Italy men's national volleyball team

The Italy men's national volleyball team represents the country in international competitions and friendly matches. The national team is controlled by the Italian Volleyball Federation, the governing body for Volleyball in Italy. It is one of the most successful national teams in the history of volleyball, having won four World Championships (1990, 1994, 1998 and 2022), seven European Championships, one World Cup (1995) and eight World League (1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1999 and 2000). Italy is the reigning World champion, having won 2022 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship.

Italy
Nickname(s)Gli Azzurri (The Blues)
AssociationFederazione Italiana Pallavolo (in Italian)
ConfederationCEV
Head coachFerdinando De Giorgi
FIVB ranking6 (as of 27 July 2022)
Uniforms
Home
Away
Third
Summer Olympics
Appearances12 (First in 1976)
Best result (1996, 2004, 2016)
World Championship
Appearances18 (First in 1949)
Best result (1990, 1994, 1998, 2022)
World Cup
Appearances7 (First in 1989)
Best result (1995)
European Championship
Appearances29 (First in 1948)
Best result (1989, 1993, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2005, 2021)
federvolley.it
Honours
Event 1st 2nd 3rd
Olympic Games 0 3 3
World Championship 4 1 0
World Cup 1 3 1
World Grand Champions Cup 1 1 2
World League 8 3 4
Nations League 0 0 0
European Championship 7 4 3
Universiade 2 1 5
Mediterranean Games 7 2 2
Goodwill Games 1 0 0
Total 31 18 20
Medal record
Olympics
1996 AtlantaTeam
2004 AthensTeam
2016 Rio de JaneiroTeam
1984 Los AngelesTeam
2000 SydneyTeam
2012 LondonTeam
World Championship
1990 Brazil
1994 Greece
1998 Japan
2022 Poland/Slovenia
1978 Italy
World Cup
1995 Japan
1989 Japan
2003 Japan
2015 Japan
1999 Japan
World Grand Champions Cup
1993 Japan
2017 Japan
2005 Japan
2013 Japan
World League
1990 Osaka
1991 Milan
1992 Genoa
1994 Milan
1995 Rio de Janeiro
1997 Moscow
1999 Mar del Plata
2000 Rotterdam
1996 Rotterdam
2001 Katowice
2004 Rome
1993 São Paulo
2003 Madrid
2013 Mar del Plata
2014 Florence
European Championship
1989 Sweden
1993 Finland
1995 Greece
1999 Austria
2003 Germany
2005 Italy/Serbia and Montenegro
2021 Poland/Czech Republic/Estonia/Finland
1991 Germany
2001 Czech Republic
2011 Austria/Czech Republic
2013 Denmark/Poland
1948 Italy
1997 Netherlands
2015 Bulgaria/Italy
Universiade
1970 Turin
2019 Naples
1997 Sicilly
1983 Edmonton
1985 Kobe
1987 Zagreb
1995 Fukuoka
2005 Izmir
Mediterranean Games
1959 Lebanon
1983 Casablanca
1991 Athens
2001 Tunis
2009 Pescara
2013 Mersin
2018 Tarragona
1963 Naples
1975 Algiers
1987 Latakia
2022 Oran
Goodwill Games
1990 Seattle

Result history

Italy national team at 2008 Summer Olympics

Golden Team

In 1989, Julio Velasco was hired to coach the Italian National Men's Team. He immediately led them to a gold medal at the European Championships in 1989, which his team won twice more in 1993 and 1995. The team also won a silver medal at the World Cup in 1989. He de-emphasized the specialization trend of the 1980s. He emphasized the concept of the “square”, team unity where the team was better than the sum of its players. He was meticulous, well prepared and very demanding, but he knew how to win. Starting at the 1990 World Championships and the 1990 Goodwill Games, the Italian National team swept the world volleyball events for five years. They won a gold medal in the World Championships in 1990 and 1994, the World League in 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994 and 1995, 1991, the Mediterranean Games, and the 1993 Grand Champions Cup. They won a silver medal at the Olympic Games. Julio Velasco left the Italian National Men's Team in 1996. Velasco in 1989-1996 created Golden Team with Players such as Zorzi, Andrea Gardini, Giani, Bernardi, Gravina, Bracci, Tofoli, Lucchetta, Papi, Pasinato and Meoni.[1]

