Men's European Volleyball Championship

The Men's European Volleyball Championship (EuroVolley) is the official competition for senior men's national volleyball teams of Europe, organized by the European Volleyball Confederation (CEV). The initial gap between championships was variable, but since 1975 they have been awarded every two years. The current champion is Poland, which won its second title at the 2023 tournament.

Men's European Volleyball Championship
Upcoming season or competition:
Current sports event 2026 Men's European Volleyball Championship
SportVolleyball
Founded1948; 76 years ago (1948)
First season1948
No. of teams24 (Finals)
ContinentEurope (CEV)
Most recent
champion(s)
 Poland
(2nd title)
Most titles Soviet Union
(12 titles)
Official websitehttps://eurovolley.cev.eu/

History

The first tournament was held in 1948 with participation of six national teams. Being only participant from Eastern Europe, Czechoslovakia captured gold. The teams from Eastern Europe dominated at the tournament for next four decades. The next two editions held in 1950 and 1951 were won by the Soviet Union (who also won two World Championships in 1949 and 1952). However, in late 1950s Czechoslovakia returned to first position. They captured European gold in 1955 and repeated this success at next edition in 1958 (also winning World Championship in 1956). In 1963, twice runner-up Romania won its maiden European title at the home tournament.

The victory in 1967 marked the beginning of the 20-year era of dominance of the Soviet Union. From 1967 to 1987, Soviet team didn't lose any tournament by winning 9 European titles in a row. The names of leading Soviet players of these times such as Vyacheslav Zaytsev, Aleksandr Savin, Vladimir Kondra, Viljar Loor, Yury Panchenko and Vladimir Chernyshyov are known to volleyball enthusiasts all over the world. From 1977 to 1985, Soviet team was coached by Vyacheslav Platonov who led national team to five European titles in a row as well as to two World Championship titles (1978, 1982), two World Cup titles (1977, 1981) and Olympic gold in 1980. The main European rival of Soviet team at these times, Poland (1974 World Champion and 1976 Olympic Champion) was runner-up for the five times in a row (from 1975 to 1983).

Soviet domination was ceased in 1989 when Italy under leadership of Argentinian coach Julio Velasco unprecedentally won their first ever official tournament. Soviet team surprisingly failed to even reach podium after losing to Sweden (hosts) in semifinals and to Netherlands in a bronze-medal match. However, in 1991, in their last participation at the competition, Soviet Union won European title for the 12th time after 3–0 victories over a Netherlands in semifinals and Italy in the final match. Vyacheslav Platonov won European title as head coach for the record sixth time.

Following the Soviet Union's dissolution in December 1991, Italy led by such players as Andrea Gardini, Andrea Giani, Paolo Tofoli and Lorenzo Bernardi became indisputably the best team not only in Europe but also in the world. They won three World Championships in a row (1990, 1994, 1998) and also dominated at European Championships by winning five of the next seven tournaments (from 1993 to 2005). However, ironically they never managed to win Olympic gold. Netherlands who became Olympic Champion in 1996 also won their maiden European title at the home tournament next year. FR Yugoslavia who won Olympic gold in 2000 also became European Champion for the first time at the next-year tournament.

After victory in 2005, the period of Italy's dominance came to end, and more national teams won their maiden European titles. The next tournament was surprisingly won by Spain who beat home favorites – Russia – in a closest 5th-set tie-breaker. In 2009, Poland became European Champion for the first time. The next tournament was won by Serbia for the first time since dissolution of the Serbia and Montenegro (the country which was previously known as FR Yugoslavia). In 2013, Russia (who became Olympic Champion in 2012) finally won their first European title since the Soviet Union's dissolution. The next edition was successful for France who also won their maiden European gold.

The 2017 European Championship took place in Poland. It was won by Russia who defeated Germany in a 5th-set tie-breaker. The 2019 European Championship was co-hosted by four countries for first time – France, Slovenia, Belgium and the Netherlands. Serbia won this tournament after 3–1 victory over Slovenia in the final match in Paris. The co-host countries of 2021 edition were Poland, Czech Republic, Estonia and Finland. In the final match held in Katowice, Italy defeated Slovenia in a 5th-set tie-breaker and won their seventh European title – the first in 16 years. Next year Italy achieved another success in Katowice by defeating Poland at the opponent's home ground in the final match of the 2022 World Championship. However, next year Poland took revenge by beating Italy 3–0 in a final match of the 2023 European Championship which was held in Rome. It was second European victory in the history of Polish men's national volleyball team.

