Eleni Zetou

Eleni Zetou was born in Thessaloniki. From a young age, she developed a love for sports, starting with track and field (long jump and shot put) as part of the Iraklis team. She later learned the basics of basketball and played both basketball and volleyball on school teams. In 1972, she began playing volleyball through a program established by the Federation to promote the sport. She signed with A.S. Aris Thessaloniki, where she played (and served as team captain) from 1972 to 1985. In 1973, she was called to the National Team for the first time and participated in all its events until 1977, when the Women's National Team was disbanded. She was called again in 1982 and participated until 1984. In 1974, she enrolled in the then EASA Thessaloniki (gymnastics academy) and graduated in 1977. That same year, she was elected by the Hellenic Volleyball Federation as the best athlete of the year. From 1977 to 1983, she worked as a Physical Education teacher in private schools in Thessaloniki. In 1983, she was appointed to public education. In 1985, she was seconded for the first time to the Department of Physical Education and Sport Science (TEFAA), where she taught volleyball until 2001. From 1985 to 1988, she coached the Northern Greece girls' team. From 1988 to 1998, she coached the PAO Diikitiriou team, while also being involved with the first teams in Thessaloniki that had infrastructure. In 1998-99, she took on the National Youth and Girls Volleyball Team. Since 1999, she has been coaching the Women's and Girls' Volleyball Team of Earinos Kalamarias. She has attended and taught numerous seminars and conferences in Greece and abroad. She has written many articles, student notes, and books on the sport. Since 1990, she has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Hellenic Volleyball Coaches Association and has served as its General Secretary since 1996. From 1993 to 2000, she was the supervisor of the Neapoli National Sports Center, and in 2001, she was appointed to the management committee of the Alexandreio Sports Arena. From 1996 to 1999, she was a member of the development committee of the Thessaloniki Volleyball Association. Since 1997, she has been a member of the working group of the General Secretariat of Sports for the development of a unified coaching plan in volleyball. In February 2001, she was awarded a Ph.D. with honors for her dissertation on "The Effect of Model Observation on the Performance and Retention of Volleyball Skills in Elementary School Children." Today, she teaches volleyball at the TEFAA in Komotini.