Gheorghe Cretu was named as the new head coach of the Serbian men’s national volleyball team to take over from Igor Kolakovic. The 56-year-old Romanian is set to lead Serbia in their Volleyball Nations League 2025 campaign, as well as at September’s FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship 2025 to be held in Manila, the capital of the Philippines. Serbia are currently number 10 in the FIVB World Ranking.
“First of all, it is a great honour for me to be the coach of the Serbian national team! Being a coach in such a sports country as Serbia is really very special for me, but I would say it would also be special for every coach in the world,” Cretu told the Volleyball Federation of Serbia. “I know the players very well. At this level, we are all familiar with the details of each team. If my memory serves me correctly, in the last two years I played four times against Serbia (as the coach of Slovenia). I admit I know the younger volleyballers less well, but I will do my best to get to know them better. My plan is to include some new players in the team, in certain positions, and gradually integrate them into the squad. Together with the more experienced players we will find the right way. I know this is a big challenge, but that's exactly why I accepted it!”
