site.btaVolleyball Federation Presents New National Team Head Coach, Four Players Won't Play for Bulgaria

The new head coach of Bulgaria's men's volleyball team, Gianlorenzo "Chicco" Blengini was officially presented by the Federation at a news conference here on Thursday. Blengini elaborated on the project he has taken up, on his work and coaching philosophy and on his dreams.

"I had a choice to carry on at a major club like [Italy's] Lube Civitanova, and also had other options, too, but I opted for Bulgaria," the coach said, opening his statement. "The dream is to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. I have left a place on my body to have the Olympic symbol tattooed there as a celebration of this success," he quipped.

Federation President Lubomir Ganev confirmed that the Los Angelis Olympics is the major objective. "Bulgaria will be among the hosts of the 2026 European Championships. Continental champions automatically earn an Olympic berth. A year later, a World Championship will take place in Poland, and quotas can also be won from the Nations League," he added.

Ganev also provided details about the Italian's contract. "The contract is for three plus two years, and the first part expires in 2026. The contract will be renewed automatically if two of the three targets set to the team are met: ranking in the top eight at the Nations League, ranking in the top eight at the World Champions, and ranking in the top six at the European Championship which we host." 

Blengini presented his assistants: fellow Italian Francesco Cadeddu and former national team members and current coaches Daniel Milushev and Hristo Tsvetanov.

Four athletes have declined the new head coach's invitation to join the national team. The Italian would rather not name them, but Ganev said there is no problem saying who they are: Georgi Seganov, Rozalin Penchev, Vladi Stankov and Branimir Grozdanov. "They have submitted a refusal in writing, too, so as to avoid misunderstanding that they didn't get it or didn't get invited. These people will not work with the Bulgarian team over the next five years," the Federation's President said.

Setter Seganov plays for Turkish club Alanya Belediyespor and has been part of the national team since 2014. Outside hitters Penchev and Grozdanov play for Bulgarian club Neftohimik Burgas and won silver medals with the national team at the European Games in Baku in 2015. Setter Stankov plays for CSKA Sofia.

Blengini admitted that he was surprised by their decision but was adamant that everybody have the right to make their own choice and he will not count on these players.