Gianlorenzo Blengini

Gianlorenzo Blengini (born 29 December 1971) is an Italian volleyball coach. As of May 2024, he is the coach of the Bulgaria men's national team and former coach of Cucine Lube Civitanova. Blengini was promoted from the role of assistant coach in the Italian team after working under former coach, Mauro Berruto.^[1][2]

Gianlorenzo Blengini
Blengini in 2016
Personal information
Nickname	Chicco
Nationality	Italian
Born	(1971-12-29) 29 December 1971 (age 52) Turin, Italy
Hometown	Piedmont Milan
Height	182 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Coaching information
Current team	Volley Lube
Previous teams coached Years Teams 2000–2001 2001–2004 2004–2006 2006–2009 2009–2011 2011–2014 2014–2015 2014–2015 2015–2017 2015–2021 2021–2024 2024– Torino (assistant) Piacenza (assistant) Modena (assistant) Gabeca (assistant) Lupi Santa Croce [it] Callipo Top Volley Latina Italy (assistant) Volley Lube Italy Volley Lube Bulgaria
Honours Men's volleyball Head coach  Italy Olympic Games 2016 Brazil Mediterranean Games 2018 Spain Universiade 2019 Italy CEV European Championship 2015 Bulgaria/Italy FIVB World Cup 2015 Japan FIVB World Grand Champions Cup 2015 Japan

With the Italian national team, Benglini won silver at the World Cup in 2015 and bronze medal at the European Championship. Blengini with Italy national team won the silver medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.^[3]

Bulgarian National Volleyball Team (Men)

"Italian coach Gianlorenzo Blengini signed a three-year contract with the Bulgarian Volleyball Federation and takes over the southern European country's men's national team from previous coach Plamen Konstantinov. The contract involves a two-year extension option, clearly indicating a long-term prospect geared towards qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games."^[4]

Gianlorenzo Blengini was appointed as a head coach of the Bulgarian National Team in May 2024. In an interview, the President of the Bulgarian Volleyball Federation, Lyubomir Ganev, stated that Blengini had shared his observations on the Bulgarian team, specifically the young players who were training with Lube, based on an agreement between the Italian team and VK Levski Sofia. Ganev reported that Blengini had expressed his interest to coach the team after recognising a "great potential" in the youngsters.^[5]

In the end of May, shortly after the signing, Blengini lead the Bulgarian team in the FIVB Men's Volleyball Nations League.

Tournaments

^[6]

National teams tournaments

The Olympics (Men) 2016

• (1) Silver

European Championships (Men) 2021

• (1) Gold

Grand Champions Cup (Men) 2017

• (1) Gold

Mediterranean Games (Men) 2018

• (1) Gold

FISU World University Games (Men) 2019

• (1) Gold

Clubs tournaments

Champions League (Men)

• (3) Bronze 2023/24, 2016/17, 2015/16

Club World Championship (Men)

• (1) Silver 2021/22

Italian Serie A1 (Men)

• (3) Gold 2021/22, 2020/21, 2016/17

• (2) Silver 2022/23, 2003/04

• (2) Bronze 2015/16, 2005/06

Challenge Cup (Men)

• (1) Silver 2003/04

Italian Cup (Men)

• (2) Gold 2020/21, 2016/17

• (2) Bronze 2015/16, 2012/13

Italian Serie A2 (Men)

• (1) Gold 2001/02

• (1) Bronze 2010/11

Italian Supercup (Men)

• (3) Silver 2023/24, 2022/23, 2020/21

• (2) Bronze 2021/22, 2016/17

Italian Cup A2 (Men)

• (3) Gold 2010/11, 2001/02, 2000/01

References

1. Italy team in Rio 2016
2. "Legavolley Pro". Archived from the original on 2014-12-02. Retrieved 2016-08-29.
3. About in FIVB 2015
4. volleyballworld.com. "Blengini takes over men's national team of Bulgaria". volleyballworld.com. Retrieved 2024-06-09.
5. "Любо Ганев обясни защо са се спряли на Джанлоренцо Бленджини за нов селекционер". Sportal.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 2024-06-09.
6. "Gianlorenzo Blengini". volleybox.net. Retrieved 9 June 2024.