The Peruvian sports community is in mourning following the passing of Juan Carlos Gala, a Cuban coach who led the Peruvian men's volleyball teams for almost eight years and guided them to their most successful period in decades.
The Peruvian Volleyball Federation (FPV) confirmed the news through its social media on Wednesday, July 22, with an official statement in which it expressed its condolences and paid tribute to the figure of the Cuban coach.
An unexpected loss
Gala had stepped down from the position of head coach of the Peruvian men's national team just four months before his death, in March 2026, due to health reasons.
His successor on the bench was coach Marcos Blanco, but Gala's physical decline was faster than expected, and his departure took the country's volleyball community by surprise.
He was born on August 22, 1966, in Jaruco, Mayabeque Province, Cuba, and trained as a Physical Education Instructor before embarking on a technical career that would take him from the National Volleyball School of Cuba to regional stages across South America.
Cuban Roots and Arrival in Peru
Gala began his coaching career in 2005 with the Cuban men's youth team, with which he won the gold medal at the ALBA Sports Games in Monterrey in 2007 and in El Salvador in 2008.
In December 2009, she took over the management of the Cuban women's national team, the historic "Morenas del Caribe," during a period of rebuilding for the team following its era of global dominance.
His arrival in Peru took place in March 2018, when the FPV hired him to lead all the men's categories, with the mission of restoring international visibility to a sector that has historically been overshadowed by the success of Peru's women's volleyball.
Five medals in eight years
Under his leadership, the Peruvian men's national team amassed five international medals between 2022 and 2025, as detailed by the FPV in its farewell statement:
- Bronze medal at the Bolivarian Games U23 in Valledupar, Colombia (2022).
- Bronze medal at the ODESUR Games in Paraguay (2022, senior category).
- Bronze medal at the Pan American U23 Cup in Havana, Cuba (2023).
- Silver medal at the Pan American U23 Cup in Suriname (2024).
- Bronze medal at the Bolivarian Games Under 21 in Lima (2025).
In addition to her work with the national team, Gala coached national clubs such as Rebaza Acosta, Deportivo Géminis, Jaamsa, and Deportivo Wanka, helping to elevate the competitive level of the local league.
The recognition of the federation
In its official statement, the FPV did not hold back on praise for the Cuban coach.
"The Peruvian Volleyball Federation deeply regrets the passing of Juan Carlos Gala, who was the coach of the men's national teams of Peru," stated the organization at the beginning of the announcement.
The federation emphasized that his contribution went beyond just results: "Gala performed an extraordinary job leading the national teams and played a crucial role in expanding the boundaries of men's volleyball in our country. His work not only translated into results but also in the formation of a new mindset: he succeeded in instilling a winning conviction in each of his trainees."
The statement also highlighted the collective impact of his leadership: "Under his direction, Peruvian men's volleyball regained prominence on the regional stage and made it clear that sustained effort yields results."
The FPV concluded its message with a farewell directed at those who knew him: "On behalf of the Peruvian Volleyball Federation, we express our heartfelt condolences to family, friends, players, and the entire volleyball community. May he rest in peace and enjoy the presence of God."
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