Turkey are hopeful Guidetti can match the success he enjoyed with the Netherlands
Istanbul, Turkey, January 3, 2017 – Giovanni Guidetti has been named as the new head coach of the Turkish women’s national team, with the Italian having signed a contract of four years.
Guidetti has made Istanbul his home since he became VakifBank Istanbul head coach in 2008, a position he will maintain alongside his job with the national team.
The 44-year-old is married to VakifBank and Turkey middle blocker Bahar Toksoy. The pair became parents in September 2016 and that influenced his decision to cut short his time as the Netherlands’ women’s head coach so that he could live full time in Istanbul.
“I´m very happy and proud to be here,” Guidetti said. “Turkey is my second home and this is my ninth year in Turkey. This country gave me a lot and now it´s time to pay back.
“Me and my staff will do the best for this nation. We´ll build a new generation and work hard to be in the top 10 of the world again.”
Turkey will be hoping that Guidetti can bring similar success to their women’s team as he did with Germany’s and the Netherlands'. He led Germany to bronze at the 2009 FIVB World Grand Prix and silver at the 2011 and 2013 European Championships.
Guidetti then took over the Dutch team and immediately took the side to silver at the 2015 European Championships. They then won bronze at the 2016 World Grand Prix and finished fourth at the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games.
He has enjoyed similar success with VakifBank, who won gold at the 2013 FIVB Club World Championship, two European Champions Leagues, silver at the 2011 Club World Championship and bronze at the 2016 edition.
“For the national team I will try to bring in staff who represent all the biggest Turkish clubs,” Guidetti said. “I will probably try to bring in Alessandro Bracceschi, who worked alongside me for the Netherlands.”
Milenkoski is head coach of Maliye Piyango in the Turkish Super League and like Guidetti he will continue in the role alongside the national team after signing a four-year contract.
“This is my sixth year in Turkey,” he said. “It´s a privilege and a big honour to be the head coach of Turkey. I would like to thank to the President of Turkish Volleyball Federation for trusting me.
“I´ll do my best and work hard for the tough summer season and after that, we´ll build a new generation for Turkey.”