Iran’s national volleyball team is on the brink of missing out on the 2024 Olympic Games, marking a challenging period for the volleyball in the country.
Following a series of setbacks, coach Behrouz Ataei has stepped down from his role with the team. The Federation is now in a race against time to find his successor in hopes of rejuvenating the team’s chances for Paris.
Reports from Iran suggest several prominent names in the global volleyball community, including Vital Heynen, Stephane Antiga, Gianlorenzo Blengini, Andrea Anastasi, and Renan Dal Zotto, are being considered for the role.
While Ataei had previously led the team to glory, winning gold at both the 2021 Asian Championship and the 2022 Asian Games and securing a silver in the 2023 Asian Championship, the recent performance in the 2024 Olympic qualifiers has been less than stellar. Iran managed only one win from seven matches.
The road to the 2024 Olympics appears grim for Iran. As the search for a new coach begins, hopes now hinge not only on a last-minute ticket to Paris but also on building a formidable team for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
