1. Overview
Julio Velasco (born 9 February 1952) is an Argentine former professional volleyball player and highly influential coach who later obtained Italian citizenship in 1992. Renowned for his transformative impact on the sport, Velasco's career spans decades of success, particularly with the Italian men's national team in the 1990s, where he led them to unprecedented global dominance. His extensive coaching journey includes stints with multiple national and club teams, achieving significant titles and developing players with a unique focus on mental resilience and strategic innovation. Beyond the court, Velasco's background as a philosophy student and political activist during his youth shaped his perspective, emphasizing social and developmental aspects in his coaching philosophy. His remarkable achievements and progressive approach culminated in his induction into the International Volleyball Hall of Fame in 2005 and his recent success leading the Italy women's national volleyball team to a gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
2. Early Life and Background
Julio Velasco's formative years in Argentina were marked by both his introduction to volleyball and a deep engagement with social and political thought, experiences that profoundly influenced his later career and coaching philosophy.
2.1. Childhood and Education
Velasco was born on 9 February 1952, in La Plata, Argentina. He began playing volleyball at the age of 15 for the National University of La Plata Club. His early involvement in the sport coincided with his academic pursuits, laying the groundwork for his future in volleyball.
2.2. Early Social and Political Involvement
During his university days, Velasco was a philosophy student and a Maoist militant. This political involvement led to his expulsion by the National University of La Plata board in 1974. Following the 1976 Argentine coup d'état, his previous political activities compelled him to live in semi-clandestinity. This challenging situation ultimately led him to relocate to Buenos Aires, where he secured his first job as a volleyball coach, marking a pivotal transition from political activism to a professional sports career. This period of adversity contributed to his resilient and strategic mindset, shaping his approach to leadership and team building.
3. Playing Career
Julio Velasco's career in volleyball began as a player. He started playing at the age of 15 for the National University of La Plata Club. While he later transitioned to coaching, his foundational experience as a player provided him with insights into the game from an athlete's perspective, which he would later integrate into his coaching methodology.
4. Coaching Career
Julio Velasco's extensive coaching career is characterized by numerous successes across various club and national teams, marked by his innovative strategies and ability to transform teams into champions.
4.1. Early Coaching Roles
Velasco's coaching journey began in Argentina, where he served as an assistant coach for the Argentina men's national team from 1981 to 1983. In 1983, he received an invitation to coach in Italy, marking the beginning of his influential career in European volleyball. He coached Tre Valli Jesi until 1985 before moving to Panini Modena, an Italian club team. During his tenure at Panini Modena from 1985 to 1989, he led the team to four consecutive Italian national championships from 1986 to 1989. The Japanese sources note that he took the team from the Italian 2nd division to Serie A1, achieving four consecutive victories.
4.2. Italy Men's National Team
In 1989, Velasco was appointed head coach of the Italy men's national volleyball team, a period that saw the team achieve unprecedented successes and establish itself as a global powerhouse. His first major trophy with the Italian team was the 1989 Men's European Volleyball Championship in Sweden, where they secured their first official tournament win by defeating the host team 3-1 in the final.
The peak of his initial success came in 1990 when Velasco led Italy to win the 1990 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship in Brazil. In the knockout stage, Italy defeated Argentina 3-0 in the quarterfinals, the host Brazil 3-2 in the semifinals, and finally Cuba 3-1 in the championship final, earning their first-ever World Championship title.
During his tenure as Italy's coach, Velasco's teams continued to dominate, winning two more European Championships (1993, 1995), another World Championship (1994), and five World Leagues (1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995). They also secured other significant trophies, including the FIVB Volleyball World Grand Champions Cup (1993), Mediterranean Games (1991), FIVB World Cup (1995), and the World Super Challenge (1996). His leadership also guided the Italian men's team to their first-ever silver medal in FIPAV history at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.
4.3. Other National Teams and Clubs
After the 1996 Summer Olympics, Velasco transitioned to coach the Italy women's national volleyball team from 1996 to 1997, leading them to a gold medal at the Mediterranean Games in 1997. He then coached the Czech Republic men's national team in 2001 before returning to Italy to coach the Copra Piacenza club in 2002.
In 2008, he was appointed head coach of the Spain men's national volleyball team, with whom he won the 2009 Men's European Volleyball League in 2009 and was runner-up in 2010. He also guided them to a runner-up finish at the 2009 Mediterranean Games.
In 2011, Velasco signed as the head coach of the Iran men's national volleyball team. Under his leadership, Iran became a top team in Asia, winning two Asian Championships in 2011 and 2013. His departure from the Iranian team in March 2014 was notable; he became the coach of the Argentina men's national volleyball team before his contract with Iran expired. This change was a result of a direct request from the people and the President of Argentina, and it was approved by the Iranian volleyball confederation as a sign of respect for their coach.
He led the Argentine team to win the 2015 Pan American Games gold medal. Velasco was later appointed head coach of Modena Volley for the 2018/2019 season.
