Vital Heynen facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Vital Heynen
Heynen in 2022
Personal information
Born	(1969-06-12) 12 June 1969 (age 56) Maaseik, Belgium
Height	1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Coaching information
Current team	China
Previous teams coached Years Teams 2006–2012 2012–2016 2012–2013 2013–2015 2015–2016 2016–2019 2017–2018 2018–2021 2019–2021 2022–2023 2022–2024 2024– Noliko Maaseik Germany Ziraat Bankası Ankara Transfer Bydgoszcz Tours VB VfB Friedrichshafen Belgium Poland Sir Safety Perugia Germany (W) Nilüfer Belediyespor China
Volleyball information
Position	Setter
Career
Years Teams 1995–2005 Noliko Maaseik
Honours Men's volleyball Head coach  GER FIVB World Championship Bronze 2014 Poland Head coach  POL FIVB World Championship Gold 2018 Bulgaria/Italy FIVB World Cup Silver 2019 Japan FIVB Nations League Silver 2021 Rimini Bronze 2019 Chicago CEV European Championship Bronze 2019 Belgium/France/Netherlands/Slovenia Bronze 2021 Poland/Czechia/Estonia/Finland Head coach  CHN FIVB Challenger Cup Gold 2024 Linyi

Hand prints and signature at the Avenue of Volleyball Stars, Katowice

Vital Heynen was born on June 12, 1969. He is a famous Belgian volleyball coach and a former player. He has coached many top teams and national squads around the world. Since 2024, he has been the head coach for the China national team.

Heynen coaching Germany during the 2014 World League.

Vital Heynen's Coaching Journey

Vital Heynen started his coaching career in his hometown. He began at the Noliko Maaseik club in Belgium. In 2005, he became an assistant coach. Just one year later, he was promoted to head coach.

Early Coaching Days

During his six years at Noliko Maaseik, his team was very successful. They won the Belgian Championship four times. They also won the Belgian Cup five times and the Supercup four times. Vital Heynen was even named Belgian Coach of the Year twice, in 2009 and 2011.

In 2012, he left his hometown club. He then joined a Turkish club called Ziraat Bankası Ankara. He coached them for the 2012-2013 season. In December 2013, he became the new coach for Transfer Bydgoszcz in Poland's top league, PlusLiga.

Coaching National Teams

In February 2012, Vital Heynen became the head coach of the German national team. He led them to a big achievement.

Germany's Bronze Medal

At the World Championship in 2014, his German team played very well. They won the bronze medal. They beat France in the match for third place.

In 2017, he took over as coach for the Belgian national team. Then, on February 7, 2018, he was chosen to be the new head coach of the Polish national team.

Poland's World Championship Win

At the World Championship in 2018, held in Italy, Heynen's Polish team was amazing. They beat Brazil in the final match. This win meant they successfully defended their title from the 2014 World Championship. It was Poland's third World Champion title ever!

Other Big Wins with Poland

In 2019, Heynen coached Poland to another bronze medal. This was at the European Championship. They won against France for third place. They only lost to Slovenia in the semifinal.

Later in 2019, at the FIVB World Cup, his team earned a silver medal. They only lost two games, against USA and Brazil.

Club Coaching Success

In November 2019, Vital Heynen became the head coach of Sir Safety Conad Perugia in Italy. In the 2019-2020 season, his team, Sir Safety Perugia, won the Italian SuperCup. They defeated Modena Volley in the final.

Vital Heynen's Player Career

Before becoming a famous coach, Vital Heynen was a professional volleyball player himself. He played as a setter. A setter is a key player who sets up the ball for attackers.

He played for Noliko Maaseik from 1995 to 2005. During his time as a player, his team was very successful in Belgium. They won the Belgian Championship many times. They also won several Belgian Cups and Supercups. He was part of the team that reached the finals of the CEV European Champions Cup twice, in 1997 and 1999.

Honours and Awards

Vital Heynen has won many awards and titles both as a player and as a coach.

As a Player

• CEV European Champions Cup:
  • Silver medal: 1996–97, 1998–99 (with Noliko Maaseik)
• Belgian Championship:
  • Gold medal: 1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04 (with Noliko Maaseik)
• Belgian Cup:
  • Gold medal: 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04 (with Noliko Maaseik)
• Belgian SuperCup:
  • Gold medal: 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2002–03 (with Noliko Maaseik)

As a Coach

• FIVB World Championship:
  • Gold medal: 2018 (with Poland)
  • Bronze medal: 2014 (with Germany)
• FIVB World Cup:
  • Silver medal: 2019 (with Poland)
• FIVB Nations League:
  • Silver medal: 2021 (with Poland)
  • Bronze medal: 2019 (with Poland)
• CEV European Championship:
  • Bronze medal: 2019, 2021 (with Poland)
• FIVB Challenger Cup:
  • Gold medal: 2024 (with China)
• CEV Cup:
  • Silver medal: 2007–08 (with Noliko Maaseik)
• Belgian Championship:
  • Gold medal: 2007–08, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2011–12 (with Noliko Maaseik)
• Belgian Cup:
  • Gold medal: 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2011–12 (with Noliko Maaseik)
• Belgian SuperCup:
  • Gold medal: 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2011–12 (with Noliko Maaseik)
• French SuperCup:
  • Gold medal: 2014–15 (with Tours VB)
• German SuperCup:
  • Gold medal: 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19 (with VfB Friedrichshafen)
• German Cup:
  • Gold medal: 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19 (with VfB Friedrichshafen)
• Italian SuperCup:
  • Gold medal: 2019–20, 2020–21 (with Sir Safety Perugia)