Bulgaria Extends Blengini's Contract Through 2028

The Bulgarian Volleyball Federation has extended Gianlorenzo Blengini's contract as head coach of the men's national team by two years, through 2028, according to the federation's website, bvf.bg. The federation also agreed to Blengini's request to take on a club coaching role alongside his national team duties, with the Italian set to lead a domestic club team following the 2026 national team matches.

Federation president Lyubomir Ganev praised Blengini's tenure since his hiring in early 2024, saying it had been one of the best moves for Bulgarian volleyball's development, with young athletes reaching the highest world level under his guidance. Ganev said the federation understood that after three years focused solely on the national team's summer season, a coach of Blengini's caliber needed to return to club-level competition, and expressed confidence the two roles could be balanced during the second phase of his contract. Ganev added that Bulgaria has become a second home for Blengini, and praised his approach in prioritizing the federation's agreement throughout the negotiations.

Blengini said the decision to extend his stay was a conscious choice, with his commitment to the Bulgarian national team and its goals unchanged. He said he has previous experience successfully balancing two coaching roles and believes it will be the same this time. He added that the team's main objective remains the Olympic Games, expressing hope of achieving that goal together with the players, while emphasizing the need for continued daily improvement.