Bulgaria is among the three most strongly represented foreign countries in the Italian men's SuperLega for the 2026/27 season. Five of our volleyball players are included in the rosters of elite clubs, placing our country tied for third with Belgium and Brazil. Only representatives from France (10) and the USA (six) are more numerous, according to the updated list from Lega Pallavolo Serie A.
The Bulgarian presence is concentrated in three teams. Aleksandar and Simeon Nikolov will play for Lube (Civitanova), Iliya Petkov and Zhasmin Velichkov are teammates in Monza, and Georgi Tatarov will defend the colors of Milano.
Compared to the beginning of last season, the number has decreased by one player. On October 15, 2025,Volleyweek.bgfeatured six Bulgarians in four clubs: Aleksandar Nikolov in Lube, Boris Nachev in Padua, Georgi Tatarov and Iliya Petkov in Grottazzolina, Martin Atanasov and Zhasmin Velichkov in Monza.
The main novelty now is the arrival of Simeon Nikolov, which brings the Nikolov brothers together in Civitanova. From last year's group, Boris Nachev and Martin Atanasov remain outside the Italian elite. Tatarov and Petkov continue in the SuperLega with new clubs, while Aleksandar Nikolov and Velichkov retain their teams.
| Player | 2025/26 Season | 2026/27 Season |
|---|---|---|
| Aleksandar Nikolov | Lube | Lube |
| Simeon Nikolov | Outside SuperLega | Lube |
| Georgi Tatarov | Grottazzolina | Milano |
| Iliya Petkov | Grottazzolina | Monza |
| Zhasmin Velichkov | Monza | Monza |
| Boris Nachev | Padua | Outside SuperLega |
| Martin Atanasov | Monza | Outside SuperLega |
| Total Bulgarians in the elite | 6 | 5 |
The change is from six players in four clubs to five in three. However, the model with two Bulgarian pairs in separate teams is preserved - last season these were Grottazzolina and Monza, and now they are Lube and Monza. Our five representatives include three outside hitters - Aleksandar Nikolov, Georgi Tatarov and Zhasmin Velichkov, one middle blocker - Iliya Petkov, and one setter - Simeon Nikolov. The presence of a setter is the new element compared to the Bulgarian group from the previous campaign. In the overall picture, after France, USA, Belgium, Brazil and Bulgaria, Iran ranks with four players, Canada and Serbia with three each. Austria, Germany, Cuba, Poland, Slovenia, Ukraine and Czech Republic have two each. Australia, Argentina, Spain, China, Colombia, Latvia, Mali, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Hungary, Finland and Japan have one representative each. The ranking is by sports nationality.
photocollage-photos:Nikolay Varadinov
