Daniel Castellani has lost his battle. He was 65 years old.

The sports world, particularly the volleyball community, mourns the loss of Daniel Castellani, one of the leading figures in Argentine volleyball, who passed away at the age of 65 after a long battle with a serious illness. The announcement came from the Argentine Volleyball Federation (FEVA), which, in a statement, highlighted his leadership both on and off the court. Castellani had also played and coached in Italy, wearing the jerseys of Chieti, Falconara, Zinella Bologna, Petrarca, and Prato, and leading Capurso Gioia and Perugia from the sidelines.

As a player, Castellani was one of the key figures on the Argentine national team that won the bronze medal at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games and, prior to that, at the 1982 World Championship—achievements that for decades remained among the most prestigious in the history of Argentine volleyball. After retiring as a player, he continued to make his mark as a coach, leading Argentina to the title at the 1995 Pan American Games. More recently, he had taken the helm of the women’s national team, coaching them in 2023 and 2024.

The Serie A Volleyball League has also joined in the collective mourning: “President Massimo Righi, the Board of Directors, all the clubs, and the staff of the Serie A Volleyball League join in mourning the passing of Daniel Castellani, the Argentine coach who served in Italy with the teams in Perugia and Gioia del Colle. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family.”

In 2023, during the Pan American Games in Santiago, Castellani revealed that he had been diagnosed with cancer. After several months of chemotherapy, he returned to coaching, determined to fulfill his commitment to the Argentine women’s national team and to carry forward a project aimed at the 2028 Los Angeles Games. Despite his illness, he managed to achieve historic results, such as the team’s first title in the Copa Panamericana and a prestigious second-place finish at the South American Championship.