Marcello Abbondanza will coach Canada's women's team as of May 1, 2017.
Ottawa, Canada, January 16, 2017 - Volleyball Canada has announced Marcello Abbondanza will be the new head coach of the country’s indoor women’s team. Canada will play in FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix Group 2 in 2017 - the competition's Preliminary Round begins on July 7.
Abbondanza is currently the head coach of Fenerbahce Sports Club in İstanbul, Turkey - bronze medallists in the 2016 CEV Champions League. He is also responsible for the development of youth teams in the club.
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Latest VideosFacebookTwitterInstagramMedia Guides "I’m very happy to join the Canadian women’s program. It will be very exciting to help build on the women’s team’s development and begin a new phase in Richmond, British Columbia," said Abbondanza. "I look forward to meeting the athletes and working with Volleyball Canada to grow the women’s programme."
Abbondanza, 46, worked with the Italian national team from 2000 to 2006 as a trainer and coach, and served as the head coach for the National B team in 2005.
More recently, he was the head coach of the Bulgarian national team until 2014 and oversaw that team at major international tournaments, including the World Grand Prix. Abbondanza, who is Italian, also has more than 20 years of international beach volleyball experience.
"Marcello will bring his extensive background from the professional system in Europe and his national team experience in both Italy and Bulgaria to his new role," said Volleyball Canada’s indoor high performance director, Julien Boucher. "We are looking forward to working with him and I’m sure he will get a warm welcome in Richmond."
This month marks the opening of the new women’s training centre at the Richmond Oval in the Canadian province of British Columbia.
Abbondanza replaces Arnd "Lupo" Ludwig who had guided the team since 2009 from its previous base in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Canada’s women’s team is currently ranked 19th in the FIVB Senior World Ranking, and its last Olympic appearance was in 1996.
Abbondanza’s contract begins on May 1, 2017.