Croatian volleyball powerhouse HAOK Mladost has appointed a new head coach for its women’s team for the upcoming season. Italian coach Riccardo Boieri (37) will take over the helm of Croatia’s most successful volleyball club. Boieri joins Mladost after six years with SC Potsdam in Germany.
During his tenure at Potsdam, Boieri initially worked as an assistant coach before being promoted to head coach in the 2023/24 season following the departure of Guillermo Naranjo Hernández. Alongside his club commitments, Boieri was an assistant coach for the Romanian women’s national team, worked once again with Hernández. He has also previously served as a scout and statistician for the Greek and German national teams, as well as assistant coach and statistician for clubs in Switzerland (Sm’Aesch Pfeffingen) and Italy (Novara).
A International Addition to Mladost
HAOK Mladost’s sports director, Darko Antunović, emphasized that Boieri’s arrival is a international boost for the club. The coaching staff will retain Darko and Željko Nojić, ensuring continuity in their system.
After winning the MEVZA League and securing a spot in the Croatian Cup final, Mladost is aiming to further elevate its level of play—both in domestic competitions and in the European club competitions.
Boieri’s Vision for Mladost
In his first statement as Mladost’s head coach, Boieri expressed excitement about joining the Zagreb-based club. He admitted it was not an easy decision to leave Potsdam but was drawn to Mladost’s long-term vision and stability.
His main goal is to strengthen Mladost’s presence on the European stage, whether in the Champions League or CEV Cup, while also maintaining a strong national identity by developing local talent whenever possible.
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