Italy has a new term –"Effetto Platino". Bulgaria has a memory from 2012.

After the historic triumph in the Italian Cup, the volleyball players of Rana Verona appeared in the championship with an entirely new look – almost the entire squad with platinum blonde hair. The club did not miss the opportunity to emphasize the symbolism.

The official publication states:

"EFFETTO PLATINO: RANA VERONA OBTAINS THREE POINTS IN MILAN"
"The long wave of the Coppa Italia continues in the championship for the Scaligeri, who show off a new look…"

In translation – "The Platinum Effect: Rana Verona takes three points in Milan" and "The wave from the Italian Cup continues in the championship, with the team demonstrating a new look".

This was not just a hairstyle. This was a message.

The Bulgarian trace: Levski 2012

If the Italians today speak of the "platinum effect", the Bulgarian public saw it more than a decade ago.

In 2012, the young Levski squad won the Bulgarian Cup after a dramatic final against Arda (Kardzhali) with3:2(12:25,25:23,22:25,25:19,17:15)in front of 1111 spectators in "Skaptopara" hall in Blagoevgrad.

This was the 21st Cup in the club's history and the first since 2006. The trophy was also the first in Georgi Petrov's coaching career.

But there is one detail that makes the parallel with Verona so interesting.

Georgi Bratoev and company specifically bleached their hair even before the start of the tournament.Not after the final. Not spontaneously. But as a conscious ritual.

And the ritual worked.

Levski successively eliminated Superliga leader Pirin with 3:2 in the 1/4-final and champion CSKA with 3:1 in the semi-final, before lifting the Cup.

Champion culture knows no limits

Bleaching hair is not a fashion. It is a code. A locker room code. A code of cohesion. A code of a shared goal.

In elite volleyball, such rituals have strong psychological value. They mark the moment when a team transitions from "contender" to "champion". This is the external sign of internal unity.

Verona calls it „Effetto Platino“.
Levski experienced it as early as 2012.

The traditions of victory

The history of volleyball is written with results, but it is also remembered with symbols. Trophies are in the archives, but photos remain in the mind.

Levski's platinum hair in 2012 and Verona's platinum wave after the Italian Cup speak the same language – the language of the champion's locker room.

And if today Italy celebrates the 'platinum effect', Bulgaria has reason to smile – this effect has already been part of our volleyball history.

Sometimes the traditions of victory simply change their geography. But their spirit remains the same.