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Bernardo Rezende

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Bernardo Rocha de Rezende is a legendary figure in international volleyball.

Bernardinho (9277144581)
Bernardinho (9277144581)

Most people in the sports world know him by his nickname, Bernardinho. He is a Brazilian coach and a former professional player. Rezende is widely considered one of the most successful coaches in the history of the sport. He has accumulated more than 30 major titles during his twenty-year career. As of 2021, he has earned 48 medals in total. This record makes him the most successful coach in all of team sports. In 2022, his massive impact was recognized when he joined the International Volleyball Hall of Fame.

Before he directed teams from the sidelines, Rezende competed on the court. He played professional volleyball from 1979 until 1985. During this period, he played for several Brazilian clubs, including Fluminense, Flamengo, and Vasco da Gama. He achieved significant success as a player, winning a gold medal at the 1983 Pan American Games. He also earned a silver medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics. His playing career included competing in the 1980 Summer Olympics, where he finished in fifth place. In 1981, he won the Brazil Super League while playing for Atlântica Boavista.

Rezende transitioned from playing to coaching in 1988. He began this new chapter as an assistant to Bebeto de Freitas during the 1988 Summer Olympics. His coaching journey soon took him to Italy, where he led the Perugia female team in 1990. That same year, he returned to Brazil to coach the national women's team. He led the women to a bronze medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. He also secured a bronze medal for the women at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. In 2001, he accepted a new challenge by becoming the head coach of the Brazilian men's national team.

His leadership of the men's team resulted in many historic victories. Rezende guided the men to two Olympic gold medals in 2004 at Athens and 2016 in Rio de Janeiro. He is the first and only head coach to lead national teams to win six Olympic medals. His teams dominated many major international competitions. For example, he led the men to first place in the FIVB World League in 2001 and 2003. He also coached the team to a gold medal in the 2002 FIVB World Championship. In 2006, he led them to a second FIVB World Championship title.

Rezende's success was marked by incredible consistency across many years. He won the FIVB World League five times in total. In 2010, his team won their ninth title in this competition, breaking a record held by Italy. He also achieved several victories in the South American Championship. Between 2003 and 2015, his teams won many gold medals in this regional tournament. Even when facing setbacks, such as a second-place finish at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, he continued to build winning teams. In 2016, he famously defeated Italy to win the gold medal in the Rio Olympics.

Brasil é ouro no vôlei masculino 1039391-210816 v9a13140022
Brasil é ouro no vôlei masculino 1039391-210816 v9a13140022

Beyond the volleyball court, Rezende is a successful businessman and philanthropist. He serves on the board of directors for several different organizations. He is involved with Delirio Tropical, a restaurant group with nine units in Rio de Janeiro. He also works with the Bodytech Group, which is the largest fitness center chain in Latin America. This group operates 50 units and serves more than 87,000 students. Most importantly, he created the Instituto Compartilhar. This non-governmental organization (NGO) uses sport to develop young people from disadvantaged communities.

Family and legacy also play a significant role in his life. Rezende's son, Bruno Rezende, also became a professional athlete.

Brasil é ouro no vôlei masculino 1039391-210816 v9a13140022
Brasil é ouro no vôlei masculino 1039391-210816 v9a13140022

Bruno, often called Bruninho, serves as the captain of the Brazilian national volleyball team. Rezende's professional excellence has earned him many individual honors. He was named the Best Coach in the Brazilian Superliga in both 2008 and 2011. He also received the Best Coach in Volleyball award from ESPN in 2011. These achievements cement his status as a master of his craft.

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File:Bernardinho (9277144581).jpg
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