The move of volleyball player Alexei Samoilenko to Greece can already be considered successful. The Russian can boast of a prestigious local title. And he won it… in the second match!

The volleyball player didn’t even have time to unpack his suitcases.

Played in almost all top clubs in Russia

Alexey Samoilenko is a titled and strong player even by high Russian standards. A graduate of Rostov volleyball, playing in the position of a central blocker, over the years he defended the colors of almost all the top clubs in the country. His career included Dynamo Moscow, Lokomotiv Novosibirsk, Zenit Kazan, Fakel from Novy Urengoy and Belogorye from Belgorod.

Samoilenko became the champion of Russia twice, won the country’s Cup four times and lifted the Super Cup over his head the same number of times. Samoilenko also has international successes: he played for Dynamo in the final of the European Champions League, and at Zenit he won the Club World Championship and won the main European Cup.

Alexey Samoilenko / Photo: © RIA Novosti / Maxim Bogodvid

Alexey’s last club in Russia was Neftyanik, one of the outsiders of the Russian PARI Super League. But the cooperation was short-lived: the blocker played in Orenburg for only a few months. He later admitted that the reason for leaving was a conflict with the team’s head coach Pavel Borsch.

“We didn’t understand each other at all.” This applied to both the training process and some game moments. He is a very specific coach, with whom it is difficult to communicate and work. Before moving to Neftyanik, I talked to him on the phone, and he was a different person. I heard something in his words and believed it. “It was my mistake,” Samoilenko said in an interview with the Sports Business Online portal.

Brought the team a historic trophy

Not wanting to put up with the coach’s demands, Alexey began looking for a new team. The agent suggested that he move to PAOK, which is considered one of the leaders of Greek volleyball, and Samoilenko immediately agreed. The negotiations went quickly, and on January 15, PAOK announced the transfer of the Russian.

Alexey played his first match for the new team six days after the move. On January 21, the team from Thessaloniki hosted Milon. Samoilenko immediately became the leader of PAOK, implementing eight attacks, making six successful blocks and showing the best numbers in terms of utility (+13). His play helped the team beat its direct competitor in three games.

Three days later, on January 24, PAOK played for the Greek Super Cup with Olympiacos, one of the main rivals. Samoilenko was again among the leaders of the “black and whites”, scoring 12 points on the block and in attack. The match turned out to be very difficult, the club from Thessaloniki was able to put the squeeze on their opponents only in the fifth game. This is a historic moment for PAOK, who won the Greek Volleyball Super Cup for the first time.

“After the Super Bowl game, I’ll go to the apartment and get a car.”

Samoilenko instantly became one of the people in Thessaloniki. While the club is enjoying the victory, the volleyball player is improving his living conditions. After moving to Greece, he didn’t even have time to properly unpack his suitcases!

— I’m living in a hotel for now. I chose this option to rest peacefully before important matches. After the Super Bowl game, I’ll go to the apartment and get a car. My wife and son have just joined the queue to receive documents – visas are difficult now. I want them to arrive at the end of February. Now we are working in this direction,” Samoilenko noted in an interview with the Sports Business Online portal.

Alexey is 38 years old, and at this age it is already common to think about retiring from his career. However, this question does not bother him. At his age, Samoilenko shows high-level volleyball and turns a deaf ear to conversations about leaving the sport. Therefore, there is no doubt that after his arrival PAOK will win more than one trophy.