Julio Velasco

Player

Julio Velasco began playing volleyball at the age of 15 for National University of La Plata Club.

Coach

Velasco became assistant coach on the Argentina national men's team from 1981-1983.

In 1983 he was invited to coach for Tre Valli Jesi in Italy, staying until 1985. He coached at Panini Modena 1985-1989 and led them to four Italian national championships in 1986-1989.

In 1989 he was appointed head coach of Italy men's national team leading them to unprecedented successes. His first piece of silverware with the Italian team was at the 1989 Men's European Volleyball Championship in Sweden where they topped their preliminary group with only one loss and went through the knockout stage up to the final where they beat 3-1 the host side^[2] to win their first ever official tournament.

But it was in 1990 that Velasco helped Italy to top the world, leading them to the win of the World Championship in Brazil: in the knockout stage Italy beat Argentina 3-0 in the quarterfinals, the host Brazil 3-2 in the semifinals and eventually Cuba 3-1 in the championship final to win their first ever title of world champions^[3].

During his tenure as Italy's coach Velasco won two more European Championships, another World Championships and five World League in addition to other minor trophies liked, FIVB World Grand Champions Cup, Mediterranean Games, FIVB World Cup and World Super Challenge. Velasco in the last years of his presence in Italy to great achievement and the first silver medal history FIPAV in 1996 Summer Olympics.

After the 1996 Summer Olympics, where the Italians won silver, he switched to the Italy women's team 1996 to 1997. Julio Velasco left the Italy national men’s Team in 1996 to coach the Italian national women’s Team, whom he coached to a Gold Medal at the Mediterranean Games. He coached the Czech Republic men's national team in 2001. He returned to Italy to coach the Copra Piacenza club in 2002. 2008 year selected Spain men's national team and achieve to 2009 European Volleyball League. In 2011, Velasco was signed as the head coach of the Iran men's national team. He became coach Argentina men's national team before his contract expires with Iranian national team on 1 March 2014. This change of the team was due to request of the people and country president of Argentina, and was approved by the Iranian volleyball confederation because of Iranians respect for their coach.^[4] He led the team to championship 2015 Pan American Games.

Administrator

Velasco being during the years 1998-99 General Director of the S.S. Lazio, that at that year won the UEFA Cup. He was also a consultant Massimo Moratti for some time in Inter Milan.