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Italy men's national volleyball team facts for kids

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Italy
2024 FIPAV logo - azure.png
Nickname(s) Gli Azzurri (The Blues)
Association FIPAV
Confederation CEV
Head coach Ferdinando De Giorgi
FIVB ranking 3 127
Uniforms
Team colours Team colours Team colours
Team colours
 
Home
Team colours Team colours Team colours
Team colours
 
Away
Team colours Team colours Team colours
Team colours
 
Third
Summer Olympics
Appearances 13 (First in 1976)
Best result Silver Silver: (1996, 2004, 2016)
Bronze Bronze: (1984, 2000, 2012)
World Championship
Appearances 19 (First in 1949)
Best result Gold Gold: (1990, 1994, 1998, 2022, 2025)
Silver Silver: (1978)
World Cup
Appearances 8 (First in 1989)
Best result Simple gold cup.svg Gold: (1995)
Simple silver cup.svg Silver: (1989, 2003, 2015)
Simple bronze cup.svg Bronze: (1999)
European Championship
Appearances 29 (First in 1948)
Best result Gold medal europe.svg Gold: (1989, 1993, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2005, 2021)
Silver medal europe.svg Silver: (1991, 2001, 2011, 2013, 2023)
Bronze medal europe.svg Bronze: (1948, 1997, 2015)
federvolley.it
Honours
Event 1st 2nd 3rd
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
Medal record
Olympics
Silver 1996 Atlanta Team
Silver 2004 Athens Team
Silver 2016 Rio de Janeiro Team
Bronze 1984 Los Angeles Team
Bronze 2000 Sydney Team
Bronze 2012 London Team
World Championship
Gold 1990 Brazil
Gold 1994 Greece
Gold 1998 Japan
Gold 2022 Poland/Slovenia
Gold 2025 Philippines
Silver 1978 Italy
World Cup
Gold 1995 Japan
Silver 1989 Japan
Silver 2003 Japan
Silver 2015 Japan
Bronze 1999 Japan
World Grand Champions Cup
Gold 1993 Japan
Silver 2017 Japan
Bronze 2005 Japan
Bronze 2013 Japan
World League
Gold 1990 Osaka
Gold 1991 Milan
Gold 1992 Genoa
Gold 1994 Milan
Gold 1995 Rio de Janeiro
Gold 1997 Moscow
Gold 1999 Mar del Plata
Gold 2000 Rotterdam
Silver 1996 Rotterdam
Silver 2001 Katowice
Silver 2004 Rome
Bronze 1993 São Paulo
Bronze 2003 Madrid
Bronze 2013 Mar del Plata
Bronze 2014 Florence
Nations League
Silver 2025 Ningbo
European Championship
Gold 1989 Sweden
Gold 1993 Finland
Gold 1995 Greece
Gold 1999 Austria
Gold 2003 Germany
Gold 2005 Italy/Serbia and Montenegro
Gold 2021 Poland/Czech Republic/Estonia/Finland
Silver 1991 Germany
Silver 2001 Czech Republic
Silver 2011 Austria/Czech Republic
Silver 2013 Denmark/Poland
Silver 2023 Bulgaria/Israel/Italy/North Macedonia
Bronze 1948 Italy
Bronze 1997 Netherlands
Bronze 2015 Bulgaria/Italy
Universiade
Gold 1970 Turin
Gold 2019 Naples
Gold 2021 Chengdu
Silver 1997 Sicilly
Bronze 1983 Edmonton
Bronze 1985 Kobe
Bronze 1987 Zagreb
Bronze 1995 Fukuoka
Bronze 2005 Izmir
Mediterranean Games
Gold 1959 Lebanon
Gold 1983 Casablanca
Gold 1991 Athens
Gold 2001 Tunis
Gold 2009 Pescara
Gold 2013 Mersin
Gold 2018 Tarragona
Silver 1963 Naples
Silver 1975 Algiers
Bronze 1987 Latakia
Bronze 2022 Oran
Goodwill Games
Gold 1990 Seattle

The Italy men's national volleyball team is a super successful team that plays for Italy in volleyball games around the world. The Italian Volleyball Federation manages the team. They are known as one of the best teams ever in volleyball history! They have won many big titles. They won the World Championship five times (in 1990, 1994, 1998, 2022, and 2025). They also won the European Championship seven times (in 1989, 1993, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2005, and 2021). Plus, they won the World Cup once (1995) and the World League eight times (1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1999, and 2000). Italy is currently the world champion, having won the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship on 28 September 2025. They even made history by winning both the men's and women's world championships, just like the USSR did a long time ago!

