Emanuele Zanini leaves Belgium after five years as Red Dragons launch search for new coach

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Emanuele Zanini is no longer the head coach of Belgium’s men’s national volleyball team.
Topvolley Belgium announced that the collaboration with the Italian coach would end following five years together, with discussions between the two parties failing to produce an agreement for the future.

The separation brings to a close a period of significant progress for the Red Dragons.
When Zanini took charge in 2022, Belgium stood 28th in the FIVB world rankings. The team has since climbed to 15th, re-established itself as a competitive force on the international stage and reached milestones that had previously remained out of reach.
One of the closest calls came during the qualification campaign for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, when Belgium missed out on a place by a single point. The team subsequently reached the quarter-finals of EuroVolley 2023 and finished seventh at the 2025 World Championship. In 2026, the Red Dragons made their debut in the Volleyball Nations League, securing their place in the competition again for 2027. Their most recent European Championship campaign ended in the quarter-finals, with Belgium finishing sixth overall.

Beyond the results, the Belgian federation credited Zanini with helping establish higher standards and shaping the team’s identity and mentality. His departure follows the expiry of his contract, with the federation describing the discussions as constructive but confirming that no agreement had been reached to continue the partnership.

“I look back with pride on my five years with the Red Dragons. Together, we have built a lot, gained international respect, achieved good results and developed a team that is once again competitive at international level,” Zanini said.

The Italian coach also expressed his gratitude to the players, staff, federation members and everyone who had supported the team throughout his tenure, highlighting the trust and cooperation that had accompanied the project. He added that he had always worked for Belgium with energy, conviction and ambition, and that he would remember the experience with respect and warm memories. He also thanked the Belgian federation for the opportunity and wished the Red Dragons every success in the future.

Technical director Kris Eyckmans paid tribute to the outgoing coach and the foundations established during his time with the national team.

“Over the past five years, Emanuele Zanini has dedicated himself to the Red Dragons with tremendous energy and commitment. He helped build the team we have today, pursued high standards and achieved important results. We are sincerely grateful to him for that. The foundations laid during this period will remain an important part of Zanini’s legacy and contribute to the further development of the Red Dragons.”

Belgium now faces the task of finding a successor capable of building on that progress. Topvolley Belgium has confirmed that the process of appointing a new head coach will begin shortly.

Zanini leaves behind a team that has moved significantly up the world rankings, reached the World Championship’s top eight and earned a place among the VNL participants. The next appointment will determine how the Red Dragons build on those achievements and turn their recent progress into further results on the international stage.

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