Bernardinho to lead Team France after Tokyo Olympics

Brazil’s legendary coach Bernardo Rezende, aka Bernardinho will be leading the men’s national team of France after the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympics, with an eye on success at their home Games in Paris in three years’ time.

Bernardinho turned to coaching after a playing career that, among other things, saw him win Olympic silver at Los Angeles 1984, losing the final to hosts the United States.

As a coach, he guided the Brazilian men’s national team to four successive Olympic finals, winning the gold medal at Athens 2004 and Rio 2016 and silver at Beijing 2008 and London 2012.

Previously, he led the Brazilian women’s team to their best results at the Games at the time, winning bronze at the Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000 Olympics.

He will replace Laurent Tillie as the head coach of the team, who has led the nation to its first European title in 2015, as well as a fourth place finish at the 2014 World Championships.

“We are very happy that Bernardinho accepted our proposal,” said French Volleyball Federation President Eric Tanguy. “His huge track record is proof of our desire to see the France team continue to evolve at the highest level and aim for podiums. We are convinced that, with his experience and his high standards, he will know how to help launch this Olympic cycle, which is particularly important for us, with the Paris 2024 Games in sight.”

France have had a best result of eighth in Volleyball at the Olympic Games, back in 1984. The country finished ninth in the event at Rio 2016 and they made sure they would make the journey to Tokyo 2020 through the CEV qualifier held in January of 2020 in Berlin, Germany.

Tillie will leave his role after the upcoming Olympics.

Bernardinho’s first competition is set to be the CEV EuroVolley 2021, scheduled to take place from September 1 to 19 and he says he is excited for the challenge: