Pasay City. Philippines.After the Round of 16 loss to world champion Italy, Argentina is left without its head coach and likely without its biggest star.
Marcelo Mendez announced that he is voluntarily stepping down as head coach of "La Celeste". "That was my last match. This Argentina has a great future," the coach stated.
Thus concludes a six-year cycle, which began in 2018, during which Argentina achieved some of its greatest successes in recent decades. Under his leadership, the team won a bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, gold at the 2019 Pan American Games, and the title at the 2023 South American Championship.
Mendez will continue his career as a club coach – from the new season, he will be at the helm of Trentino Volley in Italy, a club that has provided several national team players to Italy's current squad. A curious detail is that these very players stopped Argentina at the World Championship, and now they will work under his leadership in SuperLega.
De Cecco – the last dance?
The loss to Italy might also be the last match for the legendary Luciano De Cecco in the national jersey. The setter made his debut for Argentina back in 2006 and participated in six consecutive World Championships – from 2006 to 2025. His greatest success with "La Celeste" remains the bronze from Tokyo 2020, when he was the team's captain and leader. Additionally, he has gold at the 2015 Pan American Games and numerous accolades from continental championships.
De Cecco will go down in history as one of the most emblematic figures of Argentinian volleyball – a wizard with the ball, a visionary on the court, and an inspirer of an entire generation of teammates.
photos: Nikolay Varadinov
