IBB Polonia London: “Let us dream”

When Vangelis Koutouleas began his coaching at IBB Polonia London in 2009, trainings and matches took place in a small school sports hall. In this days, the money generated by The Club came from the pockets of the players themselves. The talented and experienced coach quickly turned the team into a group of winners and dominated the highest echelons of English Volleyball. He departed for a few years due to a change in location, but the „Koutouleas effect” remained and The Club continued to evolve from a sporting and organisational perspective. In 2014, the Greek talisman returned and enjoyed the greater financial investment that The Club had generated via private investors. This transpired into a continuation of winning the elite league in England and also in Europe. Now Koutouleas, exactly ten years after his initial meeting with The Club, will once again take the reigns of the team, but this time the mission will be the Champions League.

Koutouleas’ CV is very strong and with many successes, not only with IBB Polonia London as he is one of the most experienced coaches in the UK. His British reputation was established following his successes with The Club almost a decade ago and he became known as a legend of the sport in this country. At that time he was recruited by a college in the South of England, where he took over a young group of players and inspired them into great success. He returned to London for a second very successful spell at IBB Polonia London and then emigrated to Cyprus. Working for the Cypriot federation, he produced excellent results European and World competitions, but stayed in contact with London and The Club throughout. He was always interested in what IBB Polonia London were doing and admitted, his heart was always with The Club.

„I am returning to my second home and for that I’m pleased as well as very excited. This will be my third spell at The Club, but now this is not the amateur team that I left years ago, but a semi-professional team with very high aspirations, not only domestically, but in Europe” said the new Head Coach of IBB Polonia London Vangelis Koutouleas.

The coach helped to developed The Club, but now returns for a minimum three year contract, to stand at the head of the team that has changed the face of volleyball in England by playing in the CEV Challenge Cup and winning NEVZA and now taking part in the CEV Champions League. The standard is going to be very high and the aim is to be the best domestically and to play well and to make a big impression internationally too.

„We have set out our goals – to be at the top of the table of the SuperLeague, but to do this we have to work hard in training, respect ourselves and to stay disciplined. I know that other teams are trying to beat us all the time, but this will improve English volleyball throughout. I am aiming to form a team, that will perform well in England, but also in Europe where we will fight for each point. I am sure as debutants in the CEV Champions League, most people give us zero chance for any successes, but dreams do come true, so let us dream” added the Greek coach.

Pic. sandsphotos.co.uk