Massimo Botti appointed new head coach of the German men’s national team

Massimo Botti has been appointed as the new head coach of the German men’s national Volleyball team. The 52-year-old Italian, currently head coach of Polish first-division club and #CLVolleyM competitor Asseco Resovia RZESZÓW, has signed a contract with the German Volleyball Federation (DVV) until 2028. Botti succeeds Michal Winiarski, who resigned as national coach back in November after four years at the helm of the team citing personal reasons.

“I am very proud and look forward to working with the German national team,” says Botti, who is approaching his new role “with great curiosity and anticipation”. “I want to pass on my passion and energy to the players.” The new man on the sidelines brings with him a wealth of experience both as a player and coach in the top European leagues.

As a middle blocker, Botti won the Italian championship twice with Maxicono PARMA in the 1990s, as well as the CEV Cup, the Italian Cup and, in 2010, the Challenge Cup with RPA-LuigiBacchi.it PERUGIA. He began his coaching career in 2016 at Canottieri Ongina. In 2018, he took over the newly founded club Gas Sales PIACENZA and led the team straight to the championship and promotion to Serie A. After three years spent working as assistant coach, he won the Italian Cup in 2023 as head coach of PIACENZA and finished third in the championship. Botti then moved to Poland to join Bogdanka LUK LUBLIN, with whom he won both the national league and the Challenge Cup last year. Since this season, he has been at the helm of Asseco Resovia RZESZÓW. 

“Massimo is still a relatively young coach, but he has already proven in various clubs and countries that he can lead teams successfully,” says DVV Chief National Coach Christian Dünnes. “He has not yet coached a national team, but that makes his motivation to be successful with Germany all the greater.” Dünnes adds: “At 1.96 metres, he was a rather small middle blocker, yet he played in the Italian Serie A1 for 15 years. This was thanks in part to his great talent and his willingness to study his opponents and their tactics intensively – an excellent foundation for his coaching career.” 

Massimo Botti has a clear goal for the DVV men’s team: to qualify for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. 

However, the initial focus is on the upcoming season with the Volleyball Nations League and the CEV EuroVolley. “We first need to develop a clear identity – with players who believe in this project and are fully behind it,” Botti concludes.