Jump to content

Italy men's national volleyball team

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Italy
Nickname(s)Gli Azzurri (The Blues)
AssociationFIPAV
ConfederationCEV
Head coachFerdinando De Giorgi
FIVB ranking 2 Steady (3 August 2026)[1]
Uniforms
Home
Away
Third
Summer Olympics
Appearances13 (First in 1976)
Best result (1996, 2004, 2016)
World Championship
Appearances19 (First in 1949)
Best result (1990, 1994, 1998, 2022, 2025)
World Cup
Appearances8 (First in 1989)
Best result (1995)
European Championship
Appearances29 (First in 1948)
Best result (1989, 1993, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2005, 2021)
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
Total 33 20 20
Medal record
Olympics
Silver medal – second place1996 AtlantaTeam
Silver medal – second place2004 AthensTeam
Silver medal – second place2016 Rio de JaneiroTeam
Bronze medal – third place1984 Los AngelesTeam
Bronze medal – third place2000 SydneyTeam
Bronze medal – third place2012 LondonTeam
World Championship
Gold medal – first place1990 Brazil
Gold medal – first place1994 Greece
Gold medal – first place1998 Japan
Gold medal – first place2022 Poland/Slovenia
Gold medal – first place2025 Philippines
Silver medal – second place1978 Italy
World Cup
Gold medal – first place1995 Japan
Silver medal – second place1989 Japan
Silver medal – second place2003 Japan
Silver medal – second place2015 Japan
Bronze medal – third place1999 Japan
World Grand Champions Cup
Gold medal – first place1993 Japan
Silver medal – second place2017 Japan
Bronze medal – third place2005 Japan
Bronze medal – third place2013 Japan
World League
Gold medal – first place1990 Osaka
Gold medal – first place1991 Milan
Gold medal – first place1992 Genoa
Gold medal – first place1994 Milan
Gold medal – first place1995 Rio de Janeiro
Gold medal – first place1997 Moscow
Gold medal – first place1999 Mar del Plata
Gold medal – first place2000 Rotterdam
Silver medal – second place1996 Rotterdam
Silver medal – second place2001 Katowice
Silver medal – second place2004 Rome
Bronze medal – third place1993 São Paulo
Bronze medal – third place2003 Madrid
Bronze medal – third place2013 Mar del Plata
Bronze medal – third place2014 Florence
Nations League
Silver medal – second place2025 Ningbo
European Championship
Gold medal – first place1989 Sweden
Gold medal – first place1993 Finland
Gold medal – first place1995 Greece
Gold medal – first place1999 Austria
Gold medal – first place2003 Germany
Gold medal – first place2005 Italy/Serbia and Montenegro
Gold medal – first place2021 Poland/Czech Republic/Estonia/Finland
Silver medal – second place1991 Germany
Silver medal – second place2001 Czech Republic
Silver medal – second place2011 Austria/Czech Republic
Silver medal – second place2013 Denmark/Poland
Silver medal – second place2023 Bulgaria/Israel/Italy/North Macedonia
Bronze medal – third place1948 Italy
Bronze medal – third place1997 Netherlands
Bronze medal – third place2015 Bulgaria/Italy
Universiade
Gold medal – first place1970 Turin
Gold medal – first place2019 Naples
Gold medal – first place2021 Chengdu
Silver medal – second place1997 Sicilly
Bronze medal – third place1983 Edmonton
Bronze medal – third place1985 Kobe
Bronze medal – third place1987 Zagreb
Bronze medal – third place1995 Fukuoka
Bronze medal – third place2005 Izmir
Bronze medal – third place2025 Berlin
Mediterranean Games
Gold medal – first place1959 Lebanon
Gold medal – first place1983 Casablanca
Gold medal – first place1991 Athens
Gold medal – first place2001 Tunis
Gold medal – first place2009 Pescara
Gold medal – first place2013 Mersin
Gold medal – first place2018 Tarragona
Silver medal – second place1963 Naples
Silver medal – second place1975 Algiers
Bronze medal – third place1987 Latakia
Bronze medal – third place2022 Oran
Goodwill Games
Gold medal – first place1990 Seattle

