The new head coach of the Bulgarian men's national U22 team, Daniel Peev, takes over from Ventsislav Simeonov. Peev is a bronze medalist from the 2006 World Championship in Japan as a libero and the current head coach of Montana. He will lead this generation towards the European Championship in 2026.
His assistant will be Georgi Petrov, a coach at the Lokomotiv Novosibirsk academy (Russia).

– When will the U22 national team's preparation begin?

– Between May 10th and 12th. It turns out we will have about 30-35 days of work before the European Championship – it's not much, but that's what's possible in the calendar.

– Your appointment is seen as a sign of trust – after so many years of dedication to volleyball, first as a player, then as a coach...

– I don't know if it's a matter of trust. The Federation contacted me – they simply hadn't looked for me for such a commitment before. I had to consider whether I could combine my club work in Montana with the national team. The European Championship is relatively early (from June 29th to July 4th in Portugal, editor's note), so we managed to coordinate the schedule. If Euro 2026 for this age group had been in July-August, it would have complicated the preparation with Montana.

– How do you view the team's performance at the U21 World Championship, where we finished 10th?

– I wasn't 'in the kitchen' (involved), but certainly the absence of two key players – Simeon Nikolov and Kristiyan Titriyski – had an impact. These are positions – setter and opposite hitter – where Bulgaria traditionally has a deficit. A solution was sought at the last minute, and this was evident from the fluctuations in the game.

– Will you keep the core of the team?

– It depends on who performs how during the season. For me, it's important for young players to play regularly, not just be part of some roster. They need playing time, otherwise, development stops.

– Is it an advantage that the setter Viktor Zhekov is your player in Montana?

– This probably also played a role in my selection. We will work together throughout the season, and I will know his capabilities very well.

– Will there be players who can 'transition' to Blengini and the senior men's national team?

– That's exactly the idea. As far as I know, there will be no 'B' national team next year. The U22 will be something of a buffer between the youth and senior men's teams. Preparation will be in Samokov, in the same place as the senior men's team, so Blengini will have direct observations of everyone.

– Jasmin Velichkov often moves between the U19 and U21 squads. Will he be with you?

– Yes, the calendar for his age group (2007-2008) is empty, so we will count on him too. The group will consist of players born in 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008. There are also several players at Levski whom I will monitor, including those playing in Italy.

– As a former libero, do you have a special attitude towards this position?

– Definitely. The libero must be able to receive, play in defense, and pass accurately. At the highest level, these three elements are mandatory. Among young players, there are usually deficiencies, so we will work on balancing them.

– How will the cooperation with assistant Georgi Petrov from Russia proceed?

– We have known each other for a long time, we played together when we were young. He will arrive towards the end of May and will be with the team for about a month. We have no disagreements whatsoever – on the contrary, we understand each other perfectly. I didn't have to convince him for long; he immediately agreed to accept this challenge.

Will the euphoria after the men's team's silver medal in the Philippines affect them?

I don't see how it can hinder us. On the contrary – this should bring even more enthusiasm and motivation to the young players. The success of the seniors should be an example, not pressure.

What would you consider a success at the end of your term?

The goal is for the team to win and play good volleyball for their age group. The European Championship will be tough. There will be strong competition, but the important thing is to be prepared and fight.

What were your requirements for the federation?

To have good working conditions. The preparation will be in Samokov, where the conditions are excellent, as I personally witnessed this summer. For coaches, the most important things are the hall and the 'live material' – the boys. We will observe them during the season and choose the most prepared. Last but not least, the players must be quickly adaptable to the requirements of the new coaching staff.

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