site.btaThird Generation of Zlatanov Volleyball Records: Manuel Zlatanov Becomes Youngest Ever Player to Debut in Italian Super League

The Zlatanov family has been renowned in the volleyball world for a long time. The best outside spiker at the World Championships 1970, Dimitar Zlatanov, is the only Bulgarian to be inducted in the Volleyball Hall of Fame, while his son Hristo became the best scorer ever in the Italian Volleyball League with a total of 9,688 points scored throughout his career. 

Now it is time for a third generation of record-holders in the Zlatanov volleyball dynasty. On Sunday, Hristo's son Manuel became the youngest ever volleyball player to debut in the Italian top flight. He took the field for Gas Sales Bluenergy Volley Piacenza at the age of 15 years, 8 months and 26 days. 

While Dimitar played for Bulgaria and won silver medals at the 1980 Moscow Olympics and at the 1970 World Cup, Hristo (born in Sofia) racked up 142 matches for the Italian national team as he spent all of his career in this country. Hristo became an icon of Volley Piacenza club as a player and is currently the team's General Director.

Following the steps of his father and grandfather, Manuel also competes as a outside spiker. He won the European Men's U-17 Volleyball Championship with Italy and was among the best performers in Piacenza's second team.