Andrea Giani
Encyclopedia
Andrea Giani is an Italian
coach and retired volleyball
player who scored notable successes in the 1990s, winning three World Championship
s with his national team. He is 196 cm (6 ft 5 in) tall.
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 (later 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
’s 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 1998, Giani had scored against Finland
his first cap for the Italian national team: 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 titles in a row (1990, 1994 and 1998) and four European (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.
During his career Giani became renowned for his polyvalence: starting as a middle blocker, he turned into a power attacker and passer.
After having quit the national team, Giani played for Cimone Modena until 2008, taking the reins of the team as manager starting from season 2007-2008. His nickname is Giangio.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
coach and retired volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
player who scored notable successes in the 1990s, winning three World Championship
Volleyball World Championship
The FIVB World Championship is an international men's and women's indoor volleyball competition. It is the oldest and most important of all the international events organized by the FIVB and must not be confused with the FIVB World Cup or the FIVB World League/FIVB World Grand Prix.-Origins:The...
s with his national team. He is 196 cm (6 ft 5 in) tall.
Career
Giani’s father, Dario, was a rower who had taken part in the 1964 Summer Olympics1964 Summer Olympics
The 1964 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Tokyo, Japan in 1964. Tokyo had been awarded with the organization of the 1940 Summer Olympics, but this honor was subsequently passed to Helsinki because of Japan's...
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
Sabaudia
Sabaudia is a coastal town in the province of Latina, Lazio, central Italy. Sabaudia's center is characterized by several examples of Fascist architecture.-History:...
, in the Southern Latium
Latium
Lazio is one of the 20 administrative regions of Italy, situated in the central peninsular section of the country. With about 5.7 million residents and a GDP of more than 170 billion euros, Lazio is the third most populated and the second richest region of Italy...
, 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 (later Maxicono) Parma.
Giani was chosen to play for the latter, initially with the junior team under Gian Paolo Montali
Gian Paolo Montali
Gian Paolo Montali is an Italian volleyball coach who has won two Volleyball European Championships with Italian national team....
as coach. Giani’s first final for scudetto in the Parma
Parma
Parma is a city in the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna famous for its ham, its cheese, its architecture and the fine countryside around it. This is the home of the University of Parma, one of the oldest universities in the world....
’s 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 1998, Giani had scored against Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
his first cap for the Italian national team: 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 titles in a row (1990, 1994 and 1998) and four European (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.
During his career Giani became renowned for his polyvalence: starting as a middle blocker, he turned into a power attacker and passer.
After having quit the national team, Giani played for Cimone Modena until 2008, taking the reins of the team as manager starting from season 2007-2008. His nickname is Giangio.
Clubs
| Club | Country | From | To |
| Parma | 1986–1987 | 1995–1996 | |
| Modena | 1996–1997 | 2007–2008 |