⚡️ According to Russian media reports, 39-year-old former Russian national setter Alexander Butko will...

⚡️ According to Russian media reports, 39-year-old former Russian national setter Alexander Butko will play for Türkiye's Akus Club next season. Last season, the Olympic champion made 15 appearances for St. Petersburg Zenit and won the Russian League silver medal. Butko was no longer on the roster at the end of March due to another setter, Dmitry Kovalev, recovered from injury.

During his career, Alexander also played for Dynamo Moscow (2003/04), Luh (2004-2006), Okinzovo (2007-2009), Locomotive (2006/07, 2009-2015, 2015/16), Kuzbas (2021/22), Dynamo Ural (2023/24) and Zenit Kazan (2015/16, 2016-2021, 2022/23), and won three Champions League titles and four Russian League gold medals with the team. As a member of the Russian national team, Butko has participated in 80 matches and won the 2011 World League, the 2011 World Cup, the 2012 Olympic Games and the 2017 European Championships.

Akush ranked 12th in the Turkish Championship last season. The team has two Russian players: outside batsman Stanislav Masliyev and slash batsman Alexander Safonov, who joined the team in January.