Franco Anderlini

Franco Anderlini began his volleyball career by playing for, and coaching, the US Ferrari Modena club from 1947-52, during which time they reached the top league in Italian volleyball. The team merged into the Via Pervia Modena, but the club was dissolved for economic reasons in 1963. However, in their 10-year existence, they managed to win five league titles, in 1957, 1959-60, and 1962-63. In 1964, Anderlini coached the Modena’s Menegola Fire Brigade Sports Group, where he obtained promotion to Serie B, and won a Juniors championship.

In 1966 Anderlini went to the newly formed Panini Modena and immediately obtained promotion to top league. Under his guidance, the team won three league titles in 1970, 1972, and 1974. At the same time he was also appointed coach of the Italian youth national teams. In the 1975/76 season he left the Modena club for Cesenatico Volleyball, when he also became coach of the senior national team and helped them qualify for the Olympics for the first time, at Montréal in 1976.

Anderlini died in 1984 at the age of 62, following a road accident on the Autostrada del Sole in Tuscany.