Italy men's national volleyball team facts for kids
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| Nickname(s) | Gli Azzurri (The Blues) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Association | Federazione Italiana Pallavolo | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Confederation | CEV | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Head coach | Ferdinando De Giorgi | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FIVB ranking | 3 (as of September 2014) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Uniforms | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Summer Olympics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Appearances | 13 (First in 1976) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Best result |  (1996, 2004, 2016) |
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| World Championship | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Appearances | 19 (First in 1949) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Best result |  (1990, 1994, 1998, 2022) |
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| FIVB World Cup | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Appearances | 8 (First in 1989) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Best result |  (1995) |
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| European Championship | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Appearances | 29 (First in 1948) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Best result |  (1989, 1993, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2005, 2021) |
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| Website | federvolley.it | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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.
Contents
Result history
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.
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 |
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 1972 |
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 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 |
Semifinals | 4th | 6 | 4 | 2 | 12 | 10 | Squad | |
| 2028 |
Future events | ||||||||
| 2032 |
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| Total | 0 titles | 13/16 | 90 | 58 | 32 | 194 | 135 | — | |
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 |
Qualified | Squad | ||||||
| Total | 4 titles | 19/21 | 169 | 107 | 62 | 376 | 257 | — |
- 1990 —
Gold medal
- 1994 — Gold medal
- 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 qualify | |||||||
 1969 |
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| 1977 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
| 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
- 1991 Milan — Gold medal
- 1992 Genoa — Gold medal
- 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 |
| 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 |
| 2024 |
Quarterfinals | 5th | 13 | 9 | 4 | 31 | 17 | Squad |
| Total | 0 title(s) | 6/6 | 90 | 53 | 35 | 188 | 136 | – |
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 | - |
- 1989 — Gold medal
- 1993 — Gold medal
- 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 Minsk |
Volleyball not held | |||||||
| 2023 Kraków |
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| Total | 0 titles | 1/1 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 15 | - |
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 |
| 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
Team
Current roster
Roster for the 2024 Summer Olympics.
The roster was announced on 8 July 2024.
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
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.
See also
In Spanish: Selección de voleibol de Italia para niños
