For 36 years the German senior men’s national team is trying to catch their dream - namely participating in the Olympic Games. In the year 2008 the ban was broken at last. After an emotional roller coaster ride, inspirational appearances and an ounce of luck at the qualification tournament in Düsseldorf (GER) the team succeeded. In Beijing the German team partially played well but was missing stability to beat one of the “big” teams.

The tournament in Beijing was the last international event for head coach Stelian Moculescu. He had already announced his retirement before the qualification for the Olympic Games. During his term as head coach the German Team reached the top of the world class step by step. The stages World Championship 2006 (9^th), European Championship (5^th) and Olympic Games 2008 (9^th) emphasize this in the same way as the world ranking place 14. The former international player always said that the development of a team takes at least one Olympic cycle if not two. He was right and could retire after having done his work.

His successor in the world of Volleyball is a well known person: during the Olympic Games in Beijing Raúl Lozano was still one of the opponents as coach of Poland but is now taking the lead in Germany. He led the Polish team to the silver medal in the World Championships 2006 and also to a good 5^th place in Beijing.

In his first year as team coach of the German men´s national team, Lozano celebrated excellent results. After his team won the European League 2009, the qualification for the World Championships 2010 as well as for the World League 2010 has been successful. With rank six at the European Championships 2009, the team did not disappoint either (being only defeated by the finalists Poland and France).

2010 these performances shall be reached again: the qualification for the European Championship, World League and World Championship are the milestones that Lozano and his young team are about to tackle.

Similar to his predecessor Stelian Moculescu, Raúl Lozano is mad about Volleyball and infected by the game. “My hobby is watching Volleyball. I try to make a cut between my job and being a fan, but it's been pretty difficult so far” says the Argentinean laughing. And similar to Moculescu, Lozano’s CV is also filled with plenty of engagements and achievements: the 52-year old made a name for himself both as a coach of club teams and national teams. Beginning in the second division, he soon found himself in Italy's A1 league, the world’s best league, and led the world’s best teams, such as Milan, Macerata and Treviso. His solidarity to the country is best shown by the fact that since 2000 Lozano has the Italian citizenship.

He kept to his maxim “to never stay more than 4 years at one place” until today, even as a national coach. He was engaged with national federations three times, twice with Spain, once with Poland and each time always very successfully. With Spain he qualified for the Olympic Games in 2000, with Poland for the Games in 2008. It was also our eastern neighbouring country with which he celebrated his biggest success so far, when he won the silver medal at the World Championships in 2006. That made him a superstar in the volleyball loving nation of Poland. Günter Hamel, sports director of the German Volleyball Federation, experienced this at Lozano’s very first visit in Germany while he was at a roadhouse as the 1.63m tall Lozano was acknowledged by several Polish drivers who asked him for an autograph immediately.

His objectives are ambitious and clear: “The team is already on a good level. I will try to lead the team closer to world class. I want and have to reorganize the team because some of the older players will retire. The young players must be integrated into the community and the first step will be to improve their technique. Our first goal is to qualify for the World Championship in 2010. The European Championship will be important for the young players to gain more experience on high level.”

Lozano already succeeded by winning the European League 2009, by taking part effectively in the World Championship and World League Qualification as well as coming sixth in the European Championship. More is to come in 2010.