Son of a legend, Dani Tanev privileged to learn from the best

The FIVB Volleyball Boys’ U17 World Championship did not start well for the home team, as Bulgaria lost their opening match to Spain. But then head coach Teodor Bogdanov and his staff made some changes to their main line-up and the team got on the winning track, completing the pool stage with victories over Chinese Taipei and Mexico.

One of those important changes was Daniel Tanev. The young outside hitter did not play in the first match against Spain, but made the best of the opportunity to be among the starters for the next two games and played a major role in the team’s success.

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“I think my contribution was quite positive, but it was mainly the result of improved teamwork. We all chipped in for these two wins, not just I. Of course, we have to thank the coaching staff as well,” the 16-year-old athlete told the FIVB.

What might have served as an additional motivation for Tanev on the court was the support he received from his family on the stands, and especially the inspiration he got from his mother, one of Bulgaria’s greatest volleyball legends Antonina Zetova. For some kids, following in the steps of such a distinguished and accomplished parent could prove to be a burdensome responsibility, but not for Daniel. He finds it motivating even when he has to perform right in front of his mom in the audience.

“It doesn’t bother me at all,” he said. “Quite the opposite, it has a positive effect on me, because this way I always have my mind set for the best possible performance in order to show my abilities in the best possible way.”

Zetova has earned plenty of accolades in her impressive career as a player, including a number of national championship and cup titles in Bulgaria, Italy and Türkiye, and four continental club trophies in Europe, most importantly the CEV Champions League crown in 2006 with Italy’s Colussi Sirio Perugia. She was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2001 CEV European Championship after powering the Bulgarian team to the bronze medals.

Zetova has already excelled in her career as a volleyball coach as well. In 2017, she guided Bulgaria to an FIVB Volleyball Women's U23 World Championship bronze, and just last month, she led her team to the 2024 CEV U18 European Championship crown, Bulgaria’s first ever age-group continental title in women’s volleyball.

Daniel takes the fact that he is the son of a real volleyball legend quite wisely.

“I think it is a great plus, because I can receive helpful advice about my game, and I can always ask a person who has played at a very high level about her experience,” the 2.05m-tall volleyballer said.

The situation seems a bit harder from the mom’s point of view.

“If we compare which one is the most difficult - being a player, being a coach, or being the mother of a kid competing on the court – maybe the latter is the toughest, because you watch from outside, you worry, and at the same time you want to help in many ways, but you just have to hope that he plays well,” Zetova told the FIVB.

“I think he played very well yesterday (against Chinese Taipei). Today (against Mexico), I think the whole team was a little drained from yesterday’s victory, which was very charged emotionally, and I know this can be exhausting,” she added. “Every team has come here to make the most of this opportunity. These are young kids without much experience, but this is exactly what this World Championship was created for – an opportunity for them to play more matches and gain international experience, which is a great thing!”

Initially, Daniel started practicing basketball, following in the footsteps of his father, but then he switched to his mom’s sport. His 11-year-old sister Elitsa also practices volleyball.

“Naturally, my mother signed me up for it at CSKA Sofia, but I liked it a lot and I’ve been playing volleyball ever since. What I did not like about basketball was that, unlike volleyball, it is a contact sport. So I like volleyball a lot better,” said Dani.

Interestingly, while Toni Zetova’s career as a player and a coach has been closely associated with Bulgarian powerhouse CSKA, her son is now a player of the country’s other sports stronghold, Levski Sofia. For many decades, Levski and CSKA have been household names in Bulgarian sports and their bitter rivalry across many sports disciplines has become proverbial in the country’s social life. However, the family is keeping a completely professional attitude and no jokes or bickering about club associations occur at home.

“It’s simple. Levski has the best conditions and the best coaches and that’s what made me move there,” Dani explained the situation.

“We should not have these club divisions separate us,” his mom noted philosophically. “We are one volleyball nation, one volleyball society with all clubs participating, and we have to respect each other despite the fact that we may be opponents on the court.”

Dani Tanev’s mom, dad and sister have been supporting him from the stands at the Levski Sofia competition hall, where Bulgaria’s matches at the U17 World Championship have been taking place, which makes him feel even more at home here.

“I think the support from the audience helps us a lot. The fact that we are playing at our home hall has a positive impact, in general,” he said.

On Tuesday, the home team has an important eighthfinal encounter with Argentina, a match that will decide whether the team will continue in the top or the bottom half of the playoff bracket.

“We have tough matches ahead. We have to stay together and play very well. If we do that, we have a very good chance to keep winning,” commented the talented Bulgarian hopeful.

So what is the most important lesson he learned from his mother?

“To simply give my all on the court and always play my best.”

FIVB Volleyball Boys’ U17 World Championship: schedule and results

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