In volleyball, there is no one more revered and admired than Julio Velasco. As a legendary coach, he ushered in an unprecedented touch of success to three of the biggest volleyball programmes in the world – Italy, Iran and Argentina – and has become an inspiration for players, coaches and fans everywhere.

The great tactician heads the Italian team in Manama, Bahrain, as they defend their title at 2023 FIVB Volleyball Men’s U21 World Championships.

“The best players of the junior team will eventually progress to play in the senior national teams. Some of the players here will play in their senior teams, and we will see them in the next year or two playing at the biggest stage,” said the ‘Maestro’ on the importance of the U21 tournament to the future of volleyball.

Velasco stressed that the U21 World Championship is the perfect ground for local coaches to provide an opportunity for their players to witness top-level volleyball that is more apt for a developing team.

“It’s a pity there are not a lot of young kids who play volleyball seeing this tournament. I think this is an unfortunate situation that happens everywhere. Coaches don’t take their young players, even if there are a few, to see the matches. Coaches think it is only important what they teach. For me, it is important for young players to see a higher level,” Velasco explained.

“It is best if it is a junior tournament because it is nearer to their condition, more than watching a higher or senior level competition on television. I hope that coaches change that mentality.”

As for his squad, he believes that the U21 World Championship is a tough tournament for them without one of their best players, but the mentor is happy with the team’s performance.

“For us it is very good. A World Championship is always very difficult. We arrived here without one of our best players (Luca) Porro, but the team is playing well. We can still do better, especially in service, where we still commit too many mistakes. But we are blocking, defending and attacking well. So it is very good for us, of course. Reaching a final is always very important,” he said.

Iran and Italy have each won the U21 world title of the last two editions. These two squads last met in the final in 2019, also in Bahrain, where Iran took the title. Italy won the title in 2021 in Cagliari.

2023 FIVB Volleyball Men's U21 World Championship: Full Schedule

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FIVB Volleyball Men's U21 World Championship
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