Overview - VakifBank Istanbul - FIVB Volleyball Women's Club World Championship 2017

Teams

VakifBank Istanbul

Overview

Team profile

The 2016 FIVB Club World Championship bronze medallists will be looking at returning to the top of the podium for a second time in their history, after their success in Zurich 2013 when they defeated Unilever Rio de Janeiro 3-0 in the final. They are taking part in the competition for the fourth time and, in addition to their 2013 gold and 2016 bronze, have also won a silver in 2011 in Doha when the lost to Rabita Baku 3-0 in the final.

Last year in Manila VakifBank beat Volero Zurich 3-1 in the bronze medal match.

VakifBank have twice been crowned European champions in 2011 and 2013, on both counts defeating Rabita Baku in the final. With the addition of the European third-tier Challenge Cup title in 2008 and two silver and one bronze medals in the Champions League, VakifBank are the most internationally decorated club of Turkey.

Founded in 1986 as Gunes Sigorta Sports Club in Istanbul and later merging withh VakifBank Sports Club in Ankara to take its current form, the club has amassed a record nine national championship titles, as well five Turkish Cups.

VakifBank have made it into the Guiness Book of World Records with a winning streak of 73 matches across all competitions from 23 October 2012 to 22 January 2014 when it was brought to an end by crosstown rivals Fenerbahce Istanbul.

Coach

Guidetti Giovanni

Giovanni Guidetti joined VakifBank in 2008 and has coached the Istanbul side to three FIVB Volleyball Club World Championship medals (silver in 2011 in Doha, gold in 2013 in Zurich and bronze last year in Manila).

The 44-year-old Italian also led VakifBank to the European Champions League titles in 2011 and 2013, as well as to silver in 2014.

Last year Modena-born Guidetti led The Netherlands to a magnificent run at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games finishing fourth after a defeat to USA in the bronze medal match. The success came just a year after he coached The Netherlands to the silver medal at the 2015 European Championship.

Previously, Guidetti had also coached the women's national team of Germany, including bronze at the 2009 FIVB World Grand Prix and silver medals in the 2011 and 2013 European Championships. He has also worked with the women’s national team of Bulgaria for one season.

Following the Rio 2016 Olympic Games Guidetti decided to move to Turkey so as to spend more time with his family, taking over the Turkish women's National Team as of 2017.