VNL 2023

Guidetti no longer at helm of Türkiye

Published 03:55, 20 Nov 2022

Giovanni Guidetti will no longer head coach the women’s national team of Türkiye. The Turkish federation and the Italian specialist held a meeting and the two sides agreed to part ways.

Guidetti has been at the helm of the Filenin Sultanlari since 2017, after previously head coaching the national teams of Bulgaria, Germany and the Netherlands. During his tenure, he led the Turkish team to two Volleyball Nations League medals and fourth places at the other two editions of the VNL. Under Guidetti, they achieved a fifth place at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and three CEV European Championship podiums.

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A post shared by Türkiye Voleybol Federasyonu (@tvforgtr)

At the most recent edition of the FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship in the Netherlands and Poland this fall, Türkiye topped their pool of the first phase of the tournament, finished third in their pool of the second phase and then lost to the United States in the quarterfinals to place eighth in the final standings.

“We did this together... Together, we moved Türkiye from number 15 to number 7 in the world rankings. I wanted to respond to all the positive emotions this country gave me by trying to do my best on the court.” Giovanni Guidetti

In parallel, 50-year-old Guidetti has been one of the world’s most successful coaches in women’s club volleyball. He has been leading VakifBank Istanbul since 2008 and has steered the Turkish powerhouse to four FIVB Volleyball Club World Championship titles, among numerous other achievements. The Italian coach will lead VakifBank at the upcoming 2022 edition of the women’s Club Worlds in Antalya from December 14 through 18 as well.

Last season he took @VakifBankSK 🇹🇷 back to the top of the world and Europe. Women's Team Coach of the Year: @Gio1315 👏🏼#CEV #EuropeanVolleyball #CEVGala pic.twitter.com/MqqpuzfP9x
— European Volleyball (@CEVolleyball) September 17, 2022

“Türkiye has given me the most precious things I have. I met my wife in this country. My daughter was born in this country. This country has given me a career on the court and a very happy life off the court,” Guidetti posted. “From now on, I will proudly follow the Sultans of the Net as a good fan. I know that the strong women of this country will always do their best. Thank you all.

“I would like to thank all the athletes with whom we worked together for five years, all the professionals who worked for the national team, the valuable managers of the volleyball federation, the fans who came to our matches and the members of the press who followed us...”