The Brazilian coach is determined to guide Iran to the Paris 2024 Games – read the Volleyball World exclusive interview
Finding a good mix between young players and veterans is part of Paes’ strategy for the VNL 2024 (Photo: Iranian Volleyball Federation)
The solution to complex situations often comes from simple measures and that idea will be one of the mantras of newly-appointed Iran men’s national team head coach Mauricio Paes as he attempts to qualify the Asians for the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Announced by the Iranian Volleyball Federation at the end of February as the substitute for the departing Behrouz Ataei, who left his post last year, the 60-year-old Paes, who’s currently completing the club season with Epicentr-Podolyany in Ukraine, is set to begin the biggest challenge of his coaching career.
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With immense coaching experience in France, where he led the country’s women’s national team between 2013 and 2014, was an assistant in the men’s team in 2021 and won eight national titles in less than a decade, Paes is starting his first experience as the head coach of a men’s national team. He has, however, a lot of miles working as an assistant under some of the best in the business, such as his Brazilian compatriot Bernardo ‘Bernardinho’ Rezende and French legend Philippe Blain.
Ahead of Iran, Paes has a big challenge as he attempts to take the Asian nation to Paris 2024 for a third-straight Olympic appearance. The odds are not on their side right now, as the Asians are currently in 15th place in the FIVB World Rankings and have seven other national teams that are still vying for an Olympic spot ahead of them.
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In order to be among the national teams qualified for Paris, the Iranians will need to pass at least four of them and they only have their 12 Volleyball Nations League 2024 Preliminary Round matches to earn the points they need to do it.
The clock is ticking on Iran and just over a month before the start of their preparations for what are expected to be intense two months, we got some insight from Paes in regard to his plans in an exclusive Volleyball World interview.
Volleyball World: You’re set to have your first experience coaching a men’s national team with Iran. What motivated you to take this challenge? Do you believe your previous coaching experiences have prepared you for it?
Paes: I…
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