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SERGIO SANTOSBorn: October 15, 1975 in Nova Londrina, State of Paraná, Brazil
Enshrined: 2021 Country: United States Category: Male Indoor Player |
BIOGRAPHY
Growing up on the outskirts of São Paulo, Brazil, Sérgio Santos, nicknamed Serginho or Escadinha, worked in a supermarket, an office, and as a street vendor to get by while playing club volleyball as a setter in Brazil. The creation of the libero position in 1998 gave Serginho an opportunity to become a key figure in the numerous achievements of Brazil’s National Team in the 21st century.
The transition from one position to another is rarely an easy feat but Serginho defined what the libero position could be. Not just a defensive specialist, but rather a game changer. A player with outstanding service reception and digging skills capable of running the offense as a second setter if the setter is forced to make the first contact.
A true veteran of Team Brazil, Serginho represented his country for 15 years on the highest stage. Widely regarded as one of the best libero’s of all time, Serginho helped Brazil to four Olympic Medals – gold in Athens and Rio and Silver in Beijing and London. All told he helped Brazil to 30 medals at major competitions including, two World Championships, two World Grand Champions Cups, ten World League Medals, three World Cup Medals, two Pan American Games Medals, and seven South American Championships. He is unquestionably the best libero of the 2000s with more individual awards than any other. In 2009 he became the first libero to be named Most Valuable Player in the history of the FIVB World League followed by Most Valuable Player honors in his fourth and final Olympics at the 2016 Rio Games.
Serginho semi-retired from the national team after the 2012 Olympics returning only for the 2015 World League. He declined to compete at the 2016 Rio Olympics feeling he no longer had the agility that made him famous. His coach, Bernardinho, persuaded him to return and bring his experience and maturity to help lead the team during a tournament that would certainly be rife with pressure on the Brazilian side since they were playing in their own country and coming from losses in the finals of the previous two Olympics. Brazil won Olympic Gold against Italy and Serginho was acclaimed by the cheering fans as he was named the tournament's most valuable player.
Santos had a 28 year-long club career playing in Brazil and Italy. He won eight Brazilian Championship medals including one gold with SESI São Paulo during the 2010-2011 season.
For his ability to define the position of libero as not just a defensive specialist but as a weapon for its team we are proud to induct Sérgio Santos to the International Volleyball Hall of Fame as an indoor player.
The transition from one position to another is rarely an easy feat but Serginho defined what the libero position could be. Not just a defensive specialist, but rather a game changer. A player with outstanding service reception and digging skills capable of running the offense as a second setter if the setter is forced to make the first contact.
A true veteran of Team Brazil, Serginho represented his country for 15 years on the highest stage. Widely regarded as one of the best libero’s of all time, Serginho helped Brazil to four Olympic Medals – gold in Athens and Rio and Silver in Beijing and London. All told he helped Brazil to 30 medals at major competitions including, two World Championships, two World Grand Champions Cups, ten World League Medals, three World Cup Medals, two Pan American Games Medals, and seven South American Championships. He is unquestionably the best libero of the 2000s with more individual awards than any other. In 2009 he became the first libero to be named Most Valuable Player in the history of the FIVB World League followed by Most Valuable Player honors in his fourth and final Olympics at the 2016 Rio Games.
Serginho semi-retired from the national team after the 2012 Olympics returning only for the 2015 World League. He declined to compete at the 2016 Rio Olympics feeling he no longer had the agility that made him famous. His coach, Bernardinho, persuaded him to return and bring his experience and maturity to help lead the team during a tournament that would certainly be rife with pressure on the Brazilian side since they were playing in their own country and coming from losses in the finals of the previous two Olympics. Brazil won Olympic Gold against Italy and Serginho was acclaimed by the cheering fans as he was named the tournament's most valuable player.
Santos had a 28 year-long club career playing in Brazil and Italy. He won eight Brazilian Championship medals including one gold with SESI São Paulo during the 2010-2011 season.
For his ability to define the position of libero as not just a defensive specialist but as a weapon for its team we are proud to induct Sérgio Santos to the International Volleyball Hall of Fame as an indoor player.
