Volley Bergamo

Previous names

Due to sponsorship, the club have competed under the following names:

Volley Bergamo (1991–1992)

Foppapedretti Bergamo (1992–2000)

Radio 105 Foppapedretti Bergamo (2000–2006)

Play Radio Foppapedretti Bergamo (2006–2007)

Foppapedretti Bergamo (2007–2010)

Norda Foppapedretti Bergamo (2010–2012)

Foppapedretti Bergamo (2012–present)

Beginnings (1991–1994)

Volley Bergamo was founded in 1991 by Mauro Ferraris and first played in the 1991–92 Serie B1 (third tier). In the following season (1992–93) it started a partnership with Foppapedretti and gained promotion to the Serie A2 (second tier). The club gain a second successive promotion in 1993–94 by winning the Serie A2 and being promoted to the Serie A1 (first tier).

Major success (1995–2007)

In 1994–95, its debut season at Serie A1, the club finish in fifth position earning for the first time qualification for a European competition (CEV Cup). In the following season it won both the Serie A1 and the Coppa Italia for the first time. The 1996–97 was a very successful season, with the club winning the Serie A1, Coppa Italia, Italian Super Cup and the CEV Champions League. For the next decade the club became one of the strongest women's volleyball clubs in Europe, winning another five Serie A1 (1997–98, 1998–99, 2001–02, 2003–04, 2005–06), two Coppa Italia (1997–98, 2005–06), four Italian Super Cups (1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–00, 2004–05), four CEV Champions League (1998–99, 1999–00, 2004–05, 2006–07) and one CEV Cup (2003–04).

Recent years (2008–present)

Despite not being as dominant as before, the club remains competitive and has achieved some success in recent years, winning the Serie A (2010–11), the Coppa Italia (2007–08 and 2015–16), the Italian Super Cup (2011–12) and the CEV Champions League (2008–09 and 2009–10). It is the most successful Italian team in the CEV Champions League history with 7 titles and the second most successful team in Serie A history with 8 titles, having never being relegated since its debut in the 1994–95 season.

Team

Season 2016–2017, as of February 2017.

Notable players

Retired numbers

11 Giseli Gavio; the number was retired in 1999

12 Francesca Piccinini; the number was retired in 2013

Head Coaches

Francesco Sbalchiero (1993–1995)

Atanas Malinov (1995–1997)

Marco Bonitta (1997–2000)

Giuseppe Cuccarini (2000–2002)

Mario Di Pietro (2002–2003)

Giovanni Caprara (2003–2005)

Marco Fenoglio (2005–2007)

Lorenzo Micelli (2007-2010)

Davide Mazzanti (2010-2012)

Stefano Lavarini (2012-current)

National competitions

National League: 8

1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 2001–02, 2003–04, 2005–06, 2010–11

Coppa Italia: 6

1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98, 2005–06, 2007–08, 2015–16

Italian Super Cup: 6

1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–00, 2004–05, 2011–12

International competitions

CEV Champions League: 7

1996–97, 1998–99, 1999–00, 2004–05, 2006–07, 2008–09, 2009–10

CEV Cup: 1

2003–04