1990 - THE PRODIGIOUS DECADE BEGINS
The announcement of the concession to the city of Barcelona of the organization of the Olympic Games of 1992 was the start of a new time in the history of the Spanish National Volleyball. Form is given to the concept of permanent concentration, and the best national players meet in Granada with a program of serious and novel work guided to make the Spanish Team to play an important part in the Games.
The culmination of this process was the obtaining of the eighth place in Barcelona, and the birth as a player of one of the best players in the world and the most charismatic in the Spaniards: Rafael Pascual.
After Barcelona a new period of renovation of the team started. The veteran players ledf the team opening the way to an entire facility of young promises that continued the work. This work had clear results: the classification for the Championship of Europe in 1993 and the silver medal in the Mediterranean Games in the same year, besides the gold medal in the Spring Cup 1994.
With the inclusion of Spain in the World League 1995, Spain receives the recognition of the International Federation and the team finally enters in the elite of the world Volleyball. In this first participation the young Spanish team astonished the world with its performance becoming the revelation of the championship and with the acting of Rafael Pascual nominated as best player.
WORLD CUP 1999
The World Cup 1999 in Japan turned out to be the culmination to international recognition to so much effort and so much work. Spain achieves the international recognition after their 8 position in the World Championships held the previous year, and demonstrates their great game. The attaiment of the 6 position demostrated that the trust of FIVB allowing Spain to take part in the World League had not been in vain; this outcome was achieved partially thank to the unquestionable leader inside of and outside the court, Rafa Pascual, nominated best player in the World Championship 1998 and best scorer of the World Cup.
2001, QUALIFICATION FOR THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2002
With the participation in the Olympic Games of Sydney 2000 a new stage opens up for the National Senior Men’s Team.
In 2001, Francisco Hervás was nominated as Head Coach of the team and the player were renewed. Youth values were incorporated to the national group and veteran players that have conformed the combatant and combative spirit of the team during last decade disappear. This renovation gives its results. In Seville the Spanish Team gets brilliantly the classification for the World Championship, Argentina 2002, in a hard fight against the national teams of Croacia, Austria and Norway. With this classification it is demonstrated that the Spanish Team continuous with the trajectory upward starting more than one decade ago hopes to continue, day by day, working hard, making history.
2002, YEAR OF SUCCESS AND DISAPOINTMENT
2002 started with the sensational acting in Preeuropean tournament in the Netherlands. Spain is clearly the best team in the group and they end the round unbeaten, even winning the powerfull duchts in home ground. This performace sets hopes for World League.
Hopes come through with a good previous round. Spain wins eight games, only loosing the four matches against Italy, and becoming the first team to get the qualification for final round. In the round played in Brasil, Spain makes one of its best performances; after losing 3-1 against Brasil, Spain beated in a sensational game to the later champions, Russia. Unfortunatelly, the team cannot achieve the qualification for the semifinal for the first time in its history. The fith position equals the best performance in the history of the team.
Spain paid the effort of the World League in the World Championship. After a fair first round, the Spaniard seemed to run out of fuel in the second stage and couldn’t win a match.
2003, THE YEAR OF THE WORLD LEAGUE FINALS IN MADRID
In the 2003, the renovation of the team continues. Some of the best and most experienced players (Rafa Pascual, Cosme Prenafeta…) remain in the team. The young players, whom some of them play at high level in international competition at their clubs, have enough experience now to take the lead of the team. The hard work had its effect in the World League, which this year was the main source of joy and also disappointment.
For the first time ever, Spain organized the World League Finals. Madrid hosted the best volleyball event in spanish history, a tournament that made the anals of volleyball for the outstanding organization. However, this satistaction couldn’t be reflected in the court. Spain lost the key match against Czech Republic and couldn’t qualify for semifinals for the first time, and in front of the crowded arena in Madrid.
2004, OUT OF THE OLYMPIC GAMES
2004 was not a joyfull year for spanish national team. Despite organizing a excellent Olympic Qualification in Madrid, Spain couldn’t achieve the main goal of the year: earn the ticket to be in Athens 2004. spaniards failed against the power of The Netherlands. Being out of the Olympic Games, spanish team focused on achieving the qualification to European championship. This goal was obtained in the second round in Croacia. Spain won all the games except one, and qualified for European championship for second time in a row.
2005, AT THE DOORS OF THE EUROPEAN MEDALS
2005 was marked by the semi-finas of the Europena Championships played against Russian that was held in Belgrad and Rome.
It was the first time to celebrate the European League, being classified for the finals of Russian, and achieving the bronze medal (3rd position). But in the Qualifying tournament of Naples qualification for the World Campionship 2006 was lost against Italy, Germany and Ukrain. Oscar Novillo, a young coach substitutes Francisco Hervás as coach to face the European Championship celebrated in Belgrad and Rome. Surprisingly, the team qualifies for semi-finals, achieving the best result for Spain in a European; 4th Pposition, being at the doors of the medals, in a mad game agains Russia.
ESP / Spain
- Team Composition
Competition Formula