After Lang Ping stepped down as the head coach of the Chinese women's volleyball team, the team entered a new phase of development, which also sparked great interest in the selection of a new head coach. During this period, Italian coach Giovanni Guidetti became a highly suitable candidate in the eyes of many Chinese fans.
Guidetti's connection with Lang Ping brought him into the spotlight of Chinese fans. "Impartiality is the essence of fairness, and objectivity is the essence of equality." Guidetti's attitude towards Lang Ping demonstrated his fairness and objectivity. He spoke out several times in support of Lang Ping, believing that it was extremely unfair to completely dismiss her abilities based solely on a loss at one Olympic Games.
Lang Ping has left an indelible mark on the history of the Chinese women's volleyball team with her coaching skills, tactical construction, and contributions to the spirit of the team. Guidetti's rational and fair stance undoubtedly won the favor of Chinese fans, leading many to place high hopes on the potential connection between him and the Chinese team.
Looking at the current situation of the Chinese women's volleyball team, while some achievements were made under the guidance of Cai Bin, the issue of the team's age structure has gradually become apparent. Taking the so-called "Seven Fairies" as an example, by the time of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, they will all be 30 years old. In the rapid development of modern volleyball, older players face more challenges in terms of physical fitness and competitive state.
If the Chinese women's volleyball team wants to achieve something at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, they need to secure their participation while finding it difficult to discard these experienced veterans all at once. The task of transitioning between generations and securing a ticket to the Olympics is akin to carrying a heavy burden. This requires not only a coach with superb tactical command but also the wisdom to deal with complex personnel structures.
Guidetti has had remarkable achievements in his coaching career, having turned teams like Serbia, Turkey, and Germany into strong contenders. His experience in tactical planning, player development, and adapting to events makes him stand out among potential coaches. With a gap in his schedule after stepping down as head coach of the Serbian women's volleyball team, these factors combined to make him a popular choice among fans.
However, fate is always full of variables. On January 18, 2024, the suspense finally came to an end, but not as many Chinese fans had hoped. When the Canadian Volleyball Association boldly approached Guidetti, the situation took a turn.
It is said that the Canadian Volleyball Association offered Guidetti a three-year contract. This decision was made after deep consideration. After losing a crucial match to the Netherlands in the qualification round for the 2024 Paris Olympics, Canada missed out on the finals. This defeat had a significant impact on the team's morale and future plans, leading to the resignation of the previous head coach, Wenzel. To revitalize the team, the Canadian Volleyball Association targeted Guidetti, who has a proven track record of building successful teams and is considered a key figure in their resurgence. They were willing to pay a high salary to outbid other competitors and successfully signed Guidetti.
With Guidetti's signing with the Canadian women's volleyball team, the possibility of him joining the Chinese team is almost zero. It's like two tracks that could have intersected, but now they are completely separated. For the Chinese Volleyball Association, Guidetti was originally seen as a very attractive option, but now they must reevaluate their plans. If they wish to continue inviting foreign coaches to assist in the development of the women's volleyball team, they will have to look for suitable candidates among other excellent coaches.