Vyacheslav Zaytsev

Vyacheslav Zaytsev made his début in the senior team of Avtomobilist Leningrad at the age of 16. He helped them win the Soviet Cup in 1983 and to twice win the European Cup Winners’ Cup. After 18 years in Leningrad, Zaytsev went abroad in 1987 and played for Italian clubs for five years (Volley Spoleto 1987-89, Volley Agrigento 1989-90, and Pallalvolo Città di Cstello 1990-92). His last active season was 1992-93 as player-coach with Pallavolo Lugano in Switzerland. In 1971 Zaitsev played his first international match for the Soviet Union.

He was twice world champion (1978, 1982), twice world champion runner-up (1974, 1986) and between 1971-85 was the European champion seven times. In 1976 and 1988 Zaytsev won silver medals at the Olympic Games in Montreal and Seoul, and in 1980 he won Olympic gold in Moscow. Zaytsev’s son Ivan Zaytsev later became an Italian national volleyball player.