Tommy Tilkainen, new Samsung Fire & Marine coach: "41-year-old Yoo Kwang-woo will have no problems at all"

*This content was translated by AI.

Tommy Tilkainen (39, Finland), who returned to the professional volleyball V-League by taking charge of men's professional volleyball team Samsung Fire & Marine, expressed high expectations for his reunion with veteran setter Yoo Kwang-woo (41).

According to the Korea Volleyball Association on the 8th, after completing the first day of the V-League men's foreign player tryout held at UNYP Arena in Prague, Czech Republic, Coach Tilkainen said, "I am very happy to meet Yoo Kwang-woo again at Samsung Fire & Marine. I respect him."

Coach Tilkainen was appointed as the club's first foreign coach at the end of March, and Samsung Fire & Marine acquired Yoo Kwang-woo through a trade on the 1st. Yoo Kwang-woo joined Samsung Fire & Marine as the second overall pick in the first round of the 2007-2008 rookie draft, then moved to Woori Card and Korean Air before returning to his original team, Samsung Fire & Marine, after nine years. Yoo Kwang-woo was the setter when Coach Tilkainen led Korean Air to three consecutive championships, and this time they will reunite at Samsung Fire & Marine.

Coach Tilkainen emphasized, "Yoo Kwang-woo demonstrates leadership on the court and understands the volleyball style I pursue. He is a player who, despite his age, calms any concerns with his outstanding mental strength and skills the moment he steps onto the court. Although he did not play much last season, he participated in many games when playing with me. He will have no problems at all."

Samsung Fire & Marine also acquired veteran libero Bu Yong-chan (38) along with Yoo Kwang-woo. Coach Tilkainen stated, "The team composition is quite young. I expect the two veterans to show leadership. General Manager Im Do-heon paid great attention to this," adding his remarks.

Reflecting on Samsung Fire & Marine during his tenure as Korean Air coach, Coach Tilkainen described them as "a tough team with strong serving and powerful offense," but added, "However, the team composition seems to have changed significantly since then."

He continued, "I am well aware of Samsung Fire & Marine's glorious past. I take the responsibility of rebuilding this prestigious club very seriously. We will show the kind of volleyball that Samsung Fire & Marine has not been able to display until now. If we only make it to the playoffs, anything can happen," he asserted confidently.

Coach Tilkainen said, "Mental strength, technical skills, and the belief that we can do it are important. And most importantly, curiosity to study and strive for self-improvement is crucial." He added, "I do not particularly worry about competing with foreign coaches. What matters is improving every day, and I want to win every day."

Meanwhile, the men's foreign player tryout will hold practice games on the 8th and 9th, followed by the draft on the 10th.

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*This content was translated by AI.