Polish veteran Daniel Plinski has decided to end his professional volleyball career after 21 years in the sport. His career ends with 498 games played in Poland’s professional league, plus a further 142 international caps with the Polish National Team.
“I made it to the end of my 21st season, it’s time to get off the stage,” Plinski said. “This is a good time to end my career. It is not easy, volleyball has been with me throughout my life. It’s time to change my life and do something else. Ladies and gentleman, loyal supporters – I thank you very much! Thank you for always being with me and my teams.
“I won’t say good bye, I’ll say see you later.”
The 39-year old middle blocker was a part of Poland’s National Team from 20005 through 2010, which included a silver medal at the 2006 World Championships and a gold at the 2009 European Championships. Plinski started and played all 3 sets in that World Championship final, where Poland would be swepr by Brazil, and scored 4 points on 3 kills and 1 block.
He began his career with Stolarka Wolomin from 1997-2002, before that team merged with Polmien Sosnowiec, where he played until 204. He spent his entire career in Poland, including most recently with PGE Skra Belchatow from 2007-2014, Cerrad Czarni Radom from 2014-2016, and the last two seasons with Indykpol AZS Olsztyn.
He three times played on medal-winning teams at the FIVB Club World Championship with Belchatow, earning silvers in 2009 and 2010 and bronze in 2012. His career also included 5 Polish Cups, and a further 5 Polish Championships.
Individually, he was named the best blocker of the international Memorial of Hubert Jerzy Wagner trophy in 2008 and 2009.
His team from Olsztyn finished 4th last year in Poland’s PlusLiga, where he was ranked as the 21st-best middle blocker in the league last season by Data Volley statistics. His final year as a professional included 4.39 point/match and 1.50 blocks/match.
Plinski won’t travel far from the court after his retirement though: he’s already been signed on to be a domestic commentator for volleyball for next season’s Champions League matches.
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