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Italy men's national volleyball team

National team representing Italy in men's volleyball matches


National team representing Italy in men's volleyball matches

FieldValue
nameItaly
nicknameGli Azzurri (The Blues)
image2025 FIPAV logo - azure.png
federationFIPAV
websitefedervolley.it
confederationCEV
coachFerdinando De Giorgi
Olympic apps13
Olympic first1976
Olympic bestSilver: (1996, 2004, 2016)
World Champs apps19
World Champs first1949
World Champs bestGold: (1990, 1994, 1998, 2022, 2025)
World Cup apps8
World Cup first1989
World Cup best[[File:Simple gold cup.svg16px]] Gold: (1995)
Regional nameEuropean Championship
Regional cup apps29
Regional cup first1948
Regional cup best[[File:Gold medal europe.svg16px]] Gold: (1989, 1993, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2005, 2021)
pattern_b1_italy1982-90
leftarm10033AA
body10066FF
rightarm10033AA
shorts10033AA
pattern_b2_Ita08a
leftarm2000000
body2FFFFFF
rightarm2000000
shorts2FFFFFF
pattern_b3_valencia1112a
leftarm30014A8
body3000000
rightarm30014A8
shorts3000000
medaltemplates-expandyes
{{MedalCounttotalyes

| medaltemplates-expand = yes |Olympic Games|0|3|3 |World Championship|5|1|0 |World Cup|1|3|1 |World Grand Champions Cup|1|1|2 |World League|8|3|4 |Nations League|0|1|0 |European Championship|7|5|3 |Universiade|3|1|5 |Mediterranean Games|7|2|2 |Goodwill Games|1|0|0 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 five World Championships (1990, 1994, 1998, 2022 and 2025), seven European Championships (1989, 1993, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2005, and 2021), one World Cup (1995), and eight World Leagues (1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1999, and 2000). Italy is the reigning world champion, having won the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship on 28 September 2025. Italy equaled a record previously held by the USSR by becoming world volleyball champions in both men’s and women’s competitions — a feat the Soviet Union had achieved in 1952 and 1960.{{cite web |title=Italy Crowned 2025 Volleyball World Champions |url=https://worldofvolley.com/latest_news/fivb/331874/italy-crowned-2025-volleyball-world-champions.html |access-date=29 September 2025}}

Result history

Until the late 1980s, Italy's best results were a silver medal in the home-held 1978 World Championships and a bronze medal at the 1984 Olympic Games. Two years later, Italy classified only 12th at the 1986 World Championships. Subsequenrtly, Italy finished 9th at both the 1987 European championships and the 1988 Summer Olympics. The Italian federation decided for a hiring Julio Velasco as coach, after his successful tenure at Panini Modena.

Velasco immediately led them to a gold medal at the European Championships in 1989, a tournament 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 and introduce the concept of the “square”, team unity where the team was better than the sum of its players.

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.

Olympic Games

Champions Runners up Third place Fourth place

Olympic Games recordYearRoundPositionGPMWMLSWSLSquadTotal0 titles13/16905832194135
Japan 1964Did not qualify
Mexico 1968
West Germany 1972
CAN 19761st round8th505215Squad
URS 19801st round9th523511Squad
USA 1984SemifinalsBronze642147Squad
KOR 19881st round9th7431313Squad
ESP 1992Quarterfinals5th752188Squad
USA 1996FinalSilver871235Squad
AUS 2000SemifinalsBronze871218Squad
GRE 2004FinalSilver8532011Squad
CHN 2008Semifinals4th8531714Squad
GBR 2012SemifinalsBronze8531613Squad
BRA 2016FinalSilver8621910Squad
JPN 2020Quarterfinals6th6421410Squad
FRA 2024Semifinals4th6421210Squad
USA 2028Future events
AUS 2032

