On July 20, in Stožice Hall in Ljubljana, Slovenian setter Dejan Vinčić will play his last match with the national team. Slovenia will host Serbia in the Nations League, and the match will become a farewell spectacle for one of the greatest players in the history of Slovenian volleyball.
“It's hard to find words right now, but the time has come to say goodbye to the national team. After more than twenty years, I think it's the right time to do it at home, in front of our audience,” Vinčić shared emotionally. He extended a special invitation to the fans: “I cordially invite everyone to my farewell match. I hope there will be many of you.”
🏅 20 years of glorious career
38-year-old Dejan Vinčić leaves behind an impressive resume:
👕 273 matches for Slovenia in the period from 2005 to 2025.
⚡ Debut: on May 13, 2005, in a World Championship qualifier against Moldova.
🥈 Four medals from European Championships – three silver (2015, 2019, 2021) and one bronze (2023).
🏆 Historical participation in Slovenia's first Olympics (Paris 2024).
🌍 4th place at the 2022 World Championship.
🏐 Twice fourth in the Nations League, with Slovenia even reaching second place in the world rankings.
These are achievements that have made Vinčić not only a leader on the court but also a symbol of the rise of Slovenian volleyball on the international stage.
🏠 Farewell at home
Slovenia will host four matches in the third week of the Nations League in Ljubljana:
🇨🇦 on July 16 against Canada,
🇳🇱 on July 17 against the Netherlands,
🇮🇹 on July 19 against Italy,
🇷🇸 on July 20 against Serbia.
The last match will be special because of Vinčić's farewell. Slovenia currently holds 12th place in the standings and will fight to finish as high as possible. It is possible that in this historic match we will also see Bulgarian participation, in the person of referee Ivaylo Ivanov, who will officiate at this tournament.
🏐 Career outside the national team
In the last club season, Vinčić played for Romanian "Rapid", and this summer he signed a three-year contract with Slovenian "Alpakem" from the city of Kanal. During his rich career, he also left his mark in Russia, where in 2016/17 he wore the jersey of "Yenisei".
❤️ Emotional ending
Dejan Vinčić leaves the national team with his head held high and a heart full of gratitude. His presence on the court for two decades inspired teammates and fans. On July 20, "Stožice" will not just send off a volleyball player - it will send off an era.
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