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.[2]

Result history

[edit]

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.[3]

Olympic Games

[edit]

  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 3rd 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 2nd 8 7 1 23 5 Squad
Australia 2000 Semifinals 3rd 8 7 1 21 8 Squad
Greece 2004 Final 2nd 8 5 3 20 11 Squad
China 2008 Semifinals 4th 8 5 3 17 14 Squad
United Kingdom 2012 Semifinals 3rd 8 5 3 16 13 Squad
Brazil 2016 Final 2nd 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

[edit]

  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

World Cup

[edit]

  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
Total1 title8/1480582218990-
  • Japan 1995 Gold medal

World Grand Champions Cup

[edit]

  Champions    Runners up    Third place    Fourth place

World League

[edit]

  Champions    Runners up    Third place    Fourth place

Nations League

[edit]

  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 2020Not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic
Italy 2021 Preliminary round 10th 15 7 8 28 33 Squad
Italy 2022 Semifinals 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
China 2026 Quarterfinals 5th 13 8 5 30 21 Squad
Total 0 titles 8/8 116 73 43 257 180

European Championship

[edit]

  Champions    Runners up    Third place    Fourth place

European Championship record
Year Round Position GP MW ML SW SL Squad
Italy 1948 Round robin Third place 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 Fourth place 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 Champions 7 6 1 20 7 Squad
Germany 1991 Final Runners-up 7 6 1 18 7 Squad
Finland 1993 Final Champions 7 7 0 21 5 Squad
Greece 1995 Final Champions 7 6 1 19 6 Squad
Netherlands 1997 Semifinals Third place 7 5 2 15 8 Squad
Austria 1999 Final Champions 5 4 1 13 5 Squad
Czech Republic 2001 Final Runners-up 7 4 3 14 10 Squad
Austria 2003 Final Champions 7 7 0 21 4 Squad
Italy 2005 Final Champions 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 Runners-up 6 4 2 15 8 Squad
DenmarkPoland 2013 Final Runners-up 6 4 2 15 9 Squad
ItalyBulgaria 2015 Semifinals Third place 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 Champions 9 9 0 27 5 Squad
ItalyBulgariaNorth MacedoniaIsrael 2023 Final Runners-up 9 8 1 24 7 Squad
BulgariaFinlandItalyRomania 2026 Qualified as co-host Squad
Montenegro 2028 To be determined
Total7 titles31/3322815177430330-

European Games

[edit]

  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 Minskvolleyball tournament not held
Poland 2023 Kraków
Turkey 2027 IstanbulTBD
Total0 titles1/1505415-

Mediterranean Games

[edit]
  • 19591st place, gold medalist(s) gold medal
  • 19632nd place, silver medalist(s) silver medal
  • 19752nd place, silver medalist(s) silver medal
  • 1979 — Fourth place
  • 19831st place, gold medalist(s) gold medal
  • 19873rd place, bronze medalist(s) bronze medal
  • 19911st place, gold medalist(s) gold medal
  • 1997 — Fourth place
  • 20011st place, gold medalist(s) gold medal
  • 2005 — Fifth place
  • 20091st place, gold medalist(s) gold medal
  • 20131st place, gold medalist(s) gold medal
  • 20181st place, gold medalist(s) gold medal
  • 20223rd place, bronze medalist(s) bronze medal
  • 2026Future event
  • 2030Future event

Goodwill Games

[edit]

  Champions    Runners up    Third place    Fourth place

Goodwill Games record
Year Round Position GP MW ML SW SL
Soviet Union 1986Did not participate
United States 1990FinalChampions541146
Total1 titles1/2541146
  • United States 19901st place, gold medalist(s) Gold medal

Team

[edit]

Current roster

[edit]

