Bulgaria has once again found its place among the greats of world volleyball! Legendary setter Dimitar Karov has been officially inducted into the International Volleyball Hall of Fame, Class of 2025. This is recognition not only for his exceptional career but also for the golden era of Bulgarian volleyball in the 60s and 70s.

🏐 The Bulgarian Setting Genius

Born in 1943, Dimitar Karov grew to be one of the most intelligent and technical setters Europe has ever seen. With CSKA, he won five championship titles and three national cups, and in 1969, he triumphed in the continent's most prestigious club tournament Y2014 the European Champions Cup.

In the national team, Karov was the driving force behind the formation that recorded three appearances at the Olympic Games Y2014 Tokyo 1964, Mexico City 1968, and Munich 1972, as well as the historic silver medal from the 1970 World Championship in Sofia.

With his short stature for the position (169 cm), he compensated with brilliant technique, intellect, and a phenomenal feel for the game. A player who didn't just set, but ratherorchestratedevery game.

🌍 Bulgarians in the Volleyball Hall of Fame

This table outlines a prestigious Bulgarian presence in the global pantheon of volleyball. It is notable that all four representatives are directly connected to the generations that built the glory of CSKA and the national team between the 60s and 80s — a time when Bulgaria was an integral part of the world elite.

🏅 Recognition for an entire school

Dimitr Karov's induction into the Hall of Fame is not just an individual honor — it is a recognition of the Bulgarian volleyball school.
With his name, Bulgaria now has four eternal representatives alongside legends like Karch Kiraly, Lorenzo Bernardi, and Sergey Tetyukhin.

Karov embodies the philosophy thatheight does not make a setter – mind, technique, and heart do.
Today, his example continues to inspire new generations of Bulgarian volleyball players – from youth formations to the national team.

🗣️ Echoes of recognition

“This is an honor for all Bulgarian volleyball. My teammates, coaches, and fans are part of this distinction.”
— Dimitar Karov, in an interview after the announcement of the Class of 2025

📊 Career at a glance

The numbers don't tell the whole story, but they speak volumes. 15 years of elite career without a single compromised championship, numerous individual awards, and a cultural contribution – Karov was and remains a symbol of intelligent volleyball.

🌍 Class of 2025 Hall of Fame

The official ceremony will take place on October 18, 2025, in Holyoke (Massachusetts, USA) – the birthplace of volleyball.
See the full lineup of this year's inductees:

This class is among the most diverse in the history of the Hall of Fame — it includes champions from beach and indoor volleyball, coaches, referees, and even ParaVolley representatives. Dimitar Karov's presence highlights the respect for Bulgaria's volleyball school, recognized as one of the most technical and intelligent in the world.

With the inclusion of Dimitar Karov in the 2025 Hall of Fame class, Bulgaria solidifies its place among the leading forces in the world's historical volleyball canon.
The four Bulgarians in this elite company are proof that our school has left a mark not only on the court but also in global sports memory.

photos: Nikolay Varadinov and BFV