Volleytimes pays tribute to one of the most respected figures in international volleyball, Daniel Castellani

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Daniel Jorge Castellani, one of the most respected figures in international volleyball and former Olympic bronze medalist, passed away on June 25, 2026, at the age of 65 after a long battle with cancer, started in 2024.

Castellani was one of the most influential figures in Argentine volleyball, helping the national team win bronze medals at the 1982 FIVB World Championship and the 1988 Seoul Olympics during the country’s golden era.
As an outside hitter, he represented the Argentina national team from 1976 to 1988.

After retiring as a player, he transitioned into a highly successful coaching career, he later built an acclaimed coaching career, leading Argentina to gold at the 1995 Pan American Games and coaching leading world clubs and national teams, including Poland, which he guided to the European Championship title, in 2009.

His final coaching role was with Argentina’s women’s national team, Las Panteras.
Despite being diagnosed with cancer shortly after taking over in 2023, he remained committed to the program and helped the team capture first-ever Pan American Cup title.
In his later years, he also served as the head coach in various top-tier clubs in Europe and South America.

With Bolívar Voley, in his Argentina, he established his early domestic coaching prominence, guiding the team to back-to-back Argentine Championship titles in the 2002–03 and 2003–04 seasons.
Moving to the Brazilian Superliga, he captured the prestigious 2017 Brazilian Cup with Funvic Taubaté, consecutive Paulista Championships, and the national league Superliga title in 2018/19.

In Europe, he managed PGE Skra Bełchatów from 2006 to 2009, winning multiple PlusLiga titles and the 2006/07 Polish Cup. He later returned to Poland to coach ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle and Indykpol AZS Olsztyn.
With Fenerbahçe, during his first stint (2013/15), he orchestrated the club’s first major continental triumph by winning the CEV Challenge Cup in 2013/14. He later returned to coach the team again from 2021 to 2023.
In the 2023/24 season, he took the reins of Olympiacos, leading them to both the Greek Cup and the Volley League Championship, while earning the league’s Best Coach award.
He also boasted other experiences with top-tier teams including Sir Safety Perugia in Italy, Noliko Maaseik in Belgium, where he secured the 2016 Belgian Supercup, and Dinamo Krasnodar in Russia.

His death was officially announced by the Argentine Volleyball Federation, leaving a profound impact on the international volleyball community.