The volleyball community in Russia and Europe was surprised by the unexpected news – the Romanian specialistGheorghe Crețuleft the position of head coach of Belgorod's powerhouse club"Belogorie". The decision was officially announced by the club on October 29, justa dayafter a lengthy interview with him appeared in the authoritative Russian publicationBO Sport, filled with enthusiasm, confidence, and a positive tone.
"I love the snow, Russian cuisine, and this volleyball"
In the interview published yesterday, Crețu shared personal impressions of his return to Russia:
"I am a fan of defense and I want my team to play exactly like that – everyone to be involved in every ball, no matter what happens on the court."
"I love Russian cuisine. I like the way people communicate, even in different languages. I am glad to be back here."
"When I arrived in Belgorod and saw the snow, I felt like a child – I had missed that in recent years."
With his words, Crețu exuded certainty that this time his stay at "Belogorie" would be long-term.
And then — silence and "personal reasons"
The next day, the club published a message stating:
"Dear fans! I am leaving the club for personal reasons that I would like to keep to myself. I am grateful to the team and the management, but sometimes circumstances are above everything. This team has a great future and I wish it success."
Thus ended the Romanian's second stint in Belgorod, which lasted onlyabout a month— after joining the team at the end of September, following the World Championship in the Philippines.
What he managed to do in one month
| Competition | Matches | Wins | Losses | Achievement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Russian Super League | 3 | 2 | 1 | — |
| Victory Cup | — | — | — | 3rd place (Final 4) |
The results do not indicate failure. On the contrary, "Belogorie" started confidently under his leadership in the five matches played, and the atmosphere seemed stable. This makes the announced "personal reasons" even more unconvincing.
The contrast that speaks for itself
In just 24 hours, the public saw two completely different images of Cretu –
yesterday's, speaking with inspiration about his philosophy and love for Russian culture,
and today's, leaving quietly and without explanation.
This sharp contrast fuels speculation that the reasons may not besports-related.
Context and Implications
This is his second stint at Belogorie "," the first ended prematurely during the 2017/18 season.
Meanwhile, Crețu had also coached Kuzbass (Kemerovo), with whom he won bronze in the Superliga.
In recent years, the Romanian worked at the helm of Slovenia, with whom he participated in the 2022 World Championship and the 2023–2024 Nations League.
At the beginning of 2025, he was appointed head coach of Serbia, with whom he appeared at the World Cup in the Philippines, before returning to Russian club volleyball.
The club's reaction
Belogorie's directorSergey Tetyukhincommented on Gheorghe Crețu's unexpected departure:
"We are shocked. We will try to accept and understand the situation. Until the end of the season, Sergey Baranov will be the acting head coach," "," the club's press service quoted his words.
Currently, Belogorie occupies fourth place in the Russian championship, with two wins from three matches played. The team started with a defeat against Gorky (2:3), after which they overcame Yenisei (3:2) and Yaroslavich (3:0).
Baranov has already led the team during the matches of the Victory Cup tournament, where Belogorie achieved five wins in six group stage matches.
The Belgorod team's next match is on November 1st, away against Dynamo-Ural (Ufa).
In Polish circles, there is talk of the Romanian's possible return to PlusLiga.
photos: Nikolay Varadinov
