Nikola Grbić
Nikola Grbić (Serbian Cyrillic: Никола Грбић; born 6 September 1973) is a Serbian professional volleyball coach and former player, who is currently serving as head coach for the Poland national team.[1] Grbić is the Olympic Champion Sydney 2000, a bronze medallist in the Olympic Games Atlanta 1996, and a multiple World Championship, European Championship and World League medallist. He was named the European Player of the Year in 2007 and inducted into the Volleyball Hall of Fame in 2016.
Early life
Grbić was born in Klek. He has an older brother, Vladimir who is also a former volleyball player.
Personal life
He is married to Stanislava and has two sons who practice volleyball.
Career as player
Club
After the embargo was lifted in 1994, Nikola Yugoslavian national team career resumed at a time when he transferred to Italian club team Gabeca Montichiari, which started a 13–year career playing for eight different Italian teams and resulting in eight league titles from 1994 to 2013. He won two Championship titles in Italy (2008 Trentino – 2010 Cuneo), and one in Russia (2014 Zenit Kazan). He also won two CEV Euro Champions League titles (2000 Sisley – 2009 Trentino).[2]
National team
He started with senior national team in 1991, when he was 18 years old. Then, for two years (1992–1994) wasn't playing because of international embargo. He was a captain of his national team in 1999–2010. In 1996 Yugoslavia, including Grbić, won bronze medal of the Olympic Games Atlanta 1996. Nikola was honored as the European Championship Best Setter in 1997 as Yugoslavia earned the silver medal. In 1998 Yugoslavia on Volleyball at the World World Championship won a silver medal. At the next Olympics his team achieved gold of the Olympic Games 2000 in Sydney. Yugoslavia went on to capture the 2000 Olympic Games gold-medal with a dominating three-set win over Russia in the finals. They beat Russia in final match (3-0).[3] Again, in 2010, with Serbia his team won a bronze medal. Nikola career was not over following Beijing as he helped Serbia win bronze at the 2010 FIVB World Championship in Italy where he was named Best Setter of the tournament. Nikola career was not over following Beijing as he helped Serbia win bronze at the World Championship.
Career as coach
In May 2014, he became a head coach of Italian club Sir Safety Perugia.[4] On 3 February 2015, Grbić was announced as a new head coach of the Serbia men's national volleyball team.[5][6] Nikola in his first step winner Silver medal at 2015 FIVB World League. In next year Serbia with powerful presence winner Gold medal 2016 FIVB World League. Serbia had lost their five previous appearances in World League final including three times to Brazil and last year’s against France, now after five silver medals and three bronze, in 2016 year won first Gold medal.
Honours
As a player
- CEV European Champions Cup
1999–2000 – with Sisley Treviso
- CEV Cup
1997–98 – with Alpitour Traco Cuneo
2005–06 – with Copra Berni Piacenza
2009–10 – with Bre Banca Lannutti Cuneo
- National championships
- 1991–92
Serbia and Montenegro Cup, with Vojvodina Novi Sad
- 1991–92
Serbia and Montenegro Championship, with Vojvodina Novi Sad
- 1992–93
Serbia and Montenegro Championship, with Vojvodina Novi Sad
- 1993–94
Serbia and Montenegro Cup, with Vojvodina Novi Sad
- 1993–94
Serbia and Montenegro Championship, with Vojvodina Novi Sad
- 1998–99
Italian Cup, with TNT Alpitour Cuneo
- 1999–2000
Italian Cup, with Sisley Treviso
- 2007–08
Italian Championship, with Itas Diatec Trentino
- 2009–10
Italian Championship, with Bre Banca Lannutti Cuneo
- 2010–11
Italian SuperCup, with Bre Banca Lannutti Cuneo
- 2010–11
Italian Cup, with Bre Banca Lannutti Cuneo
- 2013–14
Russian Championship, with Zenit Kazan
- 1991–92
As a coach
- National championships
- 2019–20
Polish SuperCup, with ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle
- 2020–21
Polish SuperCup, with ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle
- 2020–21
Polish Cup, with ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle
- 2021–22
Italian Cup, with Sir Safety Conad Perugia
- 2019–20
Individual awards
- 1997: CEV European Championship – Best Setter
- 1997: Sportsman of The Year by the Olympic Committee of Serbia
- 2000: Italian Championship – Best Player
- 2000: Italian Championship – Best Foreign Player
- 2001: CEV European Championship – Best Setter
- 2003: CEV European Championship – Best Setter
- 2003: FIVB World Cup – Best Setter
- 2005: CEV European Championship – Best Setter
- 2006: CEV Top Teams Cup – Best Setter
- 2009: FIVB World League – Best Setter
- 2010: Italian Championship – Best Setter
- 2010: Italian Cup – Best Player
- 2010: CEV Cup – Best Setter
- 2010: FIVB World Championship – Best Setter
- 2014: CEV – Ultimate Team Leader
References
- "Nowi trenerzy siatkarskich reprezentacji Polski". pzps.pl (in Polish). 12 January 2022. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
- "Grbic Excited To Start Work With Serbian Team". fivb.com. 17 March 2015. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
- "Yugoslavia Rolls Russia for First Gold". latimes.com. 1 October 2000. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
- "Pallavolo, è Nikola Grbic il nuovo allenatore della Sir Safety Perugia". umbria24.it (in Italian). 9 May 2014. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
- "Pravi čovek za pravo mesto: Nikola Grbić selektor odbojkaša Srbije!". sport.blic.rs (in Serbian). 3 February 2015. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
- "Nikola Grbic è il nuovo coach della Serbia. Le congratulazioni del presidente Sirci". lnx.tifogrifo.com (in Italian). 3 February 2015. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
External links

- Coach profile at the European Volleyball Confederation
- Coach profile at LegaVolley.it (in Italian)
- Coach/Player profile at Volleybox.net
- Player profile at LegaVolley.it (in Italian)
- Player profile at Volleyhall.org
- Player profile at the European Volleyball Confederation
- Player profile at the Olimpijski Komitet Srbije (in Serbian)
- Player profile at Olympedia