CONEGLIANO
Monica De Gennaro has been at the top of the list of appearances in the yellow and blue jersey for some time now. In her ninth season in Conegliano she has collected 331 so far, unattainable for many years, given that the other two “veterans” De Kruijf and Wolosz have not yet reached 200. This share has already been reached by her husband Daniele Santarelli, for five seasons at the helm of the panthers. Under his leadership, the Imoco Volley project, born in 2012, took the shape and size that led the Conegliano team to excel everywhere. This is where his professional career took his cue, which led him for three years on the Croatian bench and for a few days, for another three years, on that of Serbia, world champion and vice-champion of Europe.
With Santarelli the panthers have always reached the bottom of all the tournaments in which they have participated. Three scudetto finals (all won), five of the Italian Cup (two defeats and three victories), as many of the Super Cup (one defeat and four victories), a Final Four and two Champions finals (with the 2021 title), two World Cup finals for club (with the 2019 debut triumph). He carries his signature and that of all the champions, Egonu in the lead, also the absolute record of 76 consecutive victories, first equaling and then surpassing the record that belonged to Vakifbank Istanbul.
The challenges with Giovanni Guidetti’s Turkish training are a source of sweet and bitter memories. Every time it was a tiebreak, every time a whirlwind of emotions. The score between the two has so far been even and the next goal for both is the Champions League final on 22 May. Only 24 times Santarelli at the end of the match had to comment on a defeat, 21 of these are concentrated in the first two seasons. And the signature, in crucial moments, was often that of Massimo Barbolini. In the three years at the helm of Novara, two Italian Cups, a Super Cup and a Champions League have taken over Piedmont, giving rise to the “dry race syndrome”. The award-winning coach from Modena deserves credit for being the last to beat Santarelli in a series of championship finals (race 1 of 2018). However, since he arrived in Scandicci he has only won three sets in eight direct clashes.
Against Maestro Davide Mazzanti there was only one precedent (victorious) a year ago, when the national team coach took over Perugia for a few months. At his school, as second coach, Santarelli raised and raised the first tricolors of Casalmaggiore and Conegliano. And now, during this calendar year he will find himself training the three best opposites in the world, Egonu until May, Boskovic during the summer and Haak from October. Things for a privileged few, or perhaps for just one. –
MIRCO CAVALLIN