World Championship

Champions Runners up Third place Fourth place

World Championship recordYearRoundPositionGPMWMLSWSLSquadTotal5 titles19/2117611363396261
TCH 19491st round8th52389Squad
URS 1952Did not qualify
FRA 19561st round14th10642214Squad
URS 1960Did not qualify
URS 19621st round14th11561923Squad
TCH 19661st round16th1129931Squad
BUL 19701st round15th11382328Squad
MEX 19741st round19th11742414Squad
ITA 1978Final2nd10822412Squad
ARG 19821st round14th10822412Squad
FRA 19862nd round11th8351418Squad
BRA 1990Final1st761187Squad
GRE 1994Final1st761206Squad
JPN 1998Final1st12111337Squad
ARG 2002Quarterfinals5th9632314Squad
JPN 20062nd round5th11832813Squad
ITA 2010Semifinals4th10822612Squad
POL 20142nd round13th9361422Squad
ITA BUL 20183rd round5th10822611Squad
POL SLO 2022Final1st770214Squad
PHI 2025Final1st761204Squad
POL 2027Qualified
QAT 2029Future event
  • BRA 1990 — [[File:Gold medal with cup.svg|16px]] Gold medal
  • : Anastasi, Bernardi, Bracci, Cantagalli, De Giorgi, Gardini, Giani, Lucchetta, Martinelli, Masciarelli, Tofoli, Zorzi. Head Coach: Velasco
  • GRE 1994 — [[File:Gold medal with cup.svg|16px]] Gold medal
  • : Bernardi, Bracci, Cantagalli, Gardini, Giani, De Giorgi, Giretto, Gravina, Papi, Pippi, Tofoli, Zorzi. Head Coach: Velasco
  • JPN 1998 — [[File:Gold medal with cup.svg|16px]] Gold medal
  • : Bracci, Corsano, Fei, Gardini, Giani, De Giorgi, Gravina, Meoni, Papi, Pasinato, Rosalba, Sartoretti. Head Coach: Bebeto
  • POL / SLO 2022 — [[File:Gold medal with cup.svg|16px]] Gold medal
  • : Anzani, Balaso, Bottolo, Galassi, Giannelli, Lavia, Michieletto, Mosca, Pinali, Recine, Romanò, Russo, Sbertoli, Scanferla. Head Coach: De Giorgi
  • PHI 2025 — [[File:Gold medal with cup.svg|16px]] Gold medal
  • : Anzani, Balaso, Bottolo, Galassi, Gargiulo, Giannelli, Michieletto, Pace, Porro, Romanò, Russo, Rychlicki, Sani, Sbertoli. Head Coach: De Giorgi

World Cup

Champions Runners up Third place Fourth place

World Cup recordYearRoundPositionGPMWMLSWSLSquadTotal1 title8/1480582218990-
POL 1965Did not qualify
GDR 1969
JPN 1977
JPN 1981-7th716918Squad
JPN 1985Did not qualify
JPN 1989-2nd761205Squad
JPN 1991Did not qualify
JPN 1995-1st11110333Squad
JPN 1999-3rd11832614Squad
JPN 2003-2nd1192298Squad
JPN 2007Did not qualify
JPN 2011-4th11832815Squad
JPN 2015-2nd11101308Squad
JPN 2019-7th11561419Squad
  • JPN 1995 — [[File:Gold medal with cup.svg|16px]] Gold medal

