Andrea Gardini


Andrea Gardini is an Italian professional volleyball coach and former player, a silver and bronze Olympic Games medallist, three–time World Champion, and four–time European Champion. Gardini was the captain of the Italian team at the 2000 Olympics. He was inducted into the Volleyball Hall of Fame in 2007.

Personal life

His son, Davide, is also a volleyball player.

Career

As a coach

In 2011, Gardini became an assistant coach of Andrea Anastasi in the Polish national volleyball team. On 10 July 2011, they led Poland to a bronze medal of the 2011 World League, the nation's first ever World League medal. On 18 September 2011, Poland, led by Anastasi and Gardini, won a bronze medal at the 2011 European Championship. In the same year, their team won a silver medal at the 2011 World Cup and qualified for the Olympic Games London 2012. For the first time in its history, the Polish national team won three medals in one year. On 8 July 2012, Poland won the final match of the 2012 World League against United States. In October 2013, Anastasi and Gardini were dismissed as coaches of the Polish national team.
On 22 December 2014, Gardini was appointed new head coach of Indykpol AZS Olsztyn. In May 2015, he signed a new contract with the club from Olsztyn.
It was announced that he was appointed as the head coach of the Galatasaray Men's Volleyball Team on December 15, 2025.

Honours

As a player

CEV European Champions Cup

As a coach

Domestic

Individual awards

1988: Olympic Games – Best spiker1989: FIVB World Cup – Best spiker1990: FIVB World League – Best blocker

State awards

2000: Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic