This season in European volleyball, an unusual trend has emerged. Players who have ended their careers and long since taken on new roles in sports - coaches or officials - are renewing their competitive activity. And advanced age by professional sports standards doesn't bother them! We're telling the story of three comebacks this season.

Łukasz Żygadło (45 years old, "Częstochowa", Poland)

A very famous setter in world volleyball, silver medalist at the 2006 World Championship with the Polish national team. At club level, Żygadło's main achievements are associated with the Italian "Trentino", although there he was primarily a reserve. Łukasz also played in Russia - for Kaliningrad's "Dynamo-Yantar" (2006/2007) and Novy Urengoy's "Fakel" (2012/2013). He was supposed to play in the 2013/2014 season for Kazan's "Zenit" but suffered an injury that kept him out for the season. Żygadło spent the last years of his playing career in the Middle East, where he ended his career. This happened in Qatar a year and a half ago.

After that, Żygadło became the sports director of the newcomer to the Polish PlusLiga - the "Częstochowa" club. The first year was difficult, but the team retained its place in the elite. And this season, the club became a real revelation of the Polish league! The foreign recruits proved successful: Czech opposite Patrik Indra, Iranian outside hitter Milad Ebadipour, and American setter Quinn Isaacson. The team is confidently in the playoff zone and has taken points from almost all leaders. But then disaster struck: Isaacson got injured and was out for two or three months.

Finding a quality setter in the middle of the season, without significant financial resources, is practically impossible. Therefore, "Częstochowa" resorted to an unconventional move. Żygadło resumed his playing career, becoming a backup for Tomasz Kowalski. And his help was not limited to just appearing on the roster! The setter regularly comes in as a substitute, helping the team.

Mikko Esko (46 years old, "Ljubljana", Slovenia)

If Żygadło became an emergency solution for his team, Mikko Esko continues to be a starting player. In his long career, the Finnish setter played in Germany, Italy, and Turkey. His resume also includes two seasons with Nizhny Novgorod's "Guberniya" (2012-2014). Esko spent the last eight seasons in his home country, with the "VaLePa" club, gradually transitioning into a coaching role. And in the summer of 2024, Mikko worked as an assistant coach for the Finnish national team.

Is his playing career over? Not quite! The 46-year-old setter accepted a new challenge and went to Slovenian "Ljubljana". This is a powerhouse in local volleyball, which also plays in the Champions League. In the new club, Esko is an undisputed starter. So far, there are no victories in the main European tournament, but there are at least two more matches in the group stage. It wouldn't be surprising if the veteran adds a few more trophies to his list of achievements.

Ivaylo Stefanov (51 years old, CSKA, Bulgaria)

But the veteran with a capital "V" plays in the Bulgarian championship. If in football everyone knows the name of Kazu Miura, then in volleyball, such a record holder is Stefanov. Just think, he is 51 years old! And he plays as an outside hitter, that is, in the most difficult and energy-intensive position.

Ivaylo ended his European travels back in 2006, after playing in Poland for "Jastrzębski" and in Turkey for "Halkbank". Since then, Stefanov has played for Sofia's CSKA, and for the last 15 years, by his own admission, he has annually answered questions about when he will end his career. The white-haired Bulgarian gave in before last season, becoming one of the coaches of the "red" team. But with the prefix "playing". And every season they resort to the veteran's help. Last season, Stefanov played three matches; this year, he has one match so far. He doesn't stop training, so it's quite possible he will increase that number!
Stefanov is a world champion for youth from the championship in Cairo in 1991.

Expertise and Inspiration

These veterans show that sport has no age limit when it comes to passion and professionalism. They not only help their teams in difficult moments but also inspire young players with their skills and determination!

Based on foreign media materials
photos: Olimpik,ksnorwidczestochowa.pland Nikolay Varadinov