After six years, Zlatanov returns to the PalabancaSport taraflex, returns to the SuperLega pitch. It is the spiker Manuel Zlatanov, born in 2008, who last night made his debut in the top flight, immediately conquering a record: at 15 years, 8 months and 26 days he is the youngest volleyball player to make his debut in the Super League. Manuel “snatched” the record from Mattia Taramelli who in 2014 in Vero Volley Monza – Altotevere Città di Castello Sansepolcro took the field with the libero shirt at the age of 15 years, 10 months and 1 day.
Manuel Zlatanov was born in Piacenza on 7 March 2008 and attends the second class of the Itis Institute, majoring in IT. Manuele Zlatanov and volleyball, a love that could not fail to blossom. In the family they are all volleyball players, the Zlatanov dynasty continues with him: after his father Hristo, who boasts 142 appearances for Italy and is now General Director of Gas Sales Bluenergy Volley Piacenza and grandfather Dimitar, a silver star for Bulgaria at the 1980 Moscow Olympics and at the 1970 World Cup on home soil, now it’s Manuel’s turn. And in the family, mother Chiara is also a former volleyball player and sister Mia also plays volleyball. He started playing in the backyard with his sister Mia just over three years ago during the Covid period. And he never stopped.
Manuel was “born” and raised in Gas Sales Bluenergy Volley Piacenza. Immediately standing out for his dedication, ability and an innate sense of the game and position on the pitch. And he climbed the stages in a very short time, so much so that he was called up to the national team several times by Monica Cresta. He is European Champion with the Under 17 Italian National Team led by Monica Cresta, a title won this summer in Montenegro. Where the young spiker from Gas Sales Bluenergy Volley Piacenza was an important protagonist of the final won by the Azzurri over Bulgaria 3-1 (23-25, 19-25, 20-25). Entering the court after a few exchanges in the first set, Manuel never left the court and in the end he had nine points on the scoresheet. All at the age of 15 and a little more.
The red and white spiker received many call-ups to the national team both with the Under 17 and Allievi teams and played with the first team of Gas Sales Bluenergy Volley Piacenza throughout the preseason. He plays in the Serie B championship that the red and white club faces with all young players, he is national vice champion with the Under 15s where in Prato the title faded in the final against Treviso and where Manuel won the award as best player of the tournament. A youth sector, the red and white one, which last year also saw the victory of the Italian title in Policoro by the S3 Under 12 team.