The 33 European Championship tournaments have been won by nine different nations. Russia have won fourteen times (twelve as Soviet Union). The other European Championship winners are Italy, with seven titles; Czech Republic (as Czechoslovakia) and Serbia (one as FR Yugoslavia), with three titles each; Poland, with two titles; and France, Netherlands, Romania and Spain, with one title each.

The current format of the competition involves a qualification phase, which currently takes place over the preceding two years, to determine which teams qualify for the tournament phase, which is often called the European Championship Finals. 24 teams, including the automatically qualifying host nation(s), compete in the tournament phase for the title at venues within the host nation(s) over a period of about two weeks.

Italy holds record for the participation at the European Championships (32 times) by missing only one tournament. Bulgaria and France participated at the 31 continental tournaments each. Russia also participated at the 31 European Championships (sixteen as Soviet Union).

Results summary

Year Host Final 3rd place match Teams
Champions Score Runners-up 3rd place Score 4th place
1948
Details
 
Italy
 
Czechoslovakia
Round-robin
(3–0)
 
France
 
Italy
Round-robin
(3–0)
 
Portugal
6
1950
Details
 
Bulgaria
 
Soviet Union
Round-robin
(3–0)
 
Czechoslovakia
 
Hungary
Round-robin
(3–2)
 
Bulgaria
6
1951
Details
 
France
 
Soviet Union
Round-robin
(3–0)
 
Bulgaria
 
France
Round-robin
(0–3)
 
Romania
10
1955
Details
 
Romania
 
Czechoslovakia
Round-robin
(3–1)
 
Romania
 
Bulgaria
Round-robin
(3–2)
 
Soviet Union
14
1958
Details
 
Czechoslovakia
 
Czechoslovakia
Round-robin
(3–1)
 
Romania
 
Soviet Union
Round-robin
(3–2)
 
Bulgaria
20
1963
Details
 
Romania
 
Romania
Round-robin
(3–0)
 
Hungary
 
Soviet Union
Round-robin
(3–2)
 
Bulgaria
17
1967
Details
 
Turkey
 
Soviet Union
Round-robin
(3–2)
 
Czechoslovakia
 
Poland
Round-robin
(1–3)
 
East Germany
20
1971
Details
 
Italy
 
Soviet Union
Round-robin
(0–3)
 
Czechoslovakia
 
Romania
Round-robin
(3–0)
 
East Germany
22
1975
Details
 
Yugoslavia
 
Soviet Union
Round-robin
(3–0)
 
Poland
 
Yugoslavia
Round-robin
(3–2)
 
Romania
12
1977
Details
 
Finland
 
Soviet Union
3–1  
Poland
 
Romania
3–0  
Hungary
12
1979
Details
 
France
 
Soviet Union
Round-robin
(3–0)
 
Poland
 
Yugoslavia
Round-robin
(3–0)
 
France
12
1981
Details
 
Bulgaria
 
Soviet Union
Round-robin
(3–0)
 
Poland
 
Bulgaria
Round-robin
(3–1)
 
Czechoslovakia
12
1983
Details
 
East Germany
 
Soviet Union
Round-robin
(3–1)
 
Poland
 
Bulgaria
Round-robin
(2–3)
 
Italy
12
1985
Details
 
Netherlands
 
Soviet Union
Round-robin
(3–0)
 
Czechoslovakia
 
France
Round-robin
(3–1)
 
Poland
12
1987
Details
 
Belgium
 
Soviet Union
3–1  
France
 
Greece
3–2  
Sweden
12
1989
Details
 
Sweden
 
Italy
3–1  
Sweden
 
Netherlands
3–0  
Soviet Union
12
1991
Details
 
Germany
 
Soviet Union
3–0  
Italy
 
Netherlands
3–0  
Germany
12
1993
Details
 
Finland
 
Italy
3–2  
Netherlands
 
Russia
3–1  
Germany
12
1995
Details
 
Greece
 
Italy
3–2  
Netherlands
 
Yugoslavia
3–0  
Bulgaria
12
1997
Details
 
Netherlands
 
Netherlands
3–1  
Yugoslavia
 
Italy
3–1  
France
12
1999
Details
 
Austria
 
Italy
3–1  
Russia
 
Yugoslavia
3–0  
Czech Republic
8
2001
Details
 
Czech Republic
 
Yugoslavia
3–0  
Italy
 
Russia
3–2  
Czech Republic
12
2003
Details
 
Germany
 
Italy
3–2  
France
 
Russia
3–1  
Serbia and Montenegro
12
2005
Details
   
Italy / Serbia and Montenegro
 
Italy
3–2  
Russia
 
Serbia and Montenegro
3–0  
Spain
12
2007
Details
 
Russia
 
Spain
3–2  
Russia
 
Serbia
3–1  
Finland
16
2009
Details
 
Turkey
 
Poland
3–1  
France
 
Bulgaria
3–0  
Russia
16
2011
Details
   
Austria / Czech Republic
 
Serbia
3–1  
Italy
 
Poland
3–1  
Russia
16
2013
Details
   
Denmark / Poland
 
Russia
3–1  
Italy
 
Serbia
3–0  
Bulgaria
16
2015
Details
   
Bulgaria / Italy
 
France
3–0  
Slovenia
 
Italy
3–1  
Bulgaria
16
2017
Details
 
Poland
 
Russia
3–2  
Germany
 
Serbia
3–2  
Belgium
16
2019
Details
       
France / Slovenia / Belgium / Netherlands
 
Serbia
3–1  
Slovenia
 
Poland
3–0  
France
24
2021
Details
       
Poland / Czech Republic / Estonia / Finland
 
Italy
3–2  
Slovenia
 
Poland
3–0  
Serbia
24
2023
Details
       
Italy / Bulgaria / North Macedonia / Israel
 
Poland
3–0  
Italy
 
Slovenia
3–2  
France
24
2026
Details
       
Bulgaria / Finland / Italy / Romania
24

Medals summary

RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1  Soviet Union120214
2  Italy75315
3  Czechoslovakia3407
4  Poland25411
5  Russia2338
6  Serbia2035
7  France1427
8  Netherlands1225
  Romania1225
10  Yugoslavia
  Serbia and Montenegro
1135
11  Spain1001
12  Slovenia0314
13  Bulgaria0145
14  Hungary0112
15  Germany0101
  Sweden0101
17  Yugoslavia0022
18  Greece0011
Totals (18 entries)33333399

Total hosts

Hosts Nations (Year(s))
6   Italy (1948, 1971, 2005*, 2015*, 2023*, 2026*)
5   Bulgaria (1950, 1981, 2015*, 2023*, 2026*)
4   Finland (1977, 1993, 2021*, 2026*)
3   Czech Republic (2001, 2011*, 2021*)
  France (1951, 1979, 2019*)
  Netherlands (1985, 1997, 2019*)
  Poland (2013*, 2017, 2021*)
  Romania (1955, 1963, 2026*)
2   Austria (1999, 2011*)
  Belgium (1987, 2019*)
  Germany (1991, 2003)
  Turkey (1967, 2009)
1   Czechoslovakia (1958)
  Denmark (2013*)
  East Germany (1983)
  Estonia (2021*)
  Greece (1995)
  Israel (2023*)
  North Macedonia (2023*)
  Russia (2007)
  Serbia and Montenegro (2005*)
  Slovenia (2019*)
  Sweden (1989)
  Yugoslavia (1975)
* = co-hosts

Participating nations

Legend
  • 1st – Champions
  • 2nd – Runners-up
  • 3rd – Third place
  • 4th – Fourth place
  •  •  – Did not enter / Did not qualify
  •    – Hosts
  • Q – Qualified for forthcoming tournament
Team  
1948
(6)
 
1950
(6)
 
1951
(10)
 
1955
(14)
 
1958
(20)
 
1963
(17)
 
1967
(20)
 
1971
(22)
 
1975
(12)
 
1977
(12)
 
1979
(12)
 
1981
(12)
 
1983
(12)
 
1985
(12)
 
1987
(12)
 
1989
(12)
 
1991
(12)
 
1993
(12)
 
1995
(12)
 
1997
(12)
 
1999
(8)
 
2001
(12)
 
2003
(12)
 
 
2005
(12)
  Albania 10th 11th 13th
  Austria 13th 18th 16th 19th 21st 8th
  Belgium 5th 6th 12th 17th 13th 12th 10th 12th 11th 7th
  Bulgaria 4th 2nd 3rd 4th 4th 9th 7th 5th 5th 10th 3rd 3rd 5th 11th 6th 5th 5th 4th 9th 7th 6th 9th
  Croatia Part of   Yugoslavia 8th
  Czech Republic See   Czechoslovakia 10th 6th 4th 4th 10th 9th
  Denmark 20th 17th 20th
  Egypt 14th 15th
  Estonia Part of   Soviet Union
  Finland 11th 14th 14th 17th 13th 11th 9th 7th 8th 10th 12th
  France 2nd 3rd 8th 8th 8th 10th 14th 8th 10th 4th 8th 12th 3rd 2nd 5th 9th 9th 4th 6th 7th 2nd 7th
  Germany See   East Germany and   West Germany 4th 4th 8th 10th 11th 7th
  Greece 20th 18th 12th 9th 8th 3rd 10th 11th 7th 11th 11th 6th
  Hungary 3rd 7th 5th 2nd 6th 5th 11th 4th 8th 11th 9th
  Israel 10th 11th 12th
  Italy 3rd 8th 9th 10th 10th 8th 8th 10th 8th 5th 7th 4th 6th 9th 1st 2nd 1st 1st 3rd 1st 2nd 1st 1st
  Latvia Part of   Soviet Union 11th
  Montenegro Part of   Yugoslavia Part of   Serbia and Montenegro
  Netherlands 6th 9th 13th 12th 15th 9th 9th 12th 10th 10th 5th 3rd 3rd 2nd 2nd 1st 5th 8th 6th 11th
  North Macedonia Part of   Yugoslavia
  Poland 6th 6th 6th 6th 3rd 6th 2nd 2nd 2nd 2nd 2nd 4th 7th 7th 7th 6th 5th 5th 5th
  Portugal 4th 7th 10th
  Romania 5th 4th 2nd 2nd 1st 5th 3rd 4th 3rd 7th 5th 8th 7th 10th 12th 12th
  Russia See   Soviet Union 3rd 5th 5th 2nd 3rd 3rd 2nd
  Scotland 22nd
  Serbia Part of   Yugoslavia Part of   Serbia and Montenegro
  Slovakia Part of   Czechoslovakia 8th 10th 12th
  Slovenia Part of   Yugoslavia 12th
  Spain 12th 12th 12th 11th 8th 4th
  Sweden 16th 17th 9th 4th 2nd 10th 12th
   Switzerland 19th
  Tunisia 16th
  Turkey 12th 11th 14th 15th
  Ukraine Part of   Soviet Union 6th 9th 7th 12th
Discontinued nations
  Czechoslovakia 1st 2nd 1st 1st 5th 2nd 2nd 6th 6th 6th 4th 5th 2nd 6th 12th 8th See   Czech Republic
  East Germany 9th 9th 4th 4th 7th 9th 9th 6th 6th 9th See   Germany
  Serbia and Montenegro See   Yugoslavia 3rd 2nd 3rd 1st 4th 3rd
  Soviet Union 1st 1st 4th 3rd 3rd 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 4th 1st See   Russia
  West Germany 19th 15th 18th 16th 11th 11th See   Germany
  Yugoslavia 5th 5th 7th 7th 7th 11th 3rd 7th 3rd 10th 11th 8th 8th 6th See   Serbia and Montenegro
Team  
1948
(6)
 
1950
(6)
 
1951
(10)
 
1955
(14)
 
1958
(20)
 
1963
(17)
 
1967
(20)
 
1971
(22)
 
1975
(12)
 
1977
(12)
 
1979
(12)
 
1981
(12)
 
1983
(12)
 
1985
(12)
 
1987
(12)
 
1989
(12)
 
1991
(12)
 
1993
(12)
 
1995
(12)
 
1997
(12)
 
1999
(8)
 
2001
(12)
 
2003
(12)
 
 
2005
(12)
Team  
2007
(16)
 
2009
(16)
 
 
2011
(16)
 
 
2013
(16)
 
 
2015
(16)
 
2017
(16)
 
 
 
 
2019
(24)
 
 
 
 
2021
(24)
 
 
 
