Montreux, June 4, 2016 –Serbian coach Zoran Terzic and his assistant Zeljko Bulatovic have agreed a deal to take over as Head Coach and Assistant Coach of Swiss champions Volero Zurich, signing a contractual agreement at the 2016 Montreux Volley Masters. The successful duo will undertake the task of consolidating the club’s position at the summit of European Women's Volleyball.
The appointment of Terzic was a sensational announcement to come out of the Montreux Masters and provides some insight into the prestige on show at this event, cementing the tournament’s status as a major showcase of talent not only on the court but off it also.
Volero’s staff made the trip out to Montreux to hold talks with Terzic and his management team after bearing witness to his fine work with the Serbian national team. Terzic took time out of training with Serbia to sign on the dotted line, having been present with the side as they compete at this friendly instalment of the major international season, with the Olympics in Rio still to come as the crowning jewel.
Volero President Stav Jacobi was beyond pleased to have finally tracked down and got his man in Montreux. He said of the Serb: "Zoran Terzic was our preferred candidate for this position. He is one of the best coaches in the world and we are confident that he can achieve the ambitious goals that we have for Volero Zurich”.
49-year-old Terzic has already shown his pedigree as coach of the Serbian national team. He first took charge of the Serbs back in 2002 (then Serbia & Montenegro) and moulded them into one of the top teams in international women's volleyball. The silver medal at the FIVB World Cup last year, a respectable third place at the 2006 FIVB World Championship and a Silver (2007), Gold (2011) and Bronze (2015) at the European Championships are amongst his many achievements at international level.
The success of the Serbian national team in recent years has been built primarily on Zoran Terzic's coaching philosophy. He is known for discovering major talents, and has single-handedly taken Serbia to the top table of International Women's Volleyball, where at events like the Montreux Masters, the Serbs have often rubbed shoulders with the giants of the Women’s game.
Zoran Terzic himself is looking forward to the task in hand with the Swiss: "It is a great honour for me to work with an internationally established club like Volero Zurich. I have worked with some players already at other big clubs in the Serbian national team and am confident that this club has the potential to establish itself amongst the best in the world.”
Throughout many of his great successes Terzic had been shadowed by his right-hand-man, and Jacobi left no stone unturned as he swooped for the Serbian, making sure he secured his man behind the scenes alongside him. This man, Zeljko Bulatovic, will take his place alongside Terzic on the side-lines for Volero Zurich, the successful duo having already spent four years working together at club level.
Before Terzic can occupy the hot-seat at one of Women’s Volleyball’s most successful clubs however, he must guide his Serbian team beyond an unpredictable young Belgian side in their classification tie at the 2016 Montreux Volley Masters, which will be played out before another capacity crowd at this year’s tournament. He will be looking to carry as much success and morale forward not only into Serbia’s Olympic campaign, where he will be hoping to close in on that coveted first gold medal, but also into his work at Volero to ensure that they remain at the top table of Women’s Volleyball for years to come.