Alison inspires young Brazilian hopefuls in new role at U21 Worlds in Puebla

Alison Cerutti does not need an introduction as a player. He is a living legend of the sport of beach volleyball, a Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic champion, a London 2012 Olympic silver medalist, a two-time world champion and a one-time World Championship silver medalist... Enough said. But today he is introduced in a new role as he is now part of Brazil’s coaching staff at the 2025 FIVB Beach Volleyball U21 World Championships that got underway on Wednesday in Puebla.

• Watch the 2025 FIVB U21 Beach Volleyball World Championships on the Beach Volleyball World YouTube channel

In Mexico, Brazil is represented by two men’s and two women’s pairs, who get to source inspiration from having someone like Alison among their coaches. So far, the two teams competing in the qualifiers have won all their matches and each stand a step away from advancing to the main draw. The other two a pre-seeded directly in the main draw and will start their campaigns on Thursday.

“This is a new moment for me, because after 24 years of beach volleyball, to coach these young Brazilians, my team, is something different and it makes me very happy!” 39-year-old Alison, who officially ended his professional career as an athlete just a few weeks ago, told FIVB.com on the premises of the U21 World Championships in Puebla.

At this point, Alison does not sit on the bench during the matches, but nervously observes his teams from the tribunes. His role is to coach the young Brazilian talents between their matches, while more experienced coaches instruct them during the heat of the sand battles on the court.

“It was very, very different and difficult for me. I have been on the court for a long time, but to be outside the court is different,” Alison continued. “All you can do during play is ‘come on, guys, come on, guys!’ But the feeling is incredible, because these boys and girls are the future of beach volleyball in my country and in the world.”

It was incredible that Alison’s first international match as a coach was against his long-time beach volleyball teammate Alvaro Filho, with whom he played at his last Olympic appearance at Tokyo 2020 and at his last professional tournament on USA’s AVP Tour two months ago. Alvaro Filho has also taken up a coaching role in the United States and is leading USA’s U21 men’s teams at the World Championship in Puebla. In that match of the first men’s qualification round, Brazil’s Eduardo Barbosa (Dudu) & Gabriel De Oliveira achieved a 2-0 (21-11, 21-19) victory over USA’s Jackson Herbert & Bradord Harman.

“My first match was a big challenge, because it was Brazil against USA, and Alvaro Filho is my partner and my friend,” Alison admitted.

Dudu & Gabriel (and coach Alison on the stands) had a much tougher challenge in the second qualification round, but once again emerged victorious with a narrow 2-1 (21-13, 17-21, 16-14) win over Denmark’s Villads Napier & Hjalmer Madsen to advance to the third round.

“We have a lot of confidence, because we have an Olympic champion with us. He is a player that we are inspired by, so we a very, very happy to have him with us,” Dudu told FIVB.com after that second win. “He gives us a lot of technical and tactical ideas. He is an inspiration not only as a blocker and as a player, but also as a person.”

Brazil’s women’s team in the qualifiers, Marcela Barbosa & Maria Clara, who started directly from the second round, also showed a solid performance on the court and mastered a 2-0 (21-14, 21-17) victory over Canada’s Sophie Hancock & Emma Cudmore to get to within a win from the main draw.

Completely successful so far on his first competition day as international beach volleyball coach, does Alison feel coaching is the right thing for him?

“I don’t know. It is my first tournament. I like it, so maybe I am here to stay...”

2025 FIVB Beach Volleyball U21 World Championship: schedule and results

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