Tuomas Sammelvuo is also the head coach of Polish Zaksa. Previously, Sammelvuo has piloted the national teams of Finland and Russia.
Volleyball coach Tuomas Sammelvuo starts as the head coach of the Canadian men’s national volleyball team.
– I have seen the development of Canada in recent years both as a player and as a coach. I am really looking forward to this challenge and bringing my experience to the team and working with the coaches to develop the operation and ensure success in the future, Sammelvuo commented in a Canadian Volleyball Association press release. (you switch to another service)
Canada is ranked 15th in the world. At the Tokyo Olympics, the team finished eighth.
Sammelvuo also coaches Polish Zaksa Kedzierzyn-Kozle for a couple of years. The Polish team is the reigning winner of the Polish League and the Champions League.
Previously, Sammelvuo coached in Russia at Kuzbass Kemerovo and Zenit St. Petersburg. In 2019–2021, he also piloted the Russian national team, which he led to Olympic silver.
Sammelvuo left his position as Zenit’s head coach after Russia attacked Ukraine in February, but according to the Finnish coach, the matter had already been decided before the attack.
Sammelvuo received a lot of criticism after staying in Russia and keeping media silence. He opened up about the situation on ‘s Urheiluhullut program in May.
Sammelvuo coached the Finnish national team in 2013–2019. He represented the national team as a player between 1993 and 2012 in almost 300 matches and also served as a long-term team captain. Sammelvuo ended his national team career just against Canada in July 2012.
In addition to Finland, Sammelvuo played in France, Italy, Japan, Poland and Russia during his long career. He is Finland’s most successful male volleyball player of all time, who celebrated, among other things, winning the Champions League in his career.
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