Simone Giannelli is the pacesetter of Perugia. © Social Media / Michele Benda

Giannelli and Perugia: Captaining into the future

Simone Giannelli has been playing for Perugia for 3 years now, where he has now been appointed captain of the team and received a new contract.

September 10, 2024

From: do

From 2012 to 2021, Simone Giannelli played volleyball in Trento and celebrated numerous successes there. He then moved to Sir Safety Perugia, where the gifted setter has now been active for three years. Last season, the 28-year-old was able to celebrate both the championship title and the cup victory. Now the successful collaboration will continue, as the club recently announced.

Giannelli received another vote of confidence from his club in the form of a three-year contract that ties the star player to Perugia until 2027. But that was not all: Parallel to the new contract, the South Tyrolean was given a special honour - he was named the team's new captain.

"It is a big responsibility and I am happy. It is an important and challenging task that I want to do with full commitment. I am grateful and proud. Now we have to bring all the energy we have onto the pitch!" said Giannelli.

The South Tyrolean (left) is the heart and soul of the team. © Social Media / Bartek Wójtowicz/Fundacja im. Tomasza Wójtowicza

Last weekend, the Bolzano native played in two friendly matches against Lublin and Jastrzebski in Poland, both of which Perugia won. These matches served as a dress rehearsal for the coming season, which officially begins on September 21st (15:30 p.m.) with the Supercup final against Piacenza. From that point on, the next trophy hunt begins for Giannelli and his teammates.

Already an illustrious career

Simone Giannelli is considered one of the best volleyball players in the world. In 2016, he won the silver medal with the Italian national team at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. In 2021, he was crowned European champion in Finland and in 2022 he became world champion in Poland and Slovenia.

The Bolzano native can also boast an impressive collection of trophies at club level: three Italian championships, two cup victories and three club world championships are to his credit.