Lorenzo Bernardi

Lorenzo Bernardi, declared the FIVB's 'Volleyball Player of the Century' in 2001, was a two-time World Champion regarded as one of the greatest all-around players the sport has produced.

In 2001, the FIVB declared Lorenzo Bernardi the Volleyball Player of the Century — recognition of sustained excellence across more than a decade as one of the most complete all-around players the sport had seen. He grew up in Trento, Italy, standing 199cm tall, and began his career as a setter before switching to become a dominant hitter and passer, a versatility that became his trademark. He represented Italy from 1987 to 2001, earning 306 caps and competing at three Olympic Games, the first coming at Seoul 1988 aged just 20. Bernardi was a central figure in Italy's rise to dominance as part of the legendary 'Generazione di Fenomeni', helping the team win the 1989 European Championship and the 1990 FIVB World Championship. He was named MVP of the 1992 FIVB World League as Italy won the competition for a third consecutive year, and went on to win a second World Championship title in 1994 — for which he was named the tournament's best player — plus a second European Championship crown in 1995, for which he was again named best player. Bernardi capped his career with a silver medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and a gold medal at the 1995 FIVB World Cup in Japan. In 2001, in recognition of his sustained excellence across more than a decade at the top of the sport, the FIVB declared him 'Volleyball Player of the Century.' After retiring as a player, Bernardi moved into coaching, leading clubs including Trentino Volley, Jastrzębski Węgiel, Halkbank Ankara, Sir Safety Perugia, and Gas Sales Piacenza.

Versatile hitter and passer who began as a setter, giving him rare all-around court awareness

Widely regarded as one of the most complete all-around players in volleyball history and a cornerstone of Italy's 1990s dominance

• 2x World Champion (1990, 1994)
• Olympic silver medal (1996)
• 2x European Champion (1989, 1995)
• FIVB World Cup champion (1995)
• FIVB 'Volleyball Player of the Century' (2001)