Italian Volleyball icon Piccinini confirms retirement

A true and unique Volleyball icon, Francesca Piccinini, announced earlier today her retirement from competitive sport at the age of 42 and she did so through an interview published by Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera. Piccinini had previously already announced her retirement before returning to play with Unet e-work BUSTO ARSIZIO in early 2020. A seven-time winner of the CEV Champions League Volley, Piccinini reached the semis of this year’s competition, where BUSTO ARSIZIO lost to VakifBank ISTANBUL.

Piccinini has an incredible resume including a truly endless list of accolades. She played for the Italian national team for more than 20 years, achieving unprecedented success, such as a historic World Championship title in 2002, EuroVolley gold in 2009, and the FIVB World Cup triumph in 2007, wearing the shirt of Team Italy as many as 503 times.

Her latest major triumph came in May 2019 at the historic Super Finals held in Berlin, where she helped Igor Gorgonzola NOVARA claim the title. Later that year, she received the CEV Lifetime Achievement Award at the European Volleyball Gala held in Sofia, Bulgaria.

The whole Volleyball family wishes Francesca the best of luck in all of her future endeavours, and is grateful for the truly unique role that she has played to promote the game of Volleyball on the international stage for so many years.