A History of Triumphs in Volleyball

Before the late 1980s, Italy's team had some good moments. They earned a silver medal at the World Championships held in Italy in 1978. They also won a bronze medal at the 1984 Olympic Games.

Things changed when Julio Velasco became their coach. He was a very successful coach! He quickly led the team to a gold medal at the European Championships in 1989. His team won this championship two more times in 1993 and 1995. They also got a silver medal at the World Cup in 1989. Velasco taught the team to work together as one strong unit, believing that a united team is always better.

From 1990 onwards, the Italian team became a powerhouse in world volleyball. They won gold medals at the World Championships in 1990 and 1994. They also won the World League many times: in 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, and 1995. Other wins included the 1991 Mediterranean Games and the 1993 Grand Champions Cup. They even won a silver medal at the 1996 Olympic Games. Coach Velasco helped create a "Golden Team" with amazing players like Zorzi, Andrea Gardini, Giani, and Bernardi.

Olympic Games Results

Here's how the Italian men's volleyball team has performed at the Olympic Games.      Champions       Runners up       Third place       Fourth place

Olympic Games record
Year Round Position GP MW ML SW SL Squad
Japan 1964 Did not qualify
Mexico 1968
West Germany 1972
Canada 1976 1st round 8th 5 0 5 2 15 Squad
Soviet Union 1980 1st round 9th 5 2 3 5 11 Squad
United States 1984 Semifinals Bronze 6 4 2 14 7 Squad
South Korea 1988 1st round 9th 7 4 3 13 13 Squad
Spain 1992 Quarterfinals 5th 7 5 2 18 8 Squad
United States 1996 Final Silver 8 7 1 23 5 Squad
Australia 2000 Semifinals Bronze 8 7 1 21 8 Squad
Greece 2004 Final Silver 8 5 3 20 11 Squad
China 2008 Semifinals 4th 8 5 3 17 14 Squad
United Kingdom 2012 Semifinals Bronze 8 5 3 16 13 Squad
Brazil 2016 Final Silver 8 6 2 19 10 Squad
Japan 2020 Quarterfinals 6th 6 4 2 14 10 Squad
France 2024 Semifinals 4th 6 4 2 12 10 Squad
United States 2028 Future events
Australia 2032
Total 0 titles 13/16 90 58 32 194 135

World Championship Victories

The Italian team has a fantastic record at the World Championship.      Champions       Runners up       Third place       Fourth place

World Championship record
Year Round Position GP MW ML SW SL Squad
Czechoslovakia 1949 1st round 8th 5 2 3 8 9 Squad
Soviet Union 1952 Did not qualify
France 1956 1st round 14th 10 6 4 22 14 Squad
Soviet Union 1960 Did not qualify
Soviet Union 1962 1st round 14th 11 5 6 19 23 Squad
Czechoslovakia 1966 1st round 16th 11 2 9 9 31 Squad
Bulgaria 1970 1st round 15th 11 3 8 23 28 Squad
Mexico 1974 1st round 19th 11 7 4 24 14 Squad
Italy 1978 Final 2nd 10 8 2 24 12 Squad
Argentina 1982 1st round 14th 10 8 2 24 12 Squad
France 1986 2nd round 11th 8 3 5 14 18 Squad
Brazil 1990 Final 1st 7 6 1 18 7 Squad
Greece 1994 Final 1st 7 6 1 20 6 Squad
Japan 1998 Final 1st 12 11 1 33 7 Squad
Argentina 2002 Quarterfinals 5th 9 6 3 23 14 Squad
Japan 2006 2nd round 5th 11 8 3 28 13 Squad
Italy 2010 Semifinals 4th 10 8 2 26 12 Squad
Poland 2014 2nd round 13th 9 3 6 14 22 Squad
Italy Bulgaria 2018 3rd round 5th 10 8 2 26 11 Squad
Poland Slovenia 2022 Final 1st 7 7 0 21 4 Squad
Philippines 2025 Final 1st 7 6 1 20 4 Squad
Poland 2027 Qualified
Qatar 2029 Future event
Total 5 titles 19/21 176 113 63 396 261
  • Brazil 1990 — Gold medal with cup.svg Gold medal
    Anastasi, Bernardi, Bracci, Cantagalli, De Giorgi, Gardini, Giani, Lucchetta, Martinelli, Masciarelli, Tofoli, Zorzi. Head Coach: Velasco
  • Greece 1994 — Gold medal with cup.svg Gold medal
    Bernardi, Bracci, Cantagalli, Gardini, Giani, De Giorgi, Giretto, Gravina, Papi, Pippi, Tofoli, Zorzi. Head Coach: Velasco
  • Japan 1998 — Gold medal with cup.svg Gold medal
    Bracci, Corsano, Fei, Gardini, Giani, De Giorgi, Gravina, Meoni, Papi, Pasinato, Rosalba, Sartoretti. Head Coach: Bebeto
  • Poland / Slovenia 2022 — Gold medal with cup.svg Gold medal
    Anzani, Balaso, Bottolo, Galassi, Giannelli, Lavia, Michieletto, Mosca, Pinali, Recine, Romanò, Russo, Sbertoli, Scanferla. Head Coach: De Giorgi
  • Philippines 2025 — Gold medal with cup.svg Gold medal
    Anzani, Balaso, Bottolo, Galassi, Gargiulo, Giannelli, Michieletto, Pace, Porro, Romanò, Russo, Rychlicki, Sani, Sbertoli. Head Coach: De Giorgi

