TEHRAN – Brazilian coach Mauricio Motta Paes has been named as new head coach of Iran’s men’s national volleyball team, the volleyball federation of Iran announced on Wednesday.

Paes will serve as Team Melli head coach until the end of the 2024 Olympic Games, with the option to extend for two more years.

Italian coach Alberto Giuliani was a serious candidate for taking charge of Iran volleyball team but the Federation opted Paes.

He has most recently worked as Ukraine’s Epicentr-Podolyany.

Paes replaced Behrouz Ataei, who was dismissed in October following poor results in the 2023 Volleyball Nations League.

Italian coach Angelo Lorenzetti, Roberto Piazza, Russian Vladimir Alekno, Belgian Vital Heynen and Saeid Marouf were among the candidates for the job.

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.