Anastasi Top Candidate for Iran Volleyball Job
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Head of Iran’s Volleyball Federation Mohammad Reza Davarzani announced that Andrea Anastasi will most likely be appointed as coach of the Iranian team.
Julio Velasco stepped down as coach of Iran volleyball team after Argentine President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner asked him to take the helm of the team.
Afterwards, the Iranian officials negotiated with some famous coaches, namely Andrea Anastasi, Lorenzo Bernardi, former US coach Hugh McCutcheon, and former Russia coach Vladimir Alekno.
Iran reached the initial agreements with Italian Lorenzo Bernardi and Argentine Raul Lozano but the contracts have not been finalized yet.
Anastasi had already said he cannot take charge of Iran volleyball team since he is under contract with Poland but it seems he has terminated his deal with them.
“We’ve also negotiated with Anastasi to take the job until the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. However we’ve not reached an agreement about the financial issues and his four assistants,” Davarzani said.
“At the moment, we are in a good position and so many coaches dream of being Iran coach. We try to reach an agreement in principle with Anastasi. If we cannot finalize the deal with him, we will resume negotiations with Luzano and Bernardi,” he added.
Anastasi led Poland to the 2012 FIVB Volleyball World League title. He had already finished in third place in 2011 FIVB Volleyball World League. Poland also became runner-up in the 2011 FIVB World Cup under guidance of the 54-year-old coach.