Roster for the 2026 Volleyball Nations League.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Club
1 Tim Held (1998-04-17) 17 April 1998 (age 28) {{{caps}}} Italy Sonepar Padova
Giulio Magalini (2001-08-14) 14 August 2001 (age 24) {{{caps}}} Italy Yuasa Battery Grottazzolina
5 Alessandro Michieletto (2001-12-05) 5 December 2001 (age 24) {{{caps}}} Italy Itas Trentino
9 Francesco Sani (2002-07-16) 16 July 2002 (age 24) {{{caps}}} Italy Rana Verona
12 Mattia Bottolo (2001-01-03) 3 January 2001 (age 25) {{{caps}}} Italy Cucine Lube Civitanova
15 Daniele Lavia (1999-11-04) 4 November 1999 (age 26) {{{caps}}} Italy Itas Trentino
17 Luca Porro (2004-05-09) 9 May 2004 (age 22) {{{caps}}} Italy Valsa Group Modena
Tommaso Ichino (2001-12-05) 5 December 2001 (age 24) {{{caps}}} Italy Powervolley Milano
24 Mattia Orioli (2004-03-23) 23 March 2004 (age 22) {{{caps}}} Italy Sonepar Padova

Francesco Comparoni (2001-06-22) 22 June 2001 (age 25) {{{caps}}} Italy Gas Sales Piacenza
13 Lorenzo Cortesia (1999-09-26) 26 September 1999 (age 26) {{{caps}}} Italy Rana Verona
14 Gianluca Galassi (1997-07-24) 24 July 1997 (age 29) {{{caps}}} Italy Gas Sales Piacenza
18 Giovanni Sanguinetti (2000-04-14) 14 April 2000 (age 26) {{{caps}}} Italy Valsa Group Modena
19 Roberto Russo (1997-02-23) 23 February 1997 (age 29) {{{caps}}} Italy Sir Safety Perugia
20 Pardo Mati (2006-08-07) 7 August 2006 (age 20) {{{caps}}} Italy Valsa Group Modena
Andrea Truocchio (2000-02-10) 10 February 2000 (age 26) {{{caps}}} Italy Sonepar Padova
25 Giovanni Gargiulo (1999-06-03) 3 June 1999 (age 27) {{{caps}}} Italy Cucine Lube Civitanova
30 Leandro Mosca (2000-09-05) 5 September 2000 (age 25) {{{caps}}} Italy Cuneo Volley

2 Paolo Porro (2001-10-27) 27 October 2001 (age 24) {{{caps}}} Italy Gas Sales Piacenza
6 Simone Giannelli (C) (1996-08-09) 9 August 1996 (age 30) {{{caps}}} Italy Sir Safety Perugia
9 Riccardo Sbertoli (1998-05-23) 23 May 1998 (age 28) {{{caps}}} Italy Itas Trentino
26 Mattia Boninfante (2004-06-24) 24 June 2004 (age 22) {{{caps}}} Russia Zenit St. Petersburg

4 Gabriele Laurenzano (2003-06-12) 12 June 2003 (age 23) {{{caps}}} Italy Itas Trentino
7 Fabio Balaso (1995-10-20) 20 October 1995 (age 30) {{{caps}}} Italy Cucine Lube Civitanova
Matteo Staforini (2003-05-25) 25 May 2003 (age 23) {{{caps}}} Italy Rana Verona
28 Domenico Pace (2000-10-02) 2 October 2000 (age 25) {{{caps}}} Italy Gas Sales Piacenza

11 Kamil Rychlicki (1996-11-01) 1 November 1996 (age 29) {{{caps}}} Poland ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle
16 Yuri Romano (1997-07-26) 26 July 1997 (age 29) {{{caps}}} Poland PGE Projekt Warszawa
23 Alessandro Bovolenta (2004-05-27) 27 May 2004 (age 22) {{{caps}}} Italy Gas Sales Piacenza
Tommaso Guzzo (2002-04-30) 30 April 2002 (age 24) {{{caps}}} Italy Cisterna Volley

Coach history

[edit]

Record attendance

[edit]
  • 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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

Italy's matches and friendlies are currently televised by RAI and Rai Sport.

References

[edit]
  1. "The FIVB World Ranking". FIVB. 3 August 2026. Retrieved 3 August 2026.
  2. "Italy Crowned 2025 Volleyball World Champions". WorldofVolley. 2025. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
  3. Italy in Hall of Fame
[edit]
Italy men's national volleyball team
Morty Proxy This is a proxified and sanitized view of the page, visit original site.