De Gennaro celebrating with her teammates after Italy`s victory in Thailand.
Just over a month after Italy clinched the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Women`s World Championship, veteran libero Monica De Gennaro announced her retirement from international play. The thrilling five-set final against Türkiye, which secured Italy`s second world title, marked the end of her illustrious national team career.
The 38-year-old confirmed her departure via Instagram on Friday, fulfilling widespread expectations that the 2025 season would be her last in the Italian national team jersey.
De Gennaro`s journey with the Italian national team began in 2006. She concludes her 20-year international career after two remarkably productive seasons, during which the Italian team soared to global dominance, winning the Paris 2024 Olympics, the 2025 World Championship, and the last two Volleyball Nations League titles. She was also named MVP of the Volleyball Nations League in 2025.
«The time has come to say goodbye to the blue jersey,» her heartfelt message read. «A jersey that I loved deeply, respected in every gesture, and that I honored by putting my heart and soul into in every match, for almost 20 years. I knew for a long time that this would be my last summer with the national team, but I kept it quiet because I first wanted to fight for the last cup that was missing from this extraordinary group. It`s the right time to step back and make room for the new talents, who are growing strong and ready.»
Throughout her two-decade tenure, De Gennaro also contributed to Italy`s victories in the 2022 VNL, the 2011 FIVB World Cup, and the 2021 European Championship. She proudly represented Italy in four Olympic Games and four World Championships.
Widely regarded as one of volleyball`s greatest liberos, De Gennaro was honored as the top player in her position at the Paris 2024 Games. She received similar accolades in numerous other prestigious international and club competitions, including the VNL, World Championship, FIVB World Grand Prix, FIVB Club World Championship, and CEV Champions League.
Her message concluded: «I admit, I`ll miss everything. I`ll miss traveling, training, and getting on the court to represent Italy proudly. But above all, I`ll miss the emotions. The victories shared with exceptional teammates, extraordinary women and athletes with whom I have walked an unforgettable journey. My most sincere thanks go to them. Now, however, that moment has arrived. Goodbye, national team. From today, there will be a new fan in the stands, a new voice in front of the TV. But my heart will always be there, with you.»
De Gennaro plans to continue her club career, having just commenced her 13th season with Prosecco Doc Imoco Conegliano in the Italian League, where she plays under the coaching of her husband, Daniele Santarelli.
Italiyalik Voleybol Afsonasi Monika De Gennaro Jahon Chempionligidan So`ng Xalqaro Faoliyatini Yakunladi
De Gennaro Tailandda Italiyaning g`alabasidan so`ng jamoadoshlari bilan nishonlamoqda.
Italiya 2025-yilgi FIVB Ayollar Voleybol Jahon Chempionatida g`alaba qozonganidan bir oydan ko`proq vaqt o`tgach, tajribali libero Monika De Gennaro o`zining xalqaro faoliyatini yakunlaganini e`lon qildi. Turkiya ustidan qozonilgan besh setlik hayajonli final o`yini Italiyaga ikkinchi jahon chempionligini olib keldi va uning milliy terma jamoadagi porloq faoliyatiga yakun yasadi.
38 yoshli voleybolchi juma kuni Instagram orqali o`z qarorini tasdiqladi, bu ko`pchilik kutgan edi. 2025-yilgi mavsum uning Italiya milliy terma jamoasi libosida so`nggi mavsumi bo`ldi.
De Gennaroning Italiya milliy terma jamoasidagi safari 2006-yilda boshlangan. U 20 yillik xalqaro faoliyatini ikki samarali mavsumdan so`ng yakunladi. Bu davrda Italiya jamoasi Parij 2024 Olimpiadasi, 2025-yilgi Jahon Chempionati va so`nggi ikki Voleybol Millatlar Ligasi sovrinlarini qo`lga kiritib, jahon sahnasida ustunlik qozondi. U 2025-yilda Voleybol Millatlar Ligasining eng qimmat o`yinchisi (MVP) deb ham topilgan edi.
«Moviy libos bilan xayrlashish vaqti keldi,» deya yozgan u o`zining samimiy xabarida. «Men bu libosni chuqur sevdim, har bir harakatda hurmat qildim va deyarli 20 yil davomida har bir o`yinda o`z yuragim va jonimni berib sharafladim. Bu mening milliy terma jamoa bilan so`nggi yozim bo`lishini anchadan beri bilardim, ammo men buni sir tutdim, chunki avvalo bu g`ayrioddiy jamoaga yetishmayotgan so`nggi kubok uchun kurashmoqchi edim. Orqaga chekinish va yangi, kuchli va tayyor bo`lib o`sayotgan iste`dodlarga joy bo`shatishning ayni vaqti keldi.»
Ikki o`n yillik faoliyati davomida De Gennaro Italiyaning 2022-yilgi VNL, 2011-yilgi FIVB Jahon Kubogi va 2021-yilgi Yevropa Chempionatidagi g`alabalariga ham hissa qo`shgan. U Italiyani to`rtta Olimpiya o`yinlarida va to`rtta Jahon Chempionatida g`urur bilan himoya qildi.
Voleybol tarixidagi eng buyuk liberolardan biri sifatida e`tirof etilgan De Gennaro o`tgan yili Parij 2024 o`yinlarida o`z pozitsiyasida eng yaxshi o`yinchi deb topilgan edi. U VNL, Jahon Chempionati, FIVB Jahon Gran-prisi, FIVB Klublar O`rtasidagi Jahon Chempionati va CEV Chempionlar Ligasi kabi ko`plab boshqa nufuzli xalqaro va klub musobaqalarida ham shunga o`xshash mukofotlarga sazovor bo`lgan.
Uning xabarida shunday yakunlandi: «Tan olaman, men hamma narsani sog`inaman. Sayohat qilishni, mashg`ulot o`tkazishni va Italiyani g`urur bilan himoya qilish uchun maydonga chiqishni sog`inaman. Ammo eng muhimi, his-tuyg`ularni sog`inaman. G`ayrioddiy jamoadoshlar, ajoyib ayollar va sportchilar bilan bo`lishgan g`alabalarni, ular bilan unutilmas yo`lni bosib o`tganimni sog`inaman. Eng samimiy minnatdorchiligim ularga. Biroq, endi bu lahza keldi. Xayr, milliy terma jamoa. Bugundan boshlab, tribunada yangi muxlis, televizor oldida yangi ovoz bo`ladi. Ammo mening yuragim doimo siz bilan birga bo`ladi.»
De Gennaro klub darajasidagi faoliyatini davom ettirishni rejalashtirmoqda va Italiya Ligasida Prosecco Doc Imoco Conegliano bilan 13-mavsumini boshladi, u yerda u turmush o`rtog`i Daniele Santarelli boshchiligida o`ynaydi.