 
2023
(24)
Total
  Albania 3
  Austria 16th 23rd 8
  Belarus 15th 16th 22nd 17th 4
  Belgium 10th 13th 7th 10th 4th 9th 18th 14th 18
  Bulgaria 8th 3rd 6th 4th 4th 6th 11th 12th 15th 31
  Croatia 14th 15th 14th 11th 5
  Czech Republic 16th 10th 16th 13th 7th 13th 8th 12th 14
  Denmark 12th 24th 5
  Egypt 2
  Estonia 14th 12th 11th 13th 24th 20th 22nd 7
  Finland 4th 12th 8th 8th 12th 12th 14th 11th 19th 20
  France 9th 2nd 7th 5th 1st 9th 4th 9th 4th 31
  Germany 5th 6th 15th 6th 8th 2nd 8th 6th 9th 15
  Greece 13th 8th 16th 22nd 20th 17
  Hungary 11
  Israel 18th 4
  Italy 6th 10th 2nd 2nd 3rd 5th 6th 1st 2nd 32
  Latvia 16th 2
  Montenegro 18th 24th 21st 3
  Netherlands 7th 7th 10th 9th 14th 10th 5th 5th 28
  North Macedonia 17th 23rd 16th 3
  Poland 11th 1st 3rd 9th 5th 10th 3rd 3rd 1st 28
  Portugal 14th 20th 15th 10th 7
  Romania 21st 7th 18
  Russia 2nd 4th 4th 1st 6th 1st 5th 7th 15
  Scotland 1
  Serbia 3rd 5th 1st 3rd 7th 3rd 1st 4th 6th 9
  Slovakia 12th 11th 5th 11th 14th 15th 19th 19th 11
  Slovenia 16th 15th 9th 13th 2nd 8th 2nd 2nd 3rd 10
  Spain 1st 9th 16th 15th 21st 17th 12
  Sweden 7
   Switzerland 23rd 2
  Tunisia 1
  Turkey 15th 13th 11th 14th 11th 12th 10th 13th 12
  Ukraine 7th 13th 8th 7
Team  
2007
(16)
 
2009
(16)
 
 
2011
(16)
 
 
2013
(16)
 
 
2015
(16)
 
2017
(16)
 
 
 
 
2019
(24)
 
 
 
 
2021
(24)
 
 
 
 
2023
(24)
Total
Discontinued nations
  Czechoslovakia See   Czech Republic 16
  East Germany See   Germany 10
  Serbia and Montenegro See   Serbia 6
  Soviet Union See   Russia 16
  West Germany See   Germany 6
  Yugoslavia See   Serbia and Montenegro 14

Most valuable player by edition

Most successful players

Boldface denotes active volleyball players and highest medal count among all players (including these who not included in these tables) per type.

Multiple gold medalists

Rank Player Country From To Gold Silver Bronze Total
1 Aleksandr Savin   Soviet Union 1975 1985 6 6
Vyacheslav Zaytsev   Soviet Union 1975 1985 6 6
3 Vladimir Kondra   Soviet Union 1971 1981 5 5
Viljar Loor   Soviet Union 1975 1983 5 5
Yury Panchenko   Soviet Union 1979 1987 5 5
6 Andrea Gardini   Italy 1989 1999 4 1 1 6
Andrea Giani   Italy 1991 2003 4 1 1 6
8 Paolo Tofoli   Italy 1989 1999 4 1 5
9 Marco Bracci   Italy 1989 1999 4 4
Vladimir Chernyshyov   Soviet Union 1975 1981 4 4
Vladimir Dorokhov   Soviet Union 1975 1981 4 4
Oleg Moliboga   Soviet Union 1977 1983 4 4
Pāvels Seļivanovs   Soviet Union 1975 1983 4 4
Vladimir Shkurikhin   Soviet Union 1981 1987 4 4

Multiple medalists

The table shows players who have won at least 6 medals in total at the European Championships.

Rank Player Country From To Gold Silver Bronze Total
1 Aleksandr Savin   Soviet Union 1975 1985 6 6
Vyacheslav Zaytsev   Soviet Union 1975 1985 6 6
3 Andrea Gardini   Italy 1989 1999 4 1 1 6
Andrea Giani   Italy 1991 2003 4 1 1 6
5 Slobodan Boškan   Yugoslavia
  Serbia and Montenegro
  Serbia
1995 2007 1 1 4 6
Andrija Gerić   Yugoslavia
  Serbia and Montenegro
  Serbia
1995 2007 1 1 4 6
Nikola Grbić   Yugoslavia
  Serbia and Montenegro
  Serbia
1995 2007 1 1 4 6

See also

References