Wilfredo León Venero (born 31 July 1993) is a professional volleyball player who plays as an outside hitter for the Polish PlusLiga club Bogdanka LUK Lublin and the Poland national team. He was born in Cuba, and was a member of his country of birth's national team from 2007 to 2012.
Considered by many as one of a kind, he led Cuba to the silver medal at the 2010 World Championship held in Italy, alongside Yoandy Leal and Robertlandy Simon. He is considered one of the leaders of the "Generation of Miracle" of Cuban volleyball by many experts.
Personal life León was born in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba on 31 July 1993. He is the son of Wilfredo León Hechavarría and Alina Venero Boza (former volleyball player). He studied at Escuela Nacional del Voleibol Cubano. León lived in Poland for a while with his Polish girlfriend. On 24 June 2016, he married Małgorzata (born Gronkowska). They have three children: two daughters, born in May 2017 and June 2023, and a son, born in November 2019.
Career León started to play when he was seven. His first coach was his mother, Alina. León debuted in the Cuban national team on 24 May 2008, in Düsseldorf, aged 14 years and 10 months. He won the title of Best Receiver at World League 2009. On 31 July 2009, he won a silver medal in the World U21 Championship (after losing the final against Brazil). In 2009, the Cuban national team, with Leon, won the title of NORCECA Champion (and three individual awards), and repeated this success in 2011. After losing the final against Brazil, Cuba won a silver medal at the 2010 World Championship. He was the youngest captain of the national team (he was 17). In 2012, he won the bronze medal at the World League.
In 2013, León left Cuba to play in a club outside of his homeland, losing the possibility of playing for the Cuban national team. He joined Russian club Zenit Kazan in 2014, where he won multiple CEV Champions League titles, national leagues, and cups. He also played part-time with Qatar club Al Rayyan in 2015 and 2016. In September 2018, León joined Italian team SIR Safety Perugia.
On 14 July 2015, León received Polish citizenship, and four years later he became fully eligible to play for the Poland national team.
On 10 August 2024, he won a silver medal at the 2024 Summer Olympic Games held in Paris.
Honours
Club CEV Champions League 2014–15 – with Zenit Kazan 2015–16 – with Zenit Kazan 2016–17 – with Zenit Kazan 2017–18 – with Zenit Kazan FIVB Club World Championship Poland 2017 – with Zenit Kazan Betim 2022 – with Sir Safety Perugia Bangalore 2023 – with Sir Safety Perugia CEV Challenge Cup 2024–25 – with Bogdanka LUK Lublin Domestic 2008–09 Cuban Championship, with Capitalinos 2009–10 Cuban Championship, with Capitalinos 2010–11 Cuban Championship, with Orientales de Santiago 2014–15 Russian Cup, with Zenit Kazan 2014–15 Russian Championship, with Zenit Kazan 2015–16 Russian SuperCup, with Zenit Kazan 2015–16 Russian Cup, with Zenit Kazan 2015–16 Russian Championship, with Zenit Kazan 2016–17 Russian SuperCup, with Zenit Kazan 2016–17 Russian Cup, with Zenit Kazan 2016–17 Russian Championship, with Zenit Kazan 2017–18 Russian SuperCup, with Zenit Kazan 2017–18 Russian Cup, with Zenit Kazan 2017–18 Russian Championship, with Zenit Kazan 2018–19 Italian Cup, with Sir Safety Perugia 2019–20 Italian SuperCup, with Sir Safety Perugia 2020–21 Italian SuperCup, with Sir Safety Perugia 2021–22 Italian Cup, with Sir Safety Perugia 2022–23 Italian SuperCup, with Sir Safety Perugia 2023–24 Italian SuperCup, with Sir Safety Perugia 2023–24 Italian Cup, with Sir Safety Perugia 2023–24 Italian Championship, with Sir Safety Perugia 2024–25 Polish Championship, with Bogdanka LUK Lublin 2025–26 Polish SuperCup, with Bogdanka LUK Lublin 2025–26 Polish Cup, with Bogdanka LUK Lublin
Individual awards 2009: FIVB World League – Best server 2009: NORCECA Championship – Best spiker 2009: NORCECA Championship – Most valuable player 2011: Pan American Games – Most valuable player 2011: NORCECA Championship – Best spiker 2011: NORCECA Championship – Best scorer 2015: CEV Champions League – Best outside spiker 2015: CEV Champions League – Most valuable player 2015: FIVB Club World Championship – Best outside spiker 2016: CEV Champions League – Best outside spiker 2016: CEV Champions League – Most valuable player 2016: FIVB Club World Championship – Best outside spiker 2017: CEV Champions League – Best outside spiker 2017: FIVB Club World Championship – Best outside spiker 2018: CEV Champions League – Best outside spiker 2019: CEV European Championship – Best outside spiker 2022: FIVB Club World Championship – Best outside spiker 2023: CEV European Championship – Most valuable player 2025: FIVB Nations League – Best outside spiker 2025: Polish SuperCup – Most valuable player 2026: Polish Cup – Best outside hitter 2026: CEV European Championship – Best outside hitter 2026: CEV European Championship – Most valuable player
State awards 2024: Knight's Cross of Polonia Restituta
Record 138 km/h serve speed
References
External links
Wilfredo Leon Venero at LegaVolley.it Wilfredo León at Volleybox.net (archive)