The Italian trainer took over the Iranian team on a four-year contract earlier this month, replacing previous head coach Mauricio Paes of Brazil, who was in charge during the 2024 season and under whose term, Iran finished 15th in the 2024 Volleyball Nations League.
Iran is currently 15th in the World Ranking as well and this is not the place where its new head coach wants it to be.
For the most part of the 2023 season, it was a top 10 team, and the last time it was in the top eight was during the 2022 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship.
“My first dream is to be constantly in the first eight teams in the World Ranking,” Roberto Piazza told Volleyball World shortly after accepting the new job.
The 56-year-old Italian is taking over the Iranian national team with a four-year perspective, geared towards the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, and the long-term term target being the team’s return to Olympic participation after missing out on Paris 2024 this year.
At this point, Piazza did not reveal whether any major changes in the squad should be expected under his mandate.
“It’s really too soon to talk about the players,” he said. “Many of them will play in different leagues and we have to select the best ones for each position.”