Renan Dal Zotto is the new head coach of Brazil's men's team
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, January 12, 2017 – Olympic champions Brazil have appointed Renan Dal Zotto as their new coach after previous incumbent Bernardo Rezende stepped down following success at the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games.
The Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games silver medallist has agreed a deal that will take him through to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
“Before accepting the invitation, I spoke to Bernardo, who is a great professional and a great friend,” Dal Zotto said. “Volleyball has developed greatly in the last two decades and we have to stay on that route. We will try to stay at the forefront of the sport with great professionals working in a highly professional structure.
“I’m very proud to have the trust of the CBV President. I have been involved in volleyball for 40 years, first as a player in the national team on 13 occasions and in 2001 when Bernardo asked me to help his transition from the women’s to men’s teams.”
Dal Zotto was born in Sao Leopoldo on July 19, 1960 and played for Brazil’s national teams from the age of 16 to 29. He played in three Olympic Games and three FIVB Volleyball World Championships.
He began coaching in 1993 and after a number of years leading teams in Brazil, he helped Italian side Treviso to the 2008 Italian Super Cup.
Dal Zotto began coaching for the CBV in 2013 and was director of selection from 2015 to the end of the Rio 2016 Olympics.
He has big shoes to follow in the form of Rezende, who coached the team to gold at Athens 2004 and Rio 2016, the 2002, 2006 and 2010 World Championships and eight FIVB World League titles.
“The federation president wanted someone to continue Bernard's work and he also had to be respected in the volleyball world, which Renan is,” CEV Director of Coaching Radames Lattari said. “He spoke to Bernardo and received his full support.”
Brazil men's team celebrate winning gold at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games