Maja Poljak in the Women’s Volleyball European Team of the Decade

CEV, Luxembourg. This week CEV has presented you the selection for the Top 5 Women’s Beach Volleyball Teams and Top 5 Men’s Beach Volleyball Teams of the decade as well as the Men’s European Team of the Decade. Now it’s time to look back at the last decade of women’s volleyball and choose the team of the decade. To do so, CEV commentator James Fielden is joined by three very experienced coaches in Svetlana Ilic, Gert Van De Broek and Giovanni Guidetti. 

This selection was made as part of CEV’s “The Debate” series which is available in full on the YouTube Channel – European Volleyball. 

With an unbelievable pool of players to choose from, our three guests had a difficult job of not only selecting the best players for each position but also attempt to come on the other side of this exercise with a balanced team that would do great in competitions. Same as before, selecting the best out of the best is no easy task, but they have done a great job, so here are their picks and some of the reasoning behind their choices!

Setter: Maja Ognjenovic (SRB)

Svetlana Ilic: “We have a great set of players to choose from but for me the one that needs to be selected is Maja.”

Gert Van de Broek: “I fully agree, she can play fast, high, adapting her game to the players on her team so I fully agree with this choice.”

Giovanni Guidetti: “She proved that she can play quick, high and that she can adjust very fast to any kind of game. She can adapt very well whether it is for the national team or her club and she has won pretty much everything on both levels, proving great leadership.”

Middle Blocker: Maja Poljak (CRO)

Giovanni Guidetti: “For me she was really something different. The way she was able to change matches with the block, really making the opponents scared. One block from her would mean 2-3 points in the game because nobody had the courage to attack against her. She is my first pick!”

Middle Blocker: Milena Raši? (SRB)

Giovanni Guidetti: “I am coaching her and we won pretty much everything together and she won with the national team again pretty much everything. She is a great blocker and also a great attacker, so her possibility to combine both these things make me choose her.”

Svetlana Ilic: “I agree with everything Giovanni has said about both middle blockers selected, they offer so much to their teams through their role. They are exceptional players, I know them both and they are amazing persons as well.”

Libero: Monica De Gennaro (ITA) 

Svetlana Ilic: “Seeing the names from the shortlist I don’t think we would make a mistake picking either of these players. In Monica I have seen something very special, that from a defensive role she is able to change the line of the game. She is unique, she can be relied upon to do the job and that has been the case for the last 10 years. I am a big fan of hers.”

Gert Van de Broek: “This is for me the easiest choice. I think if you ask 100 coaches I think 99% will pick her. It is a tough position to play in but she genuinely enjoys it. If we show videos of her to young players it would motivate them and give them confidence to try and play similar to her.”

Giovanni Guidetti: “I think she is doing a great job for her club and for the national team. Unfortunately, I have never coached her but I have played many times against her and I have always admired her actions on the court. She has a great courage to set, quick balls so she is a very complete libero. Without a doubt she is my pick.”

Opposite Hitter: Tijana Boškovi? (SRB)

Svetlana Ilic: “This is one of the toughest decision considering the names we have to choose from. There are arguments to pick any of them but my vote goes to Boskovic. She is a complete player in every detail, incredible what she can do in all aspects of the game.”

Gert Van de Broek: “Boskovic and Egonu’s impact on the game, despite them being so young is absolutely incredible, you could compare to what Messi and Ronaldo have been doing in football. Choosing between these two is extremely difficult. I think that if we have to make this choice in the next ten years it will be Egonu because she has so much room for improvement never seen in volleyball. However, at this moment Boskovic has already won so much, she is very complete and at this moment stronger in back row attack. So I believe that at this moment choosing her is the justified decision.” 

Giovanni Guidetti: “I think all the choices are pretty unique which makes for an interesting choice. Everyone talks about Boskovic’s attack but her defense is unique as well. On the back row attack I have never seen a player like her and being able to attack a bad set, she can attack from any kind of set. So my choice for this decade is for sure Boskovic without any doubt.”

Outside Hitter: Francesca Piccinini (ITA)

Gert Van de Broek: “Her track record is absolutely incredible, there are not many players who can compare. She is the perfect choice for the team of the decade.”

Giovanni Guidetti: “Who would be able to win more than her, probably nobody! Her medals wall is incredible for both country and club. We are making the team of the decade and she cannot be taken out of it.”

Outside Hitter: Gözde Kirdar (TUR) 

Svetlana Ilic: “She is the player that can do the work that is not as visible but it is the hard work, which for coaches is very important. There is no chance to say that she does not deserve this position.”

Gert Van de Broek: “She is my first choice, I think she was the Steven Gerard of her teams. Her motivation and team leadership were exceptional.”

Giovanni Guidetti: “An amazing character and team captain, first of all an example for everybody, pushing more in every training never giving up. A player like her is an absolute must in the team of the decade.”

If you would like to listen to the full debate and the reasoning behind every choice, or simply curious to find out which other players have made the shortlist, watch the full episode:

News:
CEV – European Volleyball