In 2024, Velasco was formally re-appointed head coach of the Italy women's national volleyball team, with the specific goal of guiding them to the 2024 Summer Olympics. Under his guidance, the team achieved a gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
4.4. Administrative Roles
Beyond his coaching roles, Velasco also held significant administrative positions in sports. During the 1998-99 season, he served as the General Director of S.S. Lazio, a period during which the football club won the UEFA Cup Winner's Cup. In 2000, he moved to Inter Milan, where he continued in an administrative capacity under Massimo Moratti.
5. Coaching Philosophy and Style
Julio Velasco is widely recognized for his distinctive coaching methodology and leadership principles, which earned him the nickname "魔法使いの見習いapprentice wizardJapanese" in Japan. His approach emphasizes not only technical and strategic excellence but also significant focus on mental strength, psychological preparation, and a "no excuses" philosophy.
Velasco is known for challenging conventional thinking and breaking down perceived limitations. For instance, during his time with the Italian men's national team, he famously countered the widespread belief that Italian teams, due to their height disadvantages, could not defeat Eastern European teams. He systematically dismantled this excuse through rigorous weight training and intensive mental strengthening programs, proving that success was attainable through relentless effort and belief.
His leadership style also incorporated strict discipline, as exemplified by an anecdote from his Italian national team coaching days: he prohibited players from bringing Italian food on foreign tours, compelling them to adapt to local cuisine and foster a greater sense of team unity and resilience.
Velasco's influence extends beyond volleyball. He has engaged in discussions about coaching with renowned football manager Pep Guardiola on multiple occasions. Guardiola, then a player, was so impressed by Velasco after seeing him in a television interview that he traveled hundreds of kilometers to meet him personally, seeking to learn from his unique approach to leadership and team management. This interaction underscores Velasco's reputation as a visionary in coaching, inspiring leaders across different sports with his emphasis on mental fortitude and strategic innovation.
6. Honours and Awards
Julio Velasco has accumulated an impressive array of honours and awards throughout his career, reflecting his profound impact on the sport of volleyball.
6.1. Team Honours
Velasco's teams have achieved numerous championships and major tournament victories:
- Ferro
- 4 Argentine Serie A1: 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982
- Modena
- 4 Italian SuperLega: 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989
- 3 Coppe Italia: 1986, 1988, 1989
- 1 Coppa delle Coppe: 1986
- 1 Supercoppa Italia: 2018
- Italy Men's National Team
- 1 Mediterranean Games: 1991
- 2 FIVB World Championship: 1990, 1994
- 3 European Volleyball Championship: 1989, 1993, 1995
- Runner-up: 1991
- 5 World Leagues: 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995
- Runner-up: 1996
- 3rd place: 1993
- 1 FIVB World Cup: 1995
- 1 Summer Olympics: Silver medal 1996
- 1 FIVB Volleyball World Grand Champions Cup: 1993
- 1 World Top Four FIVB: 1994
- 1 World Super Six FIVB: 1996
- Italy Women's National Team
- 1 Mediterranean Games: 1997
- 1 FIVB Women's Volleyball Nations League: 2024
- 1 Summer Olympics: Gold medal 2024
- Spain Men's National Team
- 2 Men's European Volleyball League: Runner-up 2009, 2010
- 1 Mediterranean Games: Runner-up 2009
- Iran Men's National Team
- 2 Asian Championships: 2011, 2013
- Argentina Men's National Team
- 1 Pan American Games: 2015
6.2. Individual Awards
Velasco has received numerous personal accolades recognizing his coaching prowess and contributions:
- 1990 FIVB World Championship - Best Coach
- 1991 Medal of Merit Sport Organization Italy
- 1993 FIVB World Grand Champions Cup - Best Coach
- 1995 FIVB World Cup - Best Coach
- 2000 Konex Award - Technical Director
- 2012 Società Italiana Medici Manager - Technical Award
- 2014 Coach of the Year in Iran
- 2022 CEV - Lifetime Achievement Award
6.3. Orders and Decorations
He has also been recognized with official honours:
- CONI: Golden Palm of Technical Merit (Palma d'oro al Merito TecnicoItalian): 2018
- President of Italy: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic: 2019
7. Legacy and Assessment
Julio Velasco's legacy extends far beyond his impressive list of titles, establishing him as one of the most influential figures in the history of volleyball coaching. His impact is marked by a deep understanding of the human element in sports, combining strategic acumen with an unparalleled ability to motivate and develop athletes both mentally and physically. He was inducted into the International Volleyball Hall of Fame in 2005, a testament to his lasting contributions to the sport.
Velasco's philosophical approach to coaching, which emerged from his early political and academic background, emphasizes resilience, accountability, and the power of collective effort. His "no excuses" philosophy and rigorous training methods, which focused on overcoming perceived limitations through mental and physical discipline, transformed teams and set new standards for high-performance volleyball. His influence is evident in the sustained success of the teams he coached and the impact he had on individual players, many of whom have become prominent figures in volleyball themselves.
His profound influence is also recognized outside of volleyball, notably by football coaching legend Pep Guardiola. Guardiola, seeking to learn from Velasco's leadership principles, traveled to meet him personally, highlighting Velasco's reputation as a master strategist and motivator whose insights transcend individual sports. This anecdote underscores Velasco's broader legacy as a visionary leader and educator in the world of sports, whose principles on team dynamics, mental strength, and continuous improvement continue to inspire and shape coaching philosophies across various disciplines.