Olympic Games

  Champions    Runners up    Third place    Fourth place

Olympic Games record
Year Round Position GP MW ML SW SL Squad
1964 did not qualify
1968
1972
1976 1st Round 8th 5 0 5 2 15 Squad
1980 1st Round 9th 5 2 3 5 11 Squad
1984 Semifinals Bronze 6 4 2 14 7 Squad
1988 1st Round 9th 7 4 3 13 13 Squad
1992 Quarterfinals 5th 7 5 2 18 8 Squad
1996 Final Silver 8 7 1 23 5 Squad
2000 Semifinals Bronze 8 7 1 21 8 Squad
2004 Final Silver 8 5 3 20 11 Squad
2008 Semifinals 4th 8 5 3 17 14 Squad
2012 Semifinals Bronze 8 5 3 16 13 Squad
2016 Final Silver 8 6 2 19 10 Squad
2020 Quarterfinals 6th 6 4 2 14 10 Squad
2024 Future events
2028
2032
Total 0 Titles 12/15 84 54 32 182 125

World Championship

  Champions    Runners up    Third place    Fourth place

World Championship record
Year Round Position GP MW ML SW SL Squad
1949 1st Round 8th 5 2 3 8 9 Squad
1952 Did Not Qualified
1956 1st Round 14th 10 6 4 22 14 Squad
1960 Did Not Qualified
1962 1st Round 14th 11 5 6 19 23 Squad
1966 1st Round 16th 11 2 9 9 31 Squad
1970 1st Round 15th 11 3 8 23 28 Squad
1974 1st Round 19th 11 7 4 24 14 Squad
1978 Final 2nd 10 8 2 24 12 Squad
1982 1st Round 14th 10 8 2 24 12 Squad
1986 2nd Round 11th 8 3 5 14 18 Squad
1990 Final 1st 7 6 1 18 7 Squad
1994 Final 1st 7 6 1 20 6 Squad
1998 Final 1st 12 11 1 33 7 Squad
2002 Quarterfinals 5th 9 6 3 23 14 Squad
2006 2nd Round 5th 11 8 3 28 13 Squad
2010 Semifinals 4th 10 8 2 26 12 Squad
2014 2nd Round 13th 9 3 6 14 22 Squad
2018 3rd Round 5th 10 8 2 26 11 Squad
2022 Final 1st 7 7 0 21 4 Squad
Total 4 Titles 18/20 169 107 62 376 257
  • 1990 — Gold medal
    Anastasi, Bernardi, Bracci, Cantagalli, De Giorgi, Gardini, Giani, Lucchetta, Martinelli, Masciarelli, Tofoli, Zorzi. Head Coach: Velasco
  • 1994 — Gold medal
    Bernardi, Bracci, Cantagalli, Gardini, Giani, De Giorgi, Giretto, Gravina, Papi, Pippi, Tofoli, Zorzi. Head Coach: Velasco
  • 1998 — Gold medal
    Bracci, Corsano, Fei, Gardini, Giani, De Giorgi, Gravina, Meoni, Papi, Pasinato, Rosalba, Sartoretti. Head Coach: Bebeto
  • / 2022 — Gold medal
    Anzani, Balaso, Bottolo, Galassi, Giannelli, Lavia, Michieletto, Mosca, Pinali, Recine, Romanò, Russo, Sbertoli, Scanferla. Head Coach: De Giorgi

