Giani achieved 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 titles (1993, 1995, 1999, 2003),[3] and many others. He is a five-time Olympian who 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[4] and 2004 Summer Olympics, and a bronze medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics.[2] He also played at the 1988 and 1992 Summer Olympics.[2]
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.
After having quit the national team, Giani played for Cimone Modena until 2008 and won two CEV Champions League. He took the reins of the team as manager starting from season 2007–2008. His nickname is Giangio and was the season winner CEV Challenge Cup 2008.
In 2009–2010 Giani won Championship Serie A2 with M. Roma Volley.
