to run from July 24 to August 7, 2021.
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