World Cup Achievements

See Italy's performance at the World Cup.      Champions       Runners up       Third place       Fourth place

World Cup record
Year Round Position GP MW ML SW SL Squad
Poland 1965 Did not qualify
East Germany 1969
Japan 1977
Japan 1981 - 7th 7 1 6 9 18 Squad
Japan 1985 Did not qualify
Japan 1989 - 2nd 7 6 1 20 5 Squad
Japan 1991 Did not qualify
Japan 1995 - 1st 11 11 0 33 3 Squad
Japan 1999 - 3rd 11 8 3 26 14 Squad
Japan 2003 - 2nd 11 9 2 29 8 Squad
Japan 2007 Did not qualify
Japan 2011 - 4th 11 8 3 28 15 Squad
Japan 2015 - 2nd 11 10 1 30 8 Squad
Japan 2019 - 7th 11 5 6 14 19 Squad
Total 1 title 8/14 80 58 22 189 90 -
  • Japan 1995 — Gold medal with cup.svg Gold medal

World Grand Champions Cup History

Here are the results for Italy in the World Grand Champions Cup.      Champions       Runners up       Third place       Fourth place

  • Japan 1993 — Gold medal with cup.svg Gold medal
    Bracci, Galli, Gardini, Giani, Gravina, Zorzi, Cantagalli, Bellini, Pippi, Pasinato, Bernardi. Head Coach: Velasco

World League Successes

Check out Italy's impressive record in the World League.      Champions       Runners up       Third place       Fourth place

  • Japan 1990 Osaka — Gold medal with cup.svg Gold medal
    Gardini, Margutti, De Giorgi, Tofoli, Masciarelli, Anastasi, Bracci, Bernardi, Cantagalli, Zorzi, Lucchetta, Giazzoli, Pasinato, Petrelli, Martinelli, Loro, Gallia. Head coach: Velasco
  • Italy 1991 Milan — Gold medal with cup.svg 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
  • Italy 1992 Genoa — Gold medal with cup.svg Gold medal
    Gardini, Martinelli, Margutti, De Giorgi, Tofoli, Masciarelli, Galli, Bracci, Bernardi, Cantagalli, Zorzi, Lucchetta, Giani, Giazzoli, Pasinato. Head coach: Velasco
  • Italy 1994 Milan — Gold medal with cup.svg Gold medal
    Gardini, Martinelli, Gravina, De Giorgi, Tofoli, Papi, Sartoretti, Bracci, Bernardi, Cantagalli, Margutti, Pippi, Giani, Bellini, Pasinato, Rinaldi, Fangareggi, Giretto. Head coach: Velasco
  • Brazil 1995 Rio de Janeiro — Gold medal with cup.svg Gold medal
    Fangareggi, Rosalba, Gravina, De Giorgi, Botti, Papi, Sartoretti, Verniaghi, Giazzoli, Bonati, Radicioni, Pippi, Giani, Bellini, Pasinato, Bovolenta, Meoni, Giretto. Head coach: Velasco
  • Russia 1997 Moscow — Gold medal with cup.svg Gold medal
    Gardini, Meoni, Gravina, Bendani, Fangareggi, Papi, Giombini, Sartoretti, Casoli, Rosalba, Zlatanov, Pippi, Giani, Bovolenta, Bonati, Patriarca, Bellini. Head coach: de Freitas
  • Argentina 1999 Mar del Plata — Gold medal with cup.svg Gold medal
    Vermiglio, Meoni, Mastrangelo, Fei, Papi, Sartoretti, Casoli, Rosalba, Zlatanov, Corsano, Bellini, Bovolenta, Giombini, Molteni. Head coach: Anastasi
  • Netherlands 2000 Rotterdam — Gold medal with cup.svg 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 Performance

