Alexandre Leal, head coach of Berlin Recycling Volleys, relies on intensity, team management and international experience to chase another title
From nearly 10 years in Taubaté to the command in Berlin
The trajectory of Alexandre Leal until the command of Berlin Recycling Volleys is marked by consistency and solid development within high-level volleyball.
The Brazilian built the foundation of his career at Vôlei Taubaté, where he worked between the 2013/2014 seasons and the beginning of 2021/2022.
During this period, he worked as a performance analyst until the 2020/2021 season and then as assistant coach.
At the São Paulo club, he accumulated important achievements:
- two-time Brazilian Superliga champion (2018/19 and 2020/21)
- South American Club Championship winner (2015/16)
- two-time Brazilian Cup winner (2014/15 and 2016/17)
- Brazilian Super Cup champion (2020/21)
- multiple São Paulo State Championship titles
In addition, he was part of the Brazilian national team staff at the Pan American Games Lima 2019, where he won the bronze medal as performance analyst.
International experience before Germany
After leaving Brazil, Leal began his international career.
He worked in Kuwait, with Kazma, and in Saudi Arabia, with Al Hilal, both as assistant coach.
With Kazma, he finished as runner-up of the Kuwaiti League and also runner-up of the Kuwaiti Cup.
He also had experiences as assistant coach in the Netherlands and in Turkey before arriving in Germany.
The arrival in Berlin and the promotion
Leal arrived at Berlin Recycling Volleys as assistant coach and remained in the role for two and a half seasons until January of this year, when he assumed the command of the main team.
The change happened after the departure of the previous coach — a delicate situation, as he himself defines:
“It is a situation that is never nice. A colleague was dismissed, but the club needed someone to take over. We have to do what is necessary to help the club that welcomed you.”
“Nothing changed — only the responsibility”
Even with the new role, the coach reinforces that his way of working remains the same.
“I am doing what I have always done. Nothing changed. I continue doing what I always do, but with more responsibilities, with more decisions to be made. Now it is literally the responsibility of making the decision and not only of giving support.”
Adjustments, not a revolution
When assuming the team, Leal found an already solid structure and chose not to make radical changes.
“The team already had a very solid situation. I made some adjustments in the day-to-day training, but no major changes.”
A more Brazilian style
The main difference appears in the way of leading the group.
“Maybe a bit more Latin, a bit more Brazilian. A bit more intense, more energetic, but also calm. There has to be a balance between the two things.”
Changing the atmosphere was the first goal
In the first months as head coach, the focus was on the internal environment of the team.
“It is difficult to make a self-evaluation, but the atmosphere definitely changed. That was my main focus.”
Team already in the semifinals
The impact of the work already appears on the court. The Berlin Recycling Volleys won the quarterfinals of the Bundesliga and secured a place in the semifinals.
Now, the team awaits the definition of the next opponent.
“Now another competition begins. Playoffs are another competition.”
“Berlin is one of the best teams in Europe and the goal is always to be champion.”
What really matters
Even coming from one of the strongest volleyball countries in the world, Leal relativizes the weight of origin.
“What matters is what you build within the team. It is not where you came from, but what you do in the club.”
A giant of European volleyball
The Berlin Recycling Volleys is one of the most dominant clubs in Germany in recent decades. The team has more than 10 Bundesliga titles, in addition to German Cup and Super Cup titles.
The club is also a frequent presence in the CEV Champions League.
The board’s decision
The club’s decision to promote Alexandre Leal was aimed precisely at bringing a new impulse to the team.
“Alexandre Leal has been doing valuable work for our club for three years. Even as a statistician, he took on more responsibility than usual and effectively acted as a second assistant coach. In January, we gave him the opportunity to become head coach because the team needed a new impulse. He takes on this new challenge with great commitment and ambition. We value not only his volleyball knowledge, but also his passion for the sport and his warm personality.”
The most important moment of his career
Now as head coach of one of the biggest teams in Europe, Alexandre Leal lives the most important moment of his career.
Without promising revolutions, but betting on consistency, intensity and group management, the Brazilian begins his journey already leading the team to the semifinals.
Augusto Medeiros is a Brazilian journalist based in Berlin, editor-in-chief and founder of Portal Mais Berlim. He covers culture, society, diversity, entrepreneurship and everyday life in Germany, with a focus on the experiences of Brazilians and international communities. His work includes original reporting, interviews and multilingual content connecting Brazil and Germany with context and perspective.