TEHRAN - The Iran Volleyball Federation has selected six coaches as potential candidates for the head coach position of the national men's volleyball team.

The list of contenders for a place on Iran's bench includes Vital Heynen, a Belgian coach, as well as Gianlorenzo Blengini and Roberto Piazza from Italy, Vladimir Alekno from Russia, and Peyman Akbari and Saeid Marouf from Iran.

Mohammadreza Davarzani, president of the Iran volleyball federation, is racing against time to find the perfect head coach for the national team before his four-year presidency term comes to an end.

“To select a foreign coach, it is essential to take into account their knowledge, experience in major competitions, and their ability to develop comprehensive plans and strategies,” said Davarzani in a recent interview about the selection process.

“Our goal in negotiating with candidates is to determine who among them is the most suitable for the Iranian national team,” he added.

When questioned about Marouf, the former captain of the national team and one of the greatest players in Iranian volleyball history who lacks coaching experience, Davarzani said, “coaching experience is not always a requirement for success, as we know some great players have turned successful coaches in football and volleyball. Their effective presence, leadership, and influence on players are key factors in their achievements.

“Saeid Marouf possesses all the necessary characteristics. We believed he could be a great coach for the Iran national team,” added the president of the Iran Volleyball Federation.

Iran's chances of reaching the 2024 Paris Olympics are slim due to poor results in the 2023 FIVB Volleyball Nations League and the Olympic qualifiers.