World Grand Champions Cup

Champions Runners up Third place Fourth place

World Grand Champions Cup record (Defunct)YearRoundPositionGPMWMLSWSLSquadTotal1 title4/7201465228-
JPN 1993-1st550154Squad
JPN 1997Did not qualify
JPN 2001
JPN 2005-3rd532116Squad
JPN 2009Did not qualify
JPN 2013-3rd5231210Squad
JPN 2017-2nd541148Squad
  • JPN 1993 — [[File:Gold medal with cup.svg|16px]] 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 (Defunct)YearRoundPositionGPMWMLSWSLSquadTotal8 titles28/284252871381000631-
JPN 1990Final1st141133721Squad
ITA 1991Final1st181625216Squad
ITA 1992Final1st181625017Squad
BRA 1993Semifinals3rd222026217Squad
ITA 1994Final1st161243819Squad
BRA 1995Final1st171434519Squad
NED 1996Final2nd171434519Squad
RUS 1997Final1st171434717Squad
ITA 1998Final Round4th15782726Squad
ARG 1999Final1st161244220Squad
NED 2000Final1st181354433Squad
POL 2001Final2nd171254124Squad
BRA 2002Semifinals4th171434419Squad
ESP 2003Semifinals3rd171073727Squad
ITA 2004Final2nd15963422Squad
SCG 20051st round7th12662226Squad
RUS 20062nd round6th16793231Squad
POL 20071st round9th12481930Squad
BRA 20081st round7th12843022Squad
SRB 20091st round7th12842717Squad
ARG 20102nd round6th14953521Squad
POL 20112nd round6th151143518Squad
POL 20121st round11th12572328Squad
ARG 2013Semifinals3rd141043523Squad
ITA 2014Semifinals3rd16973325Squad
BRA 20152nd round5th14772631Squad
POL 2016Semifinals4th13762520Squad
BRA 20171st round12th9271323Squad
  • JPN 1990 Osaka — [[File:Gold medal with cup.svg|16px]] Gold medal
  • : Gardini, Margutti, De Giorgi, Tofoli, Masciarelli, Anastasi, Bracci, Bernardi, Cantagalli, Zorzi, Lucchetta, Giazzoli, Pasinato, Petrelli, Martinelli, Loro, Gallia. Head coach: Velasco
  • ITA 1991 Milan — [[File:Gold medal with cup.svg|16px]] 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
  • ITA 1992 Genoa — [[File:Gold medal with cup.svg|16px]] Gold medal
  • : Gardini, Martinelli, Margutti, De Giorgi, Tofoli, Masciarelli, Galli, Bracci, Bernardi, Cantagalli, Zorzi, Lucchetta, Giani, Giazzoli, Pasinato. Head coach: Velasco
  • ITA 1994 Milan — [[File:Gold medal with cup.svg|16px]] Gold medal
  • : Gardini, Martinelli, Gravina, De Giorgi, Tofoli, Papi, Sartoretti, Bracci, Bernardi, Cantagalli, Margutti, Pippi, Giani, Bellini, Pasinato, Rinaldi, Fangareggi, Giretto. Head coach: Velasco
  • BRA 1995 Rio de Janeiro — [[File:Gold medal with cup.svg|16px]] Gold medal
  • : Fangareggi, Rosalba, Gravina, De Giorgi, Botti, Papi, Sartoretti, Verniaghi, Giazzoli, Bonati, Radicioni, Pippi, Giani, Bellini, Pasinato, Bovolenta, Meoni, Giretto. Head coach: Velasco
  • RUS 1997 Moscow — [[File:Gold medal with cup.svg|16px]] Gold medal
  • : Gardini, Meoni, Gravina, Bendani, Fangareggi, Papi, Giombini, Sartoretti, Casoli, Rosalba, Zlatanov, Pippi, Giani, Bovolenta, Bonati, Patriarca, Bellini. Head coach: de Freitas
  • ARG 1999 Mar del Plata — [[File:Gold medal with cup.svg|16px]] Gold medal
  • : Vermiglio, Meoni, Mastrangelo, Fei, Papi, Sartoretti, Casoli, Rosalba, Zlatanov, Corsano, Bellini, Bovolenta, Giombini, Molteni. Head coach: Anastasi
  • NED 2000 Rotterdam — [[File:Gold medal with cup.svg|16px]] 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 recordYearRoundPositionGPMWMLSWSLSquadTotal0 title(s)7/7
FRA 2018Preliminary Round8th15873028Squad
USA 2019Preliminary Round8th15873125Squad
ITA 2020Not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic
ITA 2021Preliminary Round10th15782833Squad
ITA 2022Final Round4th151143516Squad
POL 2023Semifinals4th151053321Squad
POL 2024Quarterfinals5th13943117Squad
CHN 2025Final2nd151233919Squad