World Cup

  Champions    Runners up    Third place    Fourth place

World Cup record
Year Round Position GP MW ML SW SL Squad
1965 Did Not Qualified
1969
1977
1981 - 7th 7 1 6 9 18 Squad
1985 Did Not Qualified
1989 - 2nd 7 6 1 20 5 Squad
1991 Did Not Qualified
1995 - 1st 11 11 0 33 3 Squad
1999 - 3rd 11 8 3 26 14 Squad
2003 - 2nd 11 9 2 29 8 Squad
2007 Did Not Qualified
2011 - 4th 11 8 3 28 15 Squad
2015 - 2nd 11 10 1 30 8 Squad
2019 - 7th 11 5 6 14 19 Squad
2023Future event
Total1 Title8/1480582218990-
  • 1995 — Gold medal

World Grand Champions Cup

  Champions    Runners up    Third place    Fourth place

World Grand Champions Cup record
Year Round Position GP MW ML SW SL Squad
1993 - 1st 5 5 0 15 4 Squad
1997 Did Not Qualified
2001
2005 - 3rd 5 3 2 11 6 Squad
2009 Did Not Qualified
2013 - 3rd 5 2 3 12 10 Squad
2017 - 2nd 5 4 1 14 8 Squad
2021Not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2025Future event
Total1 Title4/7201465228-
  • 1993 — Gold medal
    Bracci, Galli, Gardini, Giani, Gravina, Zorzi, Cantagalli, Bellini, Pippi, Pasinato, Bernardi. Head Coach: Velasco

World League

  Champions    Runners up    Third place    Fourth place

World League record
Year Round Position GP MW ML SW SL Squad
1990 Final 1st 14 11 3 37 21 Squad
1991 Final 1st 18 16 2 52 16 Squad
1992 Final 1st 18 16 2 50 17 Squad
1993 Semifinals 3rd 22 20 2 62 17 Squad
1994 Final 1st 16 12 4 38 19 Squad
1995 Final 1st 17 14 3 45 19 Squad
1996 Final 2nd 17 14 3 45 19 Squad
1997 Final 1st 17 14 3 47 17 Squad
1998 Final Round 4th 15 7 8 27 26 Squad
1999 Final 1st 16 12 4 42 20 Squad
2000 Final 1st 18 13 5 44 33 Squad
2001 Final 2nd 17 12 5 41 24 Squad
2002 Semifinals 4th 17 14 3 44 19 Squad
2003 Semifinals 3rd 17 10 7 37 27 Squad
2004 Final 2nd 15 9 6 34 22 Squad
2005 1st Round 7th 12 6 6 22 26 Squad
2006 2nd Round 6th 16 7 9 32 31 Squad
2007 1st Round 9th 12 4 8 19 30 Squad
2008 1st Round 7th 12 8 4 30 22 Squad
2009 1st Round 7th 12 8 4 27 17 Squad
2010 2nd Round 6th 14 9 5 35 21 Squad
