Andrea Giani
Personal information
NationalityItalian
Born (1970-04-22) 22 April 1970
Naples, Italy
Height1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)
Coaching information
Current teamFrance
Modena Volley
Previous teams coached
YearsTeams
2007–2008
2008–2012
2013–2016
2015–2016
2017–2021
2017–2019
2019–
2022–		Modena Volley
M. Roma Volley
Calzedonia Verona
Slovenia
Germany
Power Volley Milano
Modena Volley
France
Volleyball information
PositionMiddle blocker
Number13
Career
YearsTeams
1982–1985
1985–1996
1996–2007		Pallavolo Sabaudia
Pallavolo Parma
Modena Volley
National team
1988–2005 Italy (474)
Honours
Men's volleyball
Representing  Italy
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place1996 Atlanta
Silver medal – second place2004 Athens
Bronze medal – third place2000 Sydney
FIVB World Championship
Gold medal – first place1990 Brazil
Gold medal – first place1994 Greece
Gold medal – first place1998 Japan
FIVB World Cup
Gold medal – first place1995 Japan
FIVB World Grand Champions Cup
Gold medal – first place1993 Japan
FIVB World League
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
Bronze medal – third place1993 São Paulo
Goodwill Games
Gold medal – first place1990 Seattle
CEV European Championship
Gold medal – first place1993 Finland
Gold medal – first place1995 Greece
Gold medal – first place1999 Austria
Gold medal – first place2003 Germany
Head Coach  Slovenia
CEV European Championship
Silver medal – second place2015 Poland
Head Coach  Germany
CEV European Championship
Silver medal – second place2017 Poland
Head Coach  France
Nations League
Gold medal – first place2022 Bologna

Andrea Giani (born 22 April 1970) is an Italian professional volleyball coach and former player who scored numerous successes in the 1990s, including three World Championships with his national team. He was an all-rounder able to play both as outside hitter and as middle blocker, but he played several times as opposite too.[1]

Career

Giani’s father, Dario, was a rower who took part in the 1964 Summer Olympics for Italy. After having trained with the father, now a rowing coach, Andrea tried for brief period as a football player, in 1985 the 14-year-old Giani began his career as a volleyball player in the local team of Sabaudia, in the Southern Latium, where he lived. Soon news about his qualities spread and attracted attention from the two main volleyball club of Italy of the period: Panini Modena and Santal/Maxicono Parma.

Giani was chosen to play for the latter, initially with the junior team under Gian Paolo Montali as coach. Giani’s first final for scudetto in the Parma major team was in 1987. Parma was defeated, as well as in the following seasons. Giani won in 1990 his first scudetto, it was to be followed by four more. In the meantime, in 1988, Giani had scored against Finland his first cap for the Italy, his career with the Azzurri colours ended in 2005 after a total of 474 caps (record), becoming one of the most renowned players in Italy and in the world for his excellent technical and jumping capabilities. With Italy Giani won three World Championship titles in a row (1990, 1994 and 1998) and four European Championship (1993, 1995, 1999, 2003) and many others. He won three medals at the Olympic Games but his team never won the gold medal, even though Italy was generally considered the top favourites. He won silver medals at the 1996 Olympic Games and 2004 Olympic Games, and a bronze medal at the 2000 Olympic Games and make Golden time with team other members. During his career Giani became renowned for his polyvalence, starting as a middle blocker, he turned into a power attacker and passer. Giani before Modena, played in Parma 1985-1996 and winner three Italian Championship Serie A and Club World Championship.

After having quit the national team, Giani played for Cimone Modena until 2008 and winner two CEV Champions League. He taking the reins of the team as manager starting from season 2007–2008. His nickname is Giangio and at the season winner CEV Challenge Cup 2008. Giani at 2009-2010 year won Championship Serie A2 with M. Roma Volley. Giani became the manager of the Slovenia men's national volleyball team in May 2015.[2] Few months later he led Slovenia to victory in the European Volleyball League, which secured them a spot at the 2016 FIVB Volleyball World League. In October Slovenia unexpectedly won their first medal on a major volleyball tournament, after reaching the Final of the 2015 Men's European Volleyball Championship where they were defeated by France. In 2017, Giani replaced Vital Heynen as head coach of the Germany men's national volleyball team.[3]

Honours

As a player

As a coach

Individual awards

State awards

References

  1. ↑ Andrea Giani - International Volleyball Hall of Fame
  2. ↑ "Legendarni Andrea Giani na čelu slovenske odbojkarske reprezentance". 16 March 2015.
  3. ↑ Giani reaches agreement with German federation
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