“I am happy that Alekno has returned to big-time volleyball. He can make Zenit a champion” – Taras Khtey

Olympic champion Taras Khtey told that Vladimir Alekno is capable of making Zenit St. Petersburg the champion of Russia in volleyball.

On Friday it became known that Alekno signed a two-year contract with Zenit.

— I am very happy that Vladimir Romanovich has returned to big volleyball. To be honest, without him it was a bit bland and boring. A good team is being selected in St. Petersburg, there are serious players there. I think Alekno will restore order there.

He signed a two-year contract. It’s not easy to build a championship team. I wish patience to the club management and sponsors. I think that in the second year Zenit will make significant progress. Alekno will carry out the tasks assigned to him. He has knowledge, experience, skills. Everyone respects, loves and appreciates him. I think the next season will be very interesting.

— Zenit calls Alekno to lead the team to the first championship in history. Can he do it?

“I am convinced that Romanych can do it.” Next season we will see a completely different Zenit than St. Petersburg. I think Alekno will cope with this task already in the second year.

– Why only in the second year?

“Now he’s no longer the one to complete the team.” There is already a ready-made player selection. And in the second year Alekno will have a wider choice, he will be able to invite artists himself,” Khtey told .

Alekno led the Russian national team three times – from 2007 to 2008, from 2011 to 2012 and from 2015 to 2016. The specialist spent most of his coaching career at Zenit Kazan (2008-2021). Alekno’s last job was with the Iranian national team, with which he took ninth place at the Tokyo Olympics. In August 2021, the specialist took a break from his career.

Zenit St. Petersburg took sixth place in the Super League last season.

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