Zanini to coach Belgian Red Dragons

Emanuele Zanini has been announced as the new head coach of the Red Dragons, the men's national team of Belgium, and will succeed Spaniard Fernando Muñoz. The Italian currently leads Consar RCM Ravenna in the SuperLega Credem Banca.

"The appointment of Zanini should bring innovation to the team and is fully in line with the further development of our talented youngsters towards the national team," said Volley Vlaanderen chairman Jean-Paul De Buysscher. "As national coach of Turkey, Slovakia and Croatia, he always achieved an increase in the world ranking. We also expect his approach to give the Red Dragons a new boost, with qualification for the European Championship and a rise in the world rankings being the first goals. We are currently 26th in the world ranking."

"I am delighted and proud to have the opportunity to work with this team," said Zanini. "This is my fifth national team and I would like to use all my experience to move the Red Dragons up. Because of the system of points, we have to win every set, every match. That is the mindset I want us to start with. Our first goal will be the qualification for the Final Four of the European Golden League. After that, the qualification tournament for the European Championship will follow and we want to be at our strongest there too. I hope to travel to Belgium in April to start this new adventure."

Zanini retired as coach of the Croatian national team in 2021. After an absence of eight years from the European Championship, Zanini and Croatia qualified for the event and progressed to the second round. In 2011, Zanini won the European League with Slovakia.

As assistant to Andrea Anastasi, he also had successes with the Italian national team. They were European champions in 1999 and won bronze at the Olympic Games in Sydney. Zanini is currently head coach of Consar RCM Ravenna in Italy's SuperLega Credem Banca.

The European Golden League will be the first official tournament where Zanini will head the Red Dragons. The first match will see Belgium take on Latvia on May 25.