The Bulgarian volleyball connection with the Italian club Macerata continues in full force, after outside hitter Rusi Zhelev was officially announced as a new addition to the team for the upcoming season in Serie A2! Born in Stara Zagora, the 23-year-old player makes his debut abroad and chooses precisely the city of history, passion, and volleyball tradition – Macerata.
💬 “I played in Bulgaria for a long time, but I think the level of the Italian championship is different. I chose Macerata because it offered me everything I was looking for,” Zhelev shares with his characteristic frankness.
🏐 From Beroe to the national team
Rusi Zhelev began his journey in his hometown Beroe Stara Zagora, where he quickly stood out with his technical skills, leadership qualities, and fighter's mentality. With this team, he reached the semifinals of the Super League last season, with only Levski Sofia managing to stop them in a dramatic fifth match.
His talent did not go unnoticed. Coach Gianlorenzo Blengini called him up to the men's national team of Bulgaria for the Volleyball Nations League 2025, albeit in the unusual role of libero. “This is not my natural position, but I am here to help the team, in any way possible,” says Rusi, demonstrating unwavering dedication to the national cause 🇧🇬.
🎓 Engineer by soul, warrior by heart
Off the court, Rusi also stands out with his academic ambitions – he studies civil engineering, combining years of studying in Sofia with difficult travels and evening training sessions in Stara Zagora. “I woke up at 5 AM to get to lectures and in the evening I trained. To this day, I don’t know how I managed,” he recounts with a smile, but also visible pride.
❤️ The Macerata – Eastern Europe connection
Macerata has a long-standing connection with talents from the Balkans and Eastern Europe – from Todor Valchev, through heroes Samuil Valchinov and Todor Dimitrov, to the new hope in the person of Rusi. Each of them has left a mark on the club's identity, and now Zhelev embarks with the ambition to continue this line.
🎯 The goal – onward and upward
“I want to experience a season filled with difficult but memorable matches. I hope to prove myself, to show the maximum of my abilities. Macerata is the place that gave me a chance,” stated the new outside hitter with unfeigned determination.
👋 A greeting to the fans
At the end of his presentation, Rusi addressed the club's fans directly:
“Hello, Macerata! I am Rusi Zhelev, your new outside hitter. I arrive with the greatest ambitions to experience a wonderful season together. I can't wait to meet you!”
With the arrival of Rusi Zhelev, the red-and-whites don't just gain a player – they gain a fighter, a leader, and a man with vision. And the Bulgarian volleyball school continues to prove that it can produce players ready to take on world-class challenges. 🇧🇬🔥
Welcome to Italy, Rusi!
