Alessandro Orefice takes over Slovenian women’s national team

The women’s national team of Slovenia welcomes a newly appointed head coach, Alessandro Orefice, the 39-year-old Italian who is currently at the helm of one of the top teams from the elite French Ligue A, LEVALLOIS PARIS Saint-Cloud. Orefice replaces another Italian, Marco Bonitta, and has signed a two-year contract with the Volleyball Federation of Slovenia. 

The Slovenian team will face two major challenges in the 2024 national team season. From May 17 to June 16, Team Slovenia will compete in the CEV European Golden League, and in August, they will attempt to make important steps towards reaching CEV EuroVolley 2026 by contesting the first three of six rounds scheduled for the EuroVolley qualifiers. The subsequent three rounds will follow in 2025. 

“Before the start of the recruitment process, we wanted a head coach who showed desire, ambition, and passion for the job. Alessandro Orefice was the one who convinced us the most. He will face a great challenge in leading our national team, and I am happy that he sees a lot of potential in it. The objectives will be set within realistic limits, and I am sure that our goals will be achieved. The Federation will continue to provide the national team with good conditions to work and progress. There are enough challenges in front of all of us and I can only wish Alessandro and the girls every success,” said Gregor Humerca, Secretary General of the Volleyball Federation of Slovenia following the appointment of the new head coach.

Orefice is already looking forward to working with the Slovenian girls. The Italian expert pointed out several reasons for deciding to lead Slovenia: “I decided to lead the Slovenian national team because of a collaboration with a serious and successful federation that has clearly defined their goals and has a mentality that fits very well with mine. I also think that Slovenia has many good players, from the more experienced ones playing in the strongest leagues to some youngsters who have great potential to be top players in the future, at least in my opinion. The third reason, which I think is very important, is the mentality and the hard work that is typical in this part of Europe. I like this a lot and that is why I want to make my next step in this beautiful country.” 

Orefice started his coaching career in Bologna in 2003. After a decade of working with young players, he became an assistant coach in the Italian top-level team Forli in 2012. He gained experience and laurels as a member of the coaching staff at French elite clubs Saint-Raphaël and RC Cannes, as well as with the Italian giants, Imoco Volley Conegliano. Between 2020 and 2022, he was at the helm of Pays d’Aix Venelles Volleyball, and in 2022 he started working with one of France’s most successful clubs, Levallois Paris Saint-Cloud, with which he finished third in the last edition of the national league. With this same club, he has already reached the Playoff Round of this year’s CEV Cup. 

From 2020 to 2022, Orefice worked as assistant coach of the Estonian women’s national team, with which he claimed the gold medal in the CEV Silver European League as a head coach in June 2023. He was at the helm of Estonia when they contested a historic EuroVolley pool stage on home soil in Tallinn in the late summer of 2023. Orefice will gather the Slovenian team for the first time directly after the end of the club season and will immediately start the preparations for the CEV European Golden League.