2011 2nd Round 6th 15 11 4 35 18 Squad
2012 1st Round 11th 12 5 7 23 28 Squad
2013 Semifinals 3rd 14 10 4 35 23 Squad
2014 Semifinals 3rd 16 9 7 33 25 Squad
2015 2nd Round 5th 14 7 7 26 31 Squad
2016 Semifinals 4th 13 7 6 25 20 Squad
2017 1st Round 12th 9 2 7 13 23 Squad
Total8 Titles28/284252871381000631-
  • 1990 Osaka — Gold medal
    Gardini, Margutti, De Giorgi, Tofoli, Masciarelli, Anastasi, Bracci, Bernardi, Cantagalli, Zorzi, Lucchetta, Giazzoli, Pasinato, Petrelli, Martinelli, Loro, Gallia. Head coach: Velasco
  • 1991 Milan — Gold medal
    Gardini, Martinelli, Margutti, De Giorgi, Tofoli, Masciarelli, Anastasi, Bracci, Bernardi, Cantagalli, Zorzi, Lucchetta, Giazzoli, Pasinato, Petrelli, Lombardi, Gallia, Galli, Gravina. Head coach: Velasco
  • 1992 Genoa — Gold medal
    Gardini, Martinelli, Margutti, De Giorgi, Tofoli, Masciarelli, Galli, Bracci, Bernardi, Cantagalli, Zorzi, Lucchetta, Giani, Giazzoli, Pasinato. Head coach: Velasco
  • 1994 Milan — Gold medal
    Gardini, Martinelli, Gravina, De Giorgi, Tofoli, Papi, Sartoretti, Bracci, Bernardi, Cantagalli, Margutti, Pippi, Giani, Bellini, Pasinato, Rinaldi, Fangareggi, Giretto. Head coach: Velasco
  • 1995 Rio de Janeiro — Gold medal
    Fangareggi, Rosalba, Gravina, De Giorgi, Botti, Papi, Sartoretti, Verniaghi, Giazzoli, Bonati, Radicioni, Pippi, Giani, Bellini, Pasinato, Bovolenta, Meoni, Giretto. Head coach: Velasco
  • 1997 Moscow — Gold medal
    Gardini, Meoni, Gravina, Bendani, Fangareggi, Papi, Giombini, Sartoretti, Casoli, Rosalba, Zlatanov, Pippi, Giani, Bovolenta, Bonati, Patriarca, Bellini. Head coach: de Freitas
  • 1999 Mar del Plata — Gold medal
    Vermiglio, Meoni, Mastrangelo, Fei, Papi, Sartoretti, Casoli, Rosalba, Zlatanov, Corsano, Bellini, Bovolenta, Giombini, Molteni. Head coach: Anastasi
  • 2000 Rotterdam — Gold medal
    Gardini, Meoni, Gravina, Mastrangelo, Tofoli, Papi, Sartoretti, Bracci, Bernardi, Rosalba, Molteni, Corsano, Giani, Fei, Castellano, Bovolenta, Giombini, Vermiglio. Head coach: Anastasi