Here's how the Italian team has done in the Nations League.      Champions       Runners up       Third place       Fourth place

Nations League record
Year Round Position GP MW ML SW SL Squad
France 2018 Preliminary Round 8th 15 8 7 30 28 Squad
United States 2019 Preliminary Round 8th 15 8 7 31 25 Squad
Italy 2020 Not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic
Italy 2021 Preliminary Round 10th 15 7 8 28 33 Squad
Italy 2022 Final Round 4th 15 11 4 35 16 Squad
Poland 2023 Semifinals 4th 15 10 5 33 21 Squad
Poland 2024 Quarterfinals 5th 13 9 4 31 17 Squad
China 2025 Final 2nd 15 12 3 39 19 Squad
Total 0 title(s) 7/7 105 65 38 227 159

European Championship Highlights

Here are the results for Italy in the European Championship.      Champions       Runners up       Third place       Fourth place

European Championship record
Year Round Position GP MW ML SW SL Squad
Italy 1948 - 3rd 5 3 2 11 6 Squad
Bulgaria 1950 Did not qualify
France 1951 1st round 8th 5 2 3 8 9 Squad
Romania 1955 1st round 9th 7 5 2 15 8 Squad
Czech Republic 1958 1st round 10th 11 8 3 26 19 Squad
Romania 1963 1st round 10th 11 8 3 24 15 Squad
Turkey 1967 Final Round 8th 10 3 7 11 25 Squad
Italy 1971 1st round 8th 8 6 2 21 10 Squad
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia 1975 1st round 10th 7 2 5 8 17 Squad
Finland 1977 1st round 8th 7 3 4 12 16 Squad
France 1979 Final Round 5th 7 3 4 13 14 Squad
Bulgaria 1981 1st round 7th 7 5 2 15 9 Squad
East Germany 1983 Final Round 4th 7 4 3 16 16 Squad
Netherlands 1985 Final Round 6th 7 1 6 10 18 Squad
Belgium 1987 1st round 9th 7 3 4 14 14 Squad
Sweden 1989 Final 1st 7 6 1 20 7 Squad
Germany 1991 Final 2nd 7 6 1 18 7 Squad
Finland 1993 Final 1st 7 7 0 21 5 Squad
Greece 1995 Final 1st 7 6 1 19 6 Squad
Netherlands 1997 Semifinals 3rd 7 5 2 15 8 Squad
Austria 1999 Final 1st 5 4 1 13 5 Squad
Czech Republic 2001 Final 2nd 7 4 3 14 10 Squad
Austria 2003 Final 1st 7 7 0 21 4 Squad
Italy 2005 Final 1st 7 6 1 19 8 Squad
Russia 2007 2nd round 6th 6 4 2 14 11 Squad
Turkey 2009 2nd round 10th 6 2 4 8 12 Squad
AustriaCzech Republic 2011 Final 2nd 6 4 2 15 8 Squad
DenmarkPoland 2013 Final 2nd 6 4 2 15 9 Squad
ItalyBulgaria 2015 Semifinals 3rd 7 5 2 18 7 Squad
Poland 2017 Quarterfinals 5th 5 3 2 11 6 Squad
FranceSloveniaBelgiumNetherlands 2019 Quarterfinals 6th 7 5 2 16 9 Squad
PolandCzech RepublicEstoniaFinland 2021 Final 1st 9 9 0 27 5 Squad
ItalyBulgariaNorth MacedoniaIsrael 2023 Final 2nd 9 8 1 24 7 Squad
BulgariaFinlandItalyRomania 2026 Qualified as co-host Squad
Total 7 titles 31/32 228 151 77 430 330 -
  • Sweden 1989 — Gold medal with cup.svg Gold medal
    Anastasi, Bernardi, Bracci, Cantagalli, De Giorgi, Gardini, Lucchetta, Margutti, Masciarelli, Passani, Tofoli, Zorzi. Head Coach: Velasco
  • Finland 1993 — Gold medal with cup.svg Gold medal
    Bellini, Bracci, Cantagalli, Galli, Gardini, Giani, Gravina, Martinelli, Pasinato, Pippi, Tofoli, Zorzi. Head Coach: Velasco
  • Greece 1995 — Gold medal with cup.svg Gold medal
    Bernardi, Bovolenta, Bracci, Cantagalli, Gardini, Giani, Gravina, Meoni, Papi, Pasinato, Tofoli, Andrea Zorzi. Head Coach: Velasco
  • Austria 1999 — Gold medal with cup.svg Gold medal
    Bracci, Corsano, Gardini, Giani, Giombini, Gravina, Meoni, Mastrangelo, Papi, Rosalba, Sartoretti, Tofoli. Head Coach: Anastasi
  • Germany 2003 — Gold medal with cup.svg Gold medal
    Biribanti, Černič, Cozzi, Fei, Giani, Mastrangelo, Meoni, Papi, Pippi, Sartoretti, Savani, Vermiglio. Head Coach: Montali
  • Italy Serbia and Montenegro 2005 — Gold medal with cup.svg Gold medal
    Černič, Cisolla, Corsano, Cozzi, Fei, Łasko, Mastrangelo, Paparoni, Savani, Sintini, Tencati, Vermiglio. Head Coach: Montali
  • PolandCzech RepublicEstoniaFinland 2021 — Gold medal with cup.svg Gold medal
    Anzani, Balaso, Bottolo, Cortesia, Galassi, Giannelli, Lavia, Michieletto, Piccinelli, Pinali, Ricci, Recine, Romanò, Sbertoli. Head Coach: De Giorgi

