Silver medalist from the World Championship in the Philippines, Alex Nikolov, spoke in the "Volleycast" podcast with a frankness rarely heard from athletes his age. Amidst laughter, memories, and emotions, the national team player recounted not only the magic of the World Championship but also the difficult path through America and Italy, his connection with his brother Simeon, and coach Kiko Blengini, who literally "built him as a player."

"What Bulgaria did in the square was the icing on the cake."

When the conversation turns to the topic of the World Championship, Alex falls silent for a moment, and his eyes gleam.
"Only after the semi-final did we realize what we had done," he admits. "We didn't have time to think. Everything happened so fast. And what Bulgaria did in the square in front of 'Alexander Nevsky' was the icing on the cake. One of the coolest experiences in my life, if not the coolest."

He recounts how the boys only then, after the tournament, realized the scale of the public's love. "When you see people crying, singing the anthem, shouting our names... the moment I talk about it, I get goosebumps."

The vow before the final: "To give everything – no matter what happens."

The strongest moment of the entire tournament for Nikolov was neither the final nor the quarter-final against the USA, but the brief meeting in the locker room before going out to play against Italy.

"Blengini gathered us in a circle, held our hands, and said: 'No matter what happens, I only want one thing – after the match, to know that you have given everything.' That was our promise. And that's what we did," says Alex.

He admits that the Italians were better on that day. "But we showed that we are a team that no longer goes to a World Championship just to participate."

Before the match against the USA: "This is the chance of my life."

The match against the USA, which brought all of Bulgaria to its feet, is the moment when Alex showed mental strength worthy of a leader.
"The first two sets I was terrible. One point from sixteen attacks! Nothing like that had ever happened to me in my life. During the break, I told myself: 'This is it. Either now or never.' I came back, boy, I came back! I promised him (his brother) – we'll beat them, I promise. And we did it."

"I came back" is now a phrase that fans associate with Alex. Not just as a sports comeback, but as a personal symbol – of faith and character.

One of the most powerful parts of the conversation is when Alex talks about what it's like to carry his father's name.

"As a child, it wasn't a burden, but a responsibility. You defend the name of a giant. And there will always be someone to say – 'He's only there because of connections.'"

"I've listened to it for years. 'He plays because of his father.' Or because his mother is a coach. But when we proved ourselves – both I and Moni – those whispers disappeared. Now only the positives remain from Vlado Nikolov being our father."

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For now, Filip doesn't have much interest in volleyball – quite the opposite, in fact. But my sister Dariya is amazing. She is a natural athlete; I would bet a lot of money that she will become a very good volleyball player.

He adds with a smile:

As the eldest in the family, I also had privileges – my opinion used to carry more weight. Now we are equal, but back then it was different.

In the dark, without electricity – and no one uttered a sound.

When asked about the training camps and preparation, Nikolov smiles, but the story he tells sounds like a scene from a movie.
We were at a tournament in Poland, the Silesia Cup. We entered the gym in the morning, ready for training – and the power went out. It was dark. Only a little light came through the gaps. And what were we to do – we trained. Complete darkness, fifty minutes. No one uttered a sound.

After the training, Alex adds, coach Kiko Blengini was moved to tears:
He told us: 'I've never seen such a team. No one complained, no one asked to stop. I am proud of you.' That's when we realized we were something special.

From Modena to Lube: The story of an invitation from Bruno Rezende.

Nikolov recalls the moment his professional career began unexpectedly.
I had planned to stay in the USA for four years. But after my first VNL, offers started coming in – from Germany, Belgium, France. And suddenly, after a week in Sofia, Bruno Rezende comes to my house! He sits in the living room and tells me he wants us to play together. I look at him like a little fan – the man I've watched on TV, whom my father played against.

Then came the offer from Lube – more serious and promising.
It wasn't an easy decision, but I chose Lube. It turned out to be the right path.

The American period: culture shock and first lessons in independence.

Before Italy, Alex spent several months at a college in the USA.
The first few days I wanted to leave. Alone, 12,000 kilometers