VNL 2022

Mendez continues role with Argentinean men's team

The coach and the country’s federation agree on a contract extension for the Tokyo bronze medallist

Published 11:00, 15 Mar 2022

Mendez became the Argentinean national team head coach in 2018

Head coach Marcelo Mendez, who led the Argentinean men's volleyball team to bronze at last year’s Tokyo Olympics, will remain in charge at least until the Paris 2024 Games.

An extension to the coach’s contract was agreed this week and will keep the 58-year-old Mendez in the position he has occupied since 2018, when he replaced Julio Velasco at the helm.

“Working with the national team has always been and will always be a dream,” he said. “We just completed a successful cycle with an Olympic medal and saw some young players develop and help us. Perhaps my biggest motivation to remain with the team is the possibility of continuing to facilitate their growth.”

Mendez and his assistants celebrate a victory in Tokyo

The bronze medal earned in Tokyo was certainly the coach's biggest achievement with the team. It was also the best result for Argentinean volleyball in over 35 years. With Mendez in charge, the team have also won gold medals at the 2018 South American Games and Pan American Cup and the 2019 Pan American Games.

Mendez will be reunited with his players next month, when they will start their preparation for the 2022 international season including the Volleyball Nations League and the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship.

“The Olympic dream remains a priority for us,” Mendez added. “We know it will be a challenge to qualify, but we’ll do everything we can to make it happen. We have an Olympic legacy that the players who were in Tokyo will have to transmit to the newcomers, so we can continue to be a good team. We need that fighting spirit we showed in Tokyo to always be present with the team.”

Mendez and the players pose at the Olympic podium in Tokyo

Mendez, who currently coaches Asseco Resovia Rzeszow in Poland, is also extremely successful at the club level. He coached Brazil’s Sada Cruzeiro Volei between 2009 and 2021 and guided the team to win six Brazilian Superliga titles, seven South American Men's Club Championships and three FIVB Volleyball Men’s Club World Championships.

Quick links:
FIVB Volleyball Nations League 2022
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