Nations League

  Champions    Runners up    Third place    Fourth place

Nations League record
Year Round Position GP MW ML SW SL Squad
2018 Preliminary Round 8th 15 8 7 30 28 Squad
2019 Preliminary Round 8th 15 8 7 31 25 Squad
2020Not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021 Preliminary Round 10th 15 7 8 28 33 Squad
2022 Final Round 4th 15 11 4 35 16 Squad
Total0 Titles4/4603426124102-

European Championship

  Champions    Runners up    Third place    Fourth place

European Championship record
Year Round Position GP MW ML SW SL Squad
1948 - 3rd 5 3 2 11 6 Squad
1950 Did Not Qualified
1951 1st Round 8th 5 2 3 8 9 Squad
1955 1st Round 9th 7 5 2 15 8 Squad
1958 1st Round 10th 11 8 3 26 19 Squad
1963 1st Round 10th 11 8 3 24 15 Squad
1967 Final Round 8th 10 3 7 11 25 Squad
1971 1st Round 8th 8 6 2 21 10 Squad
1975 1st Round 10th 7 2 5 8 17 Squad
1977 1st Round 8th 7 3 4 12 16 Squad
1979 Final Round 5th 7 3 4 13 14 Squad
1981 1st Round 7th 7 5 2 15 9 Squad
1983 Final Round 4th 7 4 3 16 16 Squad
1985 Final Round 6th 7 1 6 10 18 Squad
1987 1st Round 9th 7 3 4 14 14 Squad
1989 Final 1st 7 6 1 20 7 Squad
1991 Final 2nd 7 6 1 18 7 Squad
1993 Final 1st 7 7 0 21 5 Squad
1995 Final 1st 7 6 1 19 6 Squad
1997 Semifinals 3rd 7 5 2 15 8 Squad
1999 Final 1st 5 4 1 13 5 Squad
2001 Final 2nd 7 4 3 14 10 Squad
2003 Final 1st 7 7 0 21 4 Squad
2005 Final 1st 7 6 1 19 8 Squad
2007 2nd Round 6th 6 4 2 14 11 Squad
2009 2nd Round 10th 6 2 4 8 12 Squad
2011 Final 2nd 6 4 2 15 8 Squad
2013 Final 2nd 6 4 2 15 9 Squad
2015 Semifinals 3rd 7 5 2 18 7 Squad
2017 Quarterfinals 5th 5 3 2 11 6 Squad
2019 Quarterfinals 6th 7 5 2 16 9 Squad
2021 Final 1st 9 9 0 27 5 Squad
Total7 Titles31/3221914376406323-
  • 1989 — Gold medal
    Anastasi, Bernardi, Bracci, Cantagalli, De Giorgi, Gardini, Lucchetta, Margutti, Masciarelli, Passani, Tofoli, Zorzi. Head Coach: Velasco
  • 1993 — Gold medal
    Bellini, Bracci, Cantagalli, Galli, Gardini, Giani, Gravina, Martinelli, Pasinato, Pippi, Tofoli, Zorzi. Head Coach: Velasco
  • 1995 — Gold medal
    Bernardi, Bovolenta, Bracci, Cantagalli, Gardini, Giani, Gravina, Meoni, Papi, Pasinato, Tofoli, Andrea Zorzi. Head Coach: Velasco
  • 1999 — Gold medal
    Bracci, Corsano, Gardini, Giani, Giombini, Gravina, Meoni, Mastrangelo, Papi, Rosalba, Sartoretti, Tofoli. Head Coach: Anastasi
  • 2003 — Gold medal
    Biribanti, Černič, Cozzi, Fei, Giani, Mastrangelo, Meoni, Papi, Pippi, Sartoretti, Savani, Vermiglio. Head Coach: Montali
  • 2005 — Gold medal
    Černič, Cisolla, Corsano, Cozzi, Fei, Łasko, Mastrangelo, Paparoni, Savani, Sintini, Tencati, Vermiglio. Head Coach: Montali
  • 2021 — Gold medal
    Anzani, Balaso, Bottolo, Cortesia, Galassi, Giannelli, Lavia, Michieletto, Piccinelli, Pinali, Ricci, Recine, Romanò, Sbertoli. Head Coach: De Giorgi

European Games

  Champions    Runners up    Third place    Fourth place

European Games record
Year Round Position GP MW ML SW SL Squad
2015 Baku 1st Round 11th 5 0 5 4 15 Squad
2019 MinskVolleyball not held
2023 KrakówFuture event
Total0 Titles1/1505415-

Mediterranean Games

  • 1959 gold medal
  • 1963 silver medal
  • 1975 silver medal
  • 1979 Fourth place
  • 1983 gold medal
  • 1987 bronze medal
  • 1991 gold medal
  • 1997 Fourth place
  • 2001 gold medal
  • 2005 Fifth place
  • 2009 gold medal
  • 2013 gold medal
  • 2018 gold medal
  • 2022 bronze medal
  • 2026 Future event

Goodwill Games

  Champions    Runners up    Third place    Fourth place

Goodwill Games record
Year Round Position GP MW ML SW SL
1986Did Not Participate
1990FinalChampions541146
Total1 Titles1/2541146
  • 1990 Gold medal

Team

Current roster

The following is the Italian roster in the 2022 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship.[2]

