January 14th, 2012

Alekno explains his decision:

Can you tell us how this decision was made?

In our volleyball silver is considered a failure. In the club and the national team. Now try to imagine the feeling of being in charge of two teams that are just waiting for the victories. It’s a constant stress! Constant state of a person living with no margin for error. Inevitably, there comes a day when you realize that you can not go on living like this.

This understanding came on a particular day?

I do not remember that day. After the Olympics, the guys from the team went away on a vacation, and I had four days to begin my work at the club.

So you did not actually have any rest? Is it right to decide under the influence of chronic fatigue?

When was I supposed to make my decision? To be “not tired,” I did not have a chance. I was five years in the national team.

You leave behind a difficult legacy. The victory at the Olympics, which was waited for 32 years, you have to be very brave to raise your glove.

I give way to others, giving them the opportunity to achieve great victories and do not think my legacy is heavy. I bring a team that knows how to win. These guys know the taste of big wins, and it is a lot. My follower will offer his vision to build a game.

Did you achieve everything you wanted to win by winning on the Olympics?

I haven’t. There is much more I would like to win.

If you ever get called back to the national team, is there a chance that your answer would be “yes”?

It’s pointless to speak about it now. I have no answer. We’ll see and it will take time.

(source: volley.ru)

January 4th, 2012

We are SHOCKED! We really thought he would stay and lead the men’s team to to defend their Olympic crown at the 2016 Rio Games in Brazil but we guessed it wrong. Vladimir Alekno has officially turned down the offer and the $$$ to continue as the coach.

Alekno’s statement:

“I decided to leave the team for health reasons. I don’t want to experience more stress.”

Rumor has it that he is suffering from heart problems.

Alekno will continue to coach one of Russia’s top club team, Zenit Kazan.

As of press time, the Russian Federation is taking applications to fill in Alekno’s position. It won’t be an easy task but we hope they find the right candidate to coach the Olympic and 2011 World Cup Champions.

November 15th, 2012

He should! He should! He should!

If not for him, Russia wouldn’t have won the 2011 World League, 2011 World Cup and of course the 2012 London Olympics. He has put so much time and effort to create a very powerful and strong Russian squad.

Coach Alekno has also molded a few of today’s world class superstars like the scoring machine Maxim Mikhaylov, Brazil’s gold medal nightmare Dmitriy Muserskiy, the hot and reliable Yuri Berezhko and the tall and blocking monster Alexander Volkov.

The Russian Federation has given Coach Alekno time to think about his decision if he’d RENEW his coaching contract for the next 4 years up to the 2016 Olympics or to leave his post and call it a day.

“We look forward to Alekno decide. If Vladimir Romanovich says he wants to relax, then we start looking for a new candidate” said General Director of the Russian Volleyball Federation Alexander Jeremienko.

They should ask President Putin to buy Alekno a helicopter and maybe he’d change his mind and renew his contract!

Hah!

Seriously, we’d love to see Alekno coaching the team once again.

Thoughts?

(image: zimbio.com)