Italy_men's_national_volleyball_team
Italy men's national volleyball team
National team representing Italy in men's volleyball matches
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.
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, the 1991 Mediterranean Games, and the 1993 Grand Champions Cup. They won a silver medal at the 1996 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 qualify | |||||||
| 1956 |
1st round | 14th | 10 | 6 | 4 | 22 | 14 | Squad |
| 1960 |
Did not qualify | |||||||
| 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 |
 2025 | Future event | Squad | ||||||
| Total | 4 titles | 18/20 | 169 | 107 | 62 | 376 | 257 | — |
World Cup
Champions Runners up Third place Fourth place
| World Cup record | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Round | Position | GP | MW | ML | SW | SL | Squad |
| 1965 |
Did not qualify | |||||||
 1969 | ||||||||
| 1977 | ||||||||
| 1981 |
- | 7th | 7 | 1 | 6 | 9 | 18 | Squad |
| 1985 |
Did not qualify | |||||||
| 1989 |
- | 2nd | 7 | 6 | 1 | 20 | 5 | Squad |
| 1991 |
Did not qualify | |||||||
| 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 qualify | |||||||
| 2011 |
- | 4th | 11 | 8 | 3 | 28 | 15 | Squad |
| 2015 |
- | 2nd | 11 | 10 | 1 | 30 | 8 | Squad |
| 2019 |
- | 7th | 11 | 5 | 6 | 14 | 19 | Squad |
| 2023 | Did not qualify | |||||||
| Total | 1 title | 8/14 | 80 | 58 | 22 | 189 | 90 | - |
1995 — 
Gold medal
World Grand Champions Cup
Champions Runners up Third place Fourth place
| World Grand Champions Cup record (Defunct) | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Round | Position | GP | MW | ML | SW | SL | Squad |
| 1993 |
- | 1st | 5 | 5 | 0 | 15 | 4 | Squad |
| 1997 |
Did not qualify | |||||||
| 2001 | ||||||||
| 2005 |
- | 3rd | 5 | 3 | 2 | 11 | 6 | Squad |
| 2009 |
Did not qualify | |||||||
| 2013 |
- | 3rd | 5 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 10 | Squad |
| 2017 |
- | 2nd | 5 | 4 | 1 | 14 | 8 | Squad |
| 2021 | Not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic | |||||||
| 2025 | Future event | |||||||
| Total | 1 title | 4/7 | 20 | 14 | 6 | 52 | 28 | - |
World League
Champions Runners up Third place Fourth place
| World League record (Defunct) | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Total | 8 titles | 28/28 | 425 | 287 | 138 | 1000 | 631 | - |
- 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
1997 Moscow — Gold medal
1999 Mar del Plata — Gold medal
2000 Rotterdam — Gold medal
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 |
| 2020 | Not 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 |
| 2023 |
Semifinals | 4th | 15 | 10 | 5 | 33 | 17 | Squad |
| Total | 0 title(s) | 5/5 | 75 | 44 | 31 | 157 | 119 | – |
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 qualify | |||||||
| 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 |
  2023 |
Final | 2nd | 9 | 8 | 1 | 24 | 7 | Squad |
| Total | 7 titles | 31/32 | 228 | 151 | 77 | 430 | 330 | - |
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 Minsk | Volleyball not held | |||||||
| 2023 Kraków | ||||||||
| Total | 0 titles | 1/1 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 15 | - |
Mediterranean Games
Goodwill Games
Champions Runners up Third place Fourth place
| Goodwill Games record | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Round | Position | GP | MW | ML | SW | SL |
| 1986 | Did not participate | ||||||
| 1990 | Final | Champions | 5 | 4 | 1 | 14 | 6 |
| Total | 1 titles | 1/2 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 14 | 6 |
1990 — 
Gold medal
Current roster
The following is the Italian roster in the 2023 FIVB Men's Olympic Qualification Tournaments.[2]
Head coach: Ferdinando De Giorgi
| No. | Name | Date of birth | Height | Weight | Spike | Block | 2023–24 club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Alessandro Michieletto | 5 December 2001 | 2.05 m (6 ft 9 in) | 88 kg (194 lb) | 357 cm (141 in) | 321 cm (126 in) | Diatec Trentino |
| 6 | Simone Giannelli (C) | 9 August 1996 | 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) | 92 kg (203 lb) | 350 cm (140 in) | 330 cm (130 in) | Sir Safety Umbria Volley |
| 7 | Fabio Balaso | 20 October 1995 | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | 73 kg (161 lb) | 305 cm (120 in) | 280 cm (110 in) | Cucine Lube Civitanova |
| 8 | Riccardo Sbertoli | 23 May 1998 | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | 85 kg (187 lb) | 326 cm (128 in) | 246 cm (97 in) | Diatec Trentino |
| 10 | Leonardo Scanferla | 4 December 1998 | 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) | 76 kg (168 lb) | 305 cm (120 in) | 280 cm (110 in) | Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza |
| 12 | Mattia Bottolo | 3 January 2000 | 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) | 85 kg (187 lb) | 340 cm (130 in) | 319 cm (126 in) | Cucine Lube Civitanova |
| 13 | Lorenzo Cortesia | 26 September 1999 | 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) | 75 kg (165 lb) | 328 cm (129 in) | 300 cm (120 in) | WithU Verona |
| 14 | Gianluca Galassi | 24 July 1997 | 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) | 94 kg (207 lb) | 350 cm (140 in) | 325 cm (128 in) | Vero Volley Milano |
| 15 | Daniele Lavia | 4 November 1999 | 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) | 89 kg (196 lb) | 345 cm (136 in) | 315 cm (124 in) | Diatec Trentino |
| 16 | Yuri Romanò | 26 July 1997 | 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) | 89 kg (196 lb) | 350 cm (140 in) | 343 cm (135 in) | Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza |
| 20 | Tommaso Rinaldi | 9 November 2001 | 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) | 86 kg (190 lb) | 350 cm (140 in) | 338 cm (133 in) | Valsa Group Modena |
| 23 | Alessandro Bovolenta | 27 May 2004 | 2.02 m (6 ft 8 in) | 90 kg (200 lb) | 352 cm (139 in) | 340 cm (130 in) | Robur Ravenna |
| 28 | Giovanni Sanguinetti | 14 April 2000 | 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) | 98 kg (216 lb) | 346 cm (136 in) | 317 cm (125 in) | Valsa Group Modena |
| 30 | Leandro Mosca | 5 September 2000 | 2.08 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-)
- 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 |
The table below shows the history of kit providers for the Italy national volleyball team.
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.
Italy's matches and friendlies are currently televised by RAI and Rai Sport.
- "Team Roster - Italy". volleyballworld.com. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