Head coach: Ferdinando De Giorgi

No. Name Date of birth Height Weight Spike Block 2022–23 club
1Giulio Pinali2 April 19971.99 m (6 ft 6 in)91 kg (201 lb)349 cm (137 in)338 cm (133 in) Emma Villas Aubay Siena
3Francesco Recine7 February 19991.86 m (6 ft 1 in)75 kg (165 lb)325 cm (128 in)300 cm (120 in) Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza
5Alessandro Michieletto5 December 20012.05 m (6 ft 9 in)88 kg (194 lb)357 cm (141 in)321 cm (126 in) Diatec Trentino
6Simone Giannelli (C)9 August 19962.00 m (6 ft 7 in)92 kg (203 lb)350 cm (140 in)330 cm (130 in) Sir Safety Umbria Volley
7Fabio Balaso20 October 19951.78 m (5 ft 10 in)73 kg (161 lb)305 cm (120 in)280 cm (110 in) Cucine Lube Civitanova
8Riccardo Sbertoli23 May 19981.88 m (6 ft 2 in)85 kg (187 lb)326 cm (128 in)246 cm (97 in) Diatec Trentino
12Mattia Bottolo3 January 20001.96 m (6 ft 5 in)85 kg (187 lb)340 cm (130 in)319 cm (126 in) Cucine Lube Civitanova
14Gianluca Galassi24 July 19972.01 m (6 ft 7 in)94 kg (207 lb)350 cm (140 in)325 cm (128 in) Vero Volley Milano
15Daniele Lavia4 November 19992.00 m (6 ft 7 in)89 kg (196 lb)345 cm (136 in)315 cm (124 in) Diatec Trentino
16Yuri Romanò26 July 19972.01 m (6 ft 7 in)89 kg (196 lb)350 cm (140 in)343 cm (135 in) Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza
17Simone Anzani24 February 19922.04 m (6 ft 8 in)100 kg (220 lb)350 cm (140 in)330 cm (130 in) Cucine Lube Civitanova
19Roberto Russo23 February 19972.07 m (6 ft 9 in)91 kg (201 lb)340 cm (130 in)320 cm (130 in) Sir Safety Conad Perugia
24Leonardo Scanferla4 December 19981.84 m (6 ft 0 in)76 kg (168 lb)305 cm (120 in)280 cm (110 in) Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza
30Leandro Mosca5 September 20002.08 m (6 ft 10 in)90 kg (200 lb)360 cm (140 in)335 cm (132 in) WithU Volley Verona

Coach history

  • Pietro Bernardi (1947)
  • Angelo Costa (1947-1949)
  • Renzo Del Chicca (1949-1953)
  • Ivan Trinajstic (1953-1966)
  • Josef Kozak (1966-1969)
  • Odone Federzoni (1969-1974)
  • Odone Federzoni & Josef Kozak (1970)
  • Franco Anderlini (1974-1976)
  • Adriano Pavlica (1976-1977)
  • Edward Skorek (1978 ad interim)
  • Carmelo Pittera (1978-1982 + 1988)
  • Nino Cuco (1981 ad interim)
  • Silvano Prandi (1983-1986)
  • Aleksander Skiba (1987)
  • Michelangelo Lo Bianco (1988 ad interim)
  • Julio Velasco (1988-1996)
  • Angelo Frigoni (1990-1991 ad interim - World League)
  • Daniele Bagnoli (1992 ad interim - World League)
  • Paulo Roberto de Freitas (1996-1998)
  • Andrea Anastasi (1998-2002)
  • Kim Ho-Chul (2001)
  • Gian Paolo Montali (2002-2007)
  • Andrea Anastasi (2007-2010)
  • Mauro Berruto (2010-2015)
  • Gianlorenzo Blengini (2015-2021)
  • Antonio Valentini (2021 - Volley Nations League)
  • Ferdinando De Giorgi (2021-)

Record attendance

  • Table updated to August 12, 2012.
# Player Appearances
1 Andrea Giani 474
2 Andrea Gardini 418
3 Luigi Mastrangelo 363
4 Samuele Papi 361
5 Marco Bracci 347
6 Paolo Tofoli 342
7 Luca Cantagalli 330
8 Ferdinando De Giorgi 330
9 Andrea Sartoretti 330
10 Andrea Zorzi 325

Kit providers

The table below shows the history of kit providers for the Italy national volleyball team.

Period Kit provider
2000–2008 Nike
Asics
2008–2021 Asics
Armani
Errea

Sponsorship

Primary sponsors include: main sponsors like DHL, Kinder (Ferrero SpA), Honda and Mizuno, other sponsors: Santal, Diadora, EthicSport, Reaxing, Crai, Nutrilite, Uliveto and Winform.

Media

Italy's matches and friendlies are currently televised by RAI and Rai Sport.

References

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