Gian Paolo Montali
Encyclopedia
Gian Paolo Montali is an Italian
volleyball
coach who has won two Volleyball European Championships with Italian national team.
Montali began his career as volleyball coach for the junior team of the Santal Parma (Calisto Tanzi
's club). From 1986 to 1990 he directed the senior team, winning a striking scudetto in the latter season (together with 3 European Cup Winner's Cups and two Italian Cups).
After a short parenthesis in the secondary Schio's team, Montali was called to lead Sisley Treviso, property of the Benetton family
, which had till then scored little success despite strong financial investments. Montali imposed his capabilities and his discipline of work in his new seat also, winning 2 national titles, 1 European Winners', another European Cup Winner's, 1 CEV
and one Italian Cups. In 1996 he was called to coach the Greek
team of Olympiakos Piraeus, winning the championship 1997-1998
and two cups 1996-1997,1997-1998.
It is hard for Montali to arrive somewhere without winning. In 1998 he was attracted by another ambitious project: to take the reins of the newly formed team of Rome
, deploying famous but aging champions like Andrea Gardini
or Marco Bracci
, and try to win something after a devoid of victories lasting twenty years. In 2000, in a Palaeur
of Rome beating any record of crowding for Italian volleyball, Montali's men won its scudetto defeating Andrea Giani
's Las Daytona Modena. This victory has been largely credited to Montali's skills in tactics and team-moulding.
His capabilities to lead unfavoured teams to achieve considerable success were confirmed in his lead of Asystel Milano
, a second-row team who anyway reached the final for Italian title in 2001.
With such a career at his back, Montali was judged the right person to revamp the fate of Italy
's volleyball national team, which seemed to be in crisis after many of the champions of 1990s's successes had retired. In his first season (2003) Montali lead his unexperienced men to a bronze medal in the World League
and, most of all, to a surprising success in the European Championship. One year later Montali's team was silver medal in the World League and in the Olympic Games, both behind Brazil
: under the new coach Italy had anyway imposed again his role as one of the strongest teams in the world.
In 2005 Italy confirmed as Europe's leading, winning a gold in the final against a physically superior Russia
. The team and the coach received awards for their role in maintaining high interest in volleyball in their country at the Palazzo del Quirinale from the Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi
.
Montali is considered today one of the best volleyball coaches of the world . He has a son, Alessandro.
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...
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...
coach who has won two Volleyball European Championships with Italian national team.
Montali began his career as volleyball coach for the junior team of the Santal Parma (Calisto Tanzi
Calisto Tanzi
Calisto Tanzi is an Italian businessman notorious for embezzling an estimated eight-hundred million euros from Italian company Parmalat, founded by him, resulting in a great loss for the company. Tanzi was the founder of Parmalat and its CEO, at the time. Tanzi founded Parmalat in 1961, after...
's club). From 1986 to 1990 he directed the senior team, winning a striking scudetto in the latter season (together with 3 European Cup Winner's Cups and two Italian Cups).
After a short parenthesis in the secondary Schio's team, Montali was called to lead Sisley Treviso, property of the Benetton family
Benetton family
Four members of the Italian Benetton family founded the Benetton Group S.p.A. fashion company in 1965. The three brothers and one sister were all born in Treviso, Veneto, Italy. Their father owned a bicycle shop...
, which had till then scored little success despite strong financial investments. Montali imposed his capabilities and his discipline of work in his new seat also, winning 2 national titles, 1 European Winners', another European Cup Winner's, 1 CEV
CEV
CEV may stand for:*Certified Video Engineer, a professional title regulated by the Society of Broadcast Engineers*Chemins de fer électriques Veveysans, a Swiss railway company*Contemporary English Version, a translation of the Bible into English...
and one Italian Cups. In 1996 he was called to coach the Greek
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
team of Olympiakos Piraeus, winning the championship 1997-1998
and two cups 1996-1997,1997-1998.
It is hard for Montali to arrive somewhere without winning. In 1998 he was attracted by another ambitious project: to take the reins of the newly formed team of Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, deploying famous but aging champions like Andrea Gardini
Andrea Gardini
Andrea Gardini is an Italian former volleyball player. Standing at 202 cm, he played central blocker and totalled 418 caps for the Italian national volleyball team....
or Marco Bracci
Marco Bracci
Marco Bracci is a former Italian volleyball player, ranked amongst the world's most valuable players of the late 1980s and 1990s. A 197 cm athlete, Bracci played as passer-hitter....
, and try to win something after a devoid of victories lasting twenty years. In 2000, in a Palaeur
PalaLottomatica
PalaLottomatica, formerly known as Palazzo dello Sport or PalaEUR, is a multi-purpose sports and entertainment arena in Rome, Italy. It is located in the heart of the well known modern EUR complex. The arena hosted the 1960 Olympic basketball tournamentsThe stadium features 8 meetings points, a...
of Rome beating any record of crowding for Italian volleyball, Montali's men won its scudetto defeating Andrea Giani
Andrea Giani
Andrea Giani is an Italian coach and retired volleyball player who scored notable successes in the 1990s, winning three World Championships with his national team. He is 196 cm tall.-Career:...
's Las Daytona Modena. This victory has been largely credited to Montali's skills in tactics and team-moulding.
His capabilities to lead unfavoured teams to achieve considerable success were confirmed in his lead of Asystel Milano
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
, a second-row team who anyway reached the final for Italian title in 2001.
With such a career at his back, Montali was judged the right person to revamp the fate of Italy
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...
's volleyball national team, which seemed to be in crisis after many of the champions of 1990s's successes had retired. In his first season (2003) Montali lead his unexperienced men to a bronze medal in the World League
Volleyball World League
The FIVB World League is an international men's volleyball competition. Created in 1990, it is the longest and richest of all the international events organized by the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball . The tournament is annual. The women's version of the competition is called FIVB World...
and, most of all, to a surprising success in the European Championship. One year later Montali's team was silver medal in the World League and in the Olympic Games, both behind Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
: under the new coach Italy had anyway imposed again his role as one of the strongest teams in the world.
In 2005 Italy confirmed as Europe's leading, winning a gold in the final against a physically superior Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. The team and the coach received awards for their role in maintaining high interest in volleyball in their country at the Palazzo del Quirinale from the Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi
Carlo Azeglio Ciampi
dr. Carlo Azeglio Ciampi is an Italian politician and banker. He was the 73rd Prime Minister of Italy from 1993 to 1994 and was the tenth President of the Italian Republic from 1999 to 2006...
.
Montali is considered today one of the best volleyball coaches of the world . He has a son, Alessandro.
External links
- Biographical information (English)
- Biographical information (Spanish)