Former Serbian international Uroš Kovačević will continue his career with Turkish club Istanbul Büyükşehir Belediyespor (BBSK), after the club signed him as a replacement for Bulgarian international Denislav Bårdarov, who transferred to Halkbank (Ankara).
With this transfer, BBSK demonstrates its serious ambitions for the new season in the Efeler League, attracting one of the most experienced and high-class outside hitters in European volleyball over the past decade.
The 32-year-old Kovačević comes from Greek club PAOK (Thessaloniki), where he was a teammate with Nikolay Kolev, and before that, he built an impressive career in a number of top leagues. The Serbian star has worn the jerseys of Trento, Verona, and Piacenza in Italy, Zawiercie in Poland, as well as clubs from Russia, China, and Qatar.
The left-hander is well-known for his attacking efficiency, stable reception, and extensive international experience, which makes him a key addition to the Istanbul team.
With the Serbian national team, Kovačević won the European title in 2011 and 2019, and in 2019 he was named MVP of the European Championship. In the same year, CEV also named him Europe's #1 Volleyball Player.
Furthermore, the Serbian outside hitter participated in the Olympic Games in London 2012 and Paris 2024, and at club level, he has trophies from the FIVB Club World Championship and the CEV Cup with Trento.
BBSK expects Kovačević to bring leadership, class, and composure in key moments, with an even more competitive squad to be built around him for the new season.