Julio Velasco facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Julio Velasco |
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Velasco in 2016
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| Nationality | Argentine / Italian | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 9 February 1952 La Plata, Argentina |
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| Current team | Italy Women | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Honours
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Julio Velasco (born February 9, 1952) is a famous Argentine former professional volleyball player and coach. He became an Italian citizen in 1992. Velasco was honored in the International Volleyball Hall of Fame in 2005. He is currently the head coach of the Italy women's national volleyball team. He led them to a gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Contents
Julio Velasco's Volleyball Journey
Playing Days
Julio Velasco started playing volleyball when he was 15 years old. He played for the National University of La Plata Club.
Coaching Career Highlights
Velasco began his coaching journey as an assistant. He worked with the Argentine men's national team from 1981 to 1983.
In 1983, he moved to Italy to coach the Tre Valli Jesi team. He stayed there until 1985. From 1985 to 1989, he coached Panini Modena. He led them to win four Italian national championships in a row.
Leading Italy's Men's Team
In 1989, Velasco became the head coach of the Italian men's national team. He led them to amazing success. His first big win with Italy was at the 1989 Men's European Volleyball Championship in Sweden. They won their first official tournament by beating the host team 3–1 in the final.
In 1990, Velasco helped Italy become the best in the world. They won the World Championship in Brazil. Italy beat Argentina and Brazil in the knockout rounds. In the final, they defeated Cuba 3–1 to become world champions for the first time.
During his time as Italy's coach, Velasco won many more titles. This included two more European Championships and another World Championship. He also won five World Leagues. Other trophies included the FIVB World Grand Champions Cup and the FIVB World Cup. Velasco also led the Italian men's team to their first silver medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics.
Coaching Other National Teams
After the 1996 Olympics, Velasco coached the Italian women's team from 1996 to 1997. They won a gold medal at the Mediterranean Games. He also coached the Czech Republic men's national team in 2001.
In 2008, he became the coach for the Spanish men's national team. They won the European Volleyball League in 2009.
In 2011, Velasco became the head coach of the Iran men's national team. He led them to win two Asian Championships. He then became the coach of the Argentine men's national team in 2014. This move was supported by the people and the president of Argentina. He led the Argentine team to win the 2015 Pan American Games.
In 2024, he was officially named head coach of the Italy women's national volleyball team. His goal was to guide them to the 2024 Summer Olympics, where they won gold.
Sports Management Roles
Beyond coaching, Velasco also worked in sports management. In 1998–99, he was the General Director for the football club S.S. Lazio. In 2000, he moved to Inter Milan, another famous football club.
Achievements and Awards
Team Honours
- Ferro Carril Oeste (as player):
- 4 Argentine League titles: 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982
- Modena Volley (as coach):
- 4 Italian League titles: 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989
- 3 Coppe Italia: 1986, 1988, 1989
- 1 Coppa delle Coppe: 1986
- 1 Italian Supercup: 2018
- Italy men's national team (as coach):
- 1 Mediterranean Games Gold: 1991
- 2 FIVB World Championship Gold: 1990, 1994
- 3 European Championship Gold: 1989, 1993, 1995
- 1 European Championship Silver: 1991
- 5 FIVB World League Gold: 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995
- 1 World League Silver: 1996
- 1 World League Bronze: 1993
- 1 FIVB World Cup Gold: 1995
- 1 Olympic Games Silver: 1996
- 1 FIVB World Grand Champions Cup Gold: 1993
- Italy women's national team (as coach):
- 1 Mediterranean Games Gold: 1997
- 1 FIVB Women's Volleyball Nations League Gold: 2024
- 1 Olympic Games Gold: 2024
- Spain men's national team (as coach):
- 1 Mediterranean Games Silver: 2009
- 2 Men's European Volleyball League Silver: 2009, 2010
- Iran men's national team (as coach):
- 2 Asian Men's Volleyball Championship Gold: 2011, 2013
- Argentina men's national team (as coach):
- 1 Pan American Games Gold: 2015
Individual Awards
- 1990 FIVB World Championship - Best Coach
- 1991 Medal of Merit Sport Organization Italy
- 1993 FIVB World Grand Champions Cup - Best Coach
- 1995 FIVB World Cup - Best Coach
- 2000 Konex Award - Technical Director
- 2012 Società Italiana Medici Manager - Technical Award
- 2014 Coach of the Year in Iran
- 2022 CEV - Lifetime Achievement Award
Special Recognitions
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CONI: Golden Palm of Technical Merit: Palma d'oro al Merito Tecnico: 2018
President of Italy: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic: 2019
More About Julio Velasco
When he was in university, Velasco studied philosophy. He was also involved in student groups. Because of his activities, he was asked to leave the National University of La Plata in 1974. After a big change in the government in Argentina in 1976, he had to be careful because of his past involvement. This led him to move to Buenos Aires, where he got his first volleyball coaching job.
Julio Velasco is known for his smart coaching ideas. Even famous football coaches, like Pep Guardiola, wanted to learn from him. Guardiola once traveled many miles just to meet Velasco. He had seen Velasco in a TV interview and was inspired by his coaching methods.
Interesting Facts About Julio Velasco
Julio Velasco studied philosophy in university. He faced some challenges early in his life due to his past activities, which led him to move to Buenos Aires. There, he got his first job coaching volleyball.
He is also known for sharing ideas with famous football coaches. For example, Pep Guardiola, a well-known football mastermind, once traveled a long distance just to meet Julio Velasco. Guardiola wanted to learn from Velasco after seeing him in a TV interview. This shows how much other top coaches respect Velasco's knowledge and ideas.
See also
In Spanish: Julio Velasco para niños
