Giani scored numerous successes in the 1990s, including three World Championships with his national team. He was an all-rounder able to play both as an outside hitter and as a middle blocker, but he played several times as an opposite spiker too.
Giani’s father, Dario, was a rower who took part in the 1964 Summer Olympics for Italy. After having trained with his father, now a rowing coach, Andrea tried for brief period as a football player. In 1985 the 14-year-old Giani began his career as a volleyball player for the local team of Sabaudia, in the Southern Latium, where he lived. Soon news about his qualities spread and attracted attention from the two main volleyball clubs of Italy of the period: Panini Modena and Santal/Maxicono Parma.
Giani was chosen to play for the latter, initially with the junior team under Gian Paolo Montali as coach. Giani’s first final for scudetto in the Parma major team was in 1987. Parma was defeated, as well as in the following seasons.
Giani won his first scudetto in 1990, which was to be followed by four more. In the meantime, in 1988, Giani had scored against Finland his first cap for Italy. His career with the Azzurri colours ended in 2005 after a total of 474 caps (record), making him one of the most renowned players in Italy and the world for his excellent technical and jumping capabilities. With Italy Giani won three World Championship titles in a row (1990, 1994 and 1998) and four European Championship (1993, 1995, 1999, 2003) and many others. He won three medals at the Olympic Games but his team never won the gold medal, even though Italy was generally considered one of the favourites. He won silver medals at the 1996 Olympic Games and 2004 Olympic Games, and a bronze medal at the 2000 Olympic Games and made Golden time with other team members.
During his career Giani became renowned for his polyvalence, starting as a middle blocker, who turned into a power attacker and passer. Before Modena, Giani played in Parma 1985-1996 and won three Italian Championship Serie A and Club World Championship.
1996–97 – with Modena Volley
1987–88 – with Maxicono Parma
Italian Championship, with Maxicono Parma
Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