European Championship

Champions Runners up Third place Fourth place

European Championship recordYearRoundPositionGPMWMLSWSLSquadTotal7 titles31/3222815177430330-
ITA 1948-3rd532116Squad
BUL 1950Did not qualify
FRA 19511st round8th52389Squad
ROU 19551st round9th752158Squad
CZE 19581st round10th11832619Squad
ROU 19631st round10th11832415Squad
TUR 1967Final Round8th10371125Squad
ITA 19711st round8th8622110Squad
YUG 19751st round10th725817Squad
FIN 19771st round8th7341216Squad
FRA 1979Final Round5th7341314Squad
BUL 19811st round7th752159Squad
East Germany 1983Final Round4th7431616Squad
NED 1985Final Round6th7161018Squad
BEL 19871st round9th7341414Squad
SWE 1989Final1st761207Squad
DEU 1991Final2nd761187Squad
FIN 1993Final1st770215Squad
GRE 1995Final1st761196Squad
NED 1997Semifinals3rd752158Squad
AUT 1999Final1st541135Squad
CZE 2001Final2nd7431410Squad
AUT 2003Final1st770214Squad
ITA 2005Final1st761198Squad
RUS 20072nd round6th6421411Squad
TUR 20092nd round10th624812Squad
AUTCZE 2011Final2nd642158Squad
DENPOL 2013Final2nd642159Squad
ITABUL 2015Semifinals3rd752187Squad
POL 2017Quarterfinals5th532116Squad
FRASLOBELNED 2019Quarterfinals6th752169Squad
POLCZEESTFIN 2021Final1st990275Squad
ITABULMKDISR 2023Final2nd981247Squad
BULFINITAROM 2026Qualified as co-hostSquad
  • SWE 1989 — [[File:Gold medal with cup.svg|16px]] Gold medal
  • : Anastasi, Bernardi, Bracci, Cantagalli, De Giorgi, Gardini, Lucchetta, Margutti, Masciarelli, Passani, Tofoli, Zorzi. Head Coach: Velasco
  • FIN 1993 — [[File:Gold medal with cup.svg|16px]] Gold medal
  • : Bellini, Bracci, Cantagalli, Galli, Gardini, Giani, Gravina, Martinelli, Pasinato, Pippi, Tofoli, Zorzi. Head Coach: Velasco
  • GRE 1995 — [[File:Gold medal with cup.svg|16px]] Gold medal
  • : Bernardi, Bovolenta, Bracci, Cantagalli, Gardini, Giani, Gravina, Meoni, Papi, Pasinato, Tofoli, Andrea Zorzi. Head Coach: Velasco
  • AUT 1999 — [[File:Gold medal with cup.svg|16px]] Gold medal
  • : Bracci, Corsano, Gardini, Giani, Giombini, Gravina, Meoni, Mastrangelo, Papi, Rosalba, Sartoretti, Tofoli. Head Coach: Anastasi
  • DEU 2003 — [[File:Gold medal with cup.svg|16px]] Gold medal
  • : Biribanti, Černič, Cozzi, Fei, Giani, Mastrangelo, Meoni, Papi, Pippi, Sartoretti, Savani, Vermiglio. Head Coach: Montali
  • ITA Serbia and Montenegro 2005 — [[File:Gold medal with cup.svg|16px]] Gold medal
  • : Černič, Cisolla, Corsano, Cozzi, Fei, Łasko, Mastrangelo, Paparoni, Savani, Sintini, Tencati, Vermiglio. Head Coach: Montali
  • POLCZEESTFIN 2021 — [[File:Gold medal with cup.svg|16px]] 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 recordYearRoundPositionGPMWMLSWSLSquadTotal0 titles1/1505415-
AZE 2015 Baku1st round11th505415Squad
BLR 2019 Minskvolleyball tournament not held
POL 2023 Kraków
TUR 2027 IstanbulTBD

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**
  • 2026Future event
  • 2030Future event

Goodwill Games

Champions Runners up Third place Fourth place

Goodwill Games recordYearRoundPositionGPMWMLSWSLTotal1 titles1/2541146
USSR 1986Did not participate
USA 1990FinalChampions541146
  • USA 1990 — ** Gold medal**

Team

Current roster

Roster for the 2024 Summer Olympics.

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.
#PlayerAppearances
1Andrea Giani474
2Andrea Gardini418
3Luigi Mastrangelo363
4Samuele Papi361
5Marco Bracci347
6Paolo Tofoli342
7Luca Cantagalli330
8Ferdinando De Giorgi330
9Andrea Sartoretti330
10Andrea Zorzi325

Kit providers

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

PeriodKit provider
2000–2008Nike
Asics
2008–2021Asics
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

References

  1. [http://www.volleyhall.org/julio-velasco.html Italy in Hall of Fame]
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