Julio Velasco appointed coach of Argentine volleyball team

Buenos Aires, Feb 13 (IANS): The Argentine Volleyball Federation (Feva) has announced it has appointed Julio Velasco as the new coach of the national men’s team.

“It was a dream and a big goal for all volleyball lovers as well as all sports lovers in general,” said Feva president Juan Antonio Gutierrez Wednesday, reports Xinhua.

Gutierrez told local sports channel TyC Sports that Velasco has agreed to be the next coach and will sign a contract Feb 19.

Feva’s president said Velasco gave up a “very significant” income offered by Iran’s national team to coach Argentina.

Velasco, 62, has won world championships in 1990 and 1994, and also won the World League five times, as well as a silver medal at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, all as coach of the Italian team.

He has also led the Spanish national team.

Velasco will replace Javier Weber, who left the team after five years. His first challenge will be to prepare the players for the upcoming World League games at the end of May.