Tillie to coach Japan ahead of the LA 2028 Games

After three years away from the sidelines at the international level, French head coach Laurent Tillie is set to return to action as the 60-year-old was announced as the new leader of the Japanese men’s national team.

Tillie, who’s currently coaching in the country, with men’s Daido Life SV.League leaders Osaka Bluteon, will replace his compatriot Philippe Blain, who stepped down after the Japanese ended their participation at the Paris Olympics in seventh place.

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A former player who represented France at the Seoul 1988 and Barcelona 1992 Olympics, Tillie coached the French to their victory at the Tokyo Games, in 2021, the last of his ten seasons in charge of the team. Previously, he had coached Czechia between 2005 and 2006.

“I am very honored and committed to the project and ambitions of the Japanese Volleyball Association,” Tillie said following the announcement. “It is a big challenge and it will not be easy, but with the support of excellent and experienced players, staff and managers, a bright future awaits. I believe we can do it. I will trust in the power, strength and experience of the Japan National Team, their values ​​and qualities, and will also incorporate my own unique values ​​and experience in international competitions and the Olympics.”

The coach, who also has experience at the club level, having led men’s and women’s teams in his home country, will take Japan in sixth place in the FIVB World Rankings and his main goal will be to qualify the team for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics and fight for a medal there.

VNL and World Championship in 2025

Tillie will start working with the national team after he completes the club season with Osaka and will have the Volleyball Nations League and FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship as the most important tournaments in the 2025 calendar.

The coach will have one of the most talented generations of Japanese players to work with, having outside hitters Yuki Ishikawa and Ran Takahashi, setter Masahiro Sekita and libero Tomohiro Yamamoto as key players. Star opposite Yuji Nishida, who’s coached by Tillie at Osaka, decided to take some time off the national team after the Paris Games, but left the door open for a potential return.

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