FERDINANDO de Giorgi, the most successful coach in world men’s volleyball today, was a setter who played under Alas Pilipinas head coach Angiolino Frigoni.
In fact, they have a golden history between them.
When de Giorgi was still playing in the Italian Volleyball League back in the early ‘80s, Frigoni was head coach of his club team Acqua Paradiso Gabeca Montichiari.
READ Frigoni sees familiar faces in FIVB Worlds group stage
Frigoni also became the assistant coach of the Italian national team when star setter de Giorgi won gold back in the 1994 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship.
“Angiolino [Frigoni] was my coach when I was a player in Montichiari. I say hello to Angiolino. He’s a very, very good coach and friend,” de Giorgi said.
“In Montichiari, it was in the Superliga, especially in the national team, we stayed together many, many years, very important years.
“We won the world champion[ship] in 1994 and European champion, too. It was a big memory, a good memory.”
Nearly four decades since, Frigoni and de Giorgi found themselves working for the Italian national team program, albeit in different capacities.
Frigoni handled the under-21 boys’ national team while de Giorgi already led the men’s squad, both successful programs back in 2021.
Four years later, they’re on opposite ends of the 32-team field of the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship — de Giorgi's team defending a title, Frigoni's competing for the first time.
When asked if he had any advice for Frigoni, de Giorgi’s answer was quite simple — none.
“Advice? No! Angiolino? [He already has] big experience,” de Giorgi said. “No need for advice, only good luck.”
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