It is the end of a month-long negotiation and, above all, a real masterstroke. Bernardo Rocha de Rezende, better known as Bernardinho, is the new coach of the French volleyball team. The Federation confirmed this on Monday in a press release. Even if the contract is for one year renewable, he will be in office at least until the Paris Games in-2024 in Paris. With the goal of conquering the most precious of metals. He will succeed the current coach Laurent Tillie who decided to hand over after the Tokyo Olympics this summer, after 9 years at the head of the Blues.
“Laurent Tillie did a wonderful job, he brought volleyball out of the rut to take it to the highest level with two World leagues (2015 and 2017) and a European Championship (2015), says Eric Tanguy, president of the Federation. Rezende to take the upper step. He has the best track record in the world. He is the ideal coach to go for the gold medal. “
Currently coach of the women’s club of Rio de Janeiro, the former Brazilian passer, as a player, won the silver medal at the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984 and a world coronation in 1982. His coaching CV is even more impressive. At the head of the Seleção he won everything: 2 titles at the Olympic Games (2002 and 2016), 3 World Championships (2002, 2006 and 2010), 2 World Cups (2002 and 2007) and 8 World Leagues.
Despite the fifteen applications that the Federation received – “mostly foreign coaches”, assures Tanguy – that of Rezende quickly stood out. Beyond his extraordinary, unique record, he has the particularity of having coached Brazil during the Games… in Brazil, in Rio in 2016. “This is a decisive, primordial datum, assures the president of the FFVB . In this kind of competition there is additional pressure, knowing it and winning the gold medal despite everything is very important for us. Our goal is to get the gold medal in Paris in 2024. When you have a great team and they are coached by the best coach in the world, you can only go for gold. “
The 61-year-old Brazilian will soon come to settle in the south of France, near the National Volleyball Training Center, and take French lessons to express himself in the language of Molière. “He’s already starting to speak,” says Tanguy.
“This French team has the potential and I would like to highlight the admirable work that Laurent Tillie has done with his players for nine years,” said Bernardinho in the press release. I want to continue this work, push the limits and the capacities of each one, to continue to make them grow as athletes and human beings. “
Newsletter The essentials of the morning
A tour of the news to start the day
—
Bruno Rezende’s father – also international Auriverde and one of Neymar’s best friends – has not yet determined the staff who will accompany him in this new adventure. Discussions are ongoing. But his compatriot Mauricio Motta Paes, who was his assistant in the selection, and who currently coaches Tourcoing after being crowned champion of France with Paris and Tours and of Japan with Panasonic Panthers of Osaka, could join him in the blue jersey.
The Brazilian will take office at the end of the Tokyo Olympics and will be at work very quickly with the European Championship from September 1 to 19 (co-organized by Poland, the Czech Republic, Finland and Estonia).
–
