Italy: Best Middle Blocker of Rio Olympics Emanuele Birarelli retires and becomes manager

After more than two decades of professional career, Italian volleyball player Emanuele Birarelli announces his retirement. He spent the last three seasons in Calzedonia Verona.
The 39-year-old m decided it was to time to leave volleyball courts but not the world of volleyball: the middle blocker, who has made 216 appearances for the Italy national team, will pursue a career as a manager.

Wearing his national team jersey, he has two Olympic medals on his account: the bronze in London 2012 and silver in Rio 2016. He was awarded Best Middle Blocker in the latter in which he captained Italy. Birarelli claimed four more medals with the national team (two at the EuroVolley and two at the FIVB World League) but neither was the brightest.
He had more luck on a club level when it comes to winning gold medals: two at the Italian Championship and three at the Italian Cup, all with Itas Trentino.
Individually, he was awarded Best Middle Blocker of the FIVB World League, FIVB Club World Championship, and FIVB World Grand Champions Cup, once apiece, as well as Best Blocker of the FIVB World League one time.

Photos: bluvolley Verona on Facebook