European Games Results

Here's how Italy has done at the European Games.      Champions       Runners up       Third place       Fourth place

European Games record
Year Round Position GP MW ML SW SL Squad
Azerbaijan 2015 Baku 1st round 11th 5 0 5 4 15 Squad
Belarus 2019 Minsk volleyball tournament not held
Poland 2023 Kraków
Turkey 2027 Istanbul TBD
Total 0 titles 1/1 5 0 5 4 15 -

Mediterranean Games Medals

Italy has won many medals at the Mediterranean Games.

  • 1959 — 1 gold medal
  • 1963 — 2 silver medal
  • 1975 — 2 silver medal
  • 1979 — Fourth place
  • 1983 — 1 gold medal
  • 1987 — 3 bronze medal
  • 1991 — 1 gold medal
  • 1997 — Fourth place
  • 2001 — 1 gold medal
  • 2005 — Fifth place
  • 2009 — 1 gold medal
  • 2013 — 1 gold medal
  • 2018 — 1 gold medal
  • 2022 — 3 bronze medal
  • 2026 — Future event
  • 2030 — Future event

Goodwill Games Wins

Here's Italy's record at the Goodwill Games.      Champions       Runners up       Third place       Fourth place

Goodwill Games record
Year Round Position GP MW ML SW SL
Soviet Union 1986 Did not participate
United States 1990 Final Champions 5 4 1 14 6
Total 1 titles 1/2 5 4 1 14 6
  • United States 1990 — 1 Gold medal

Team Information

Current Roster

This is the team roster for the 2024 Summer Olympics.

Head coach: Ferdinando De Giorgi

  • 5 Alessandro Michieletto OH
  • 6 Simone Giannelli (c) S
  • 7 Fabio Balaso L
  • 8 Riccardo Sbertoli S
  • 11 Giovanni Sanguinetti MB
  • 12 Mattia Bottolo OH
  • 14 Gianluca Galassi MB
  • 15 Daniele Lavia OH
  • 16 Yuri Romanò OP
  • 19 Roberto Russo MB
  • 23 Alessandro Bovolenta OP
  • 31 Luca Porro OH

Meet the Coaches

Great coaches have guided the Italian team over the years. One of the most famous was Julio Velasco, who led the team to many victories from 1988 to 1996. Today, the team is coached by Ferdinando De Giorgi, who started in 2021.

Top Players by Appearances

Here are the players who have played the most games for the Italian national team.

  • 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

Team Gear and Sponsors

Kit Providers

The table below shows the history of companies that made uniforms for the Italy national volleyball team.

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

Sponsorship

Many companies support the team! Main sponsors include DHL, Kinder (from Ferrero SpA), Honda, and Mizuno. Other supporters are Santal, Diadora, EthicSport, Reaxing, Crai, Nutrilite, Uliveto, and Winform.

Media Coverage

You can watch Italy's volleyball matches and friendly games on TV channels like RAI and Rai Sport.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Selección de voleibol de Italia para niños

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Italy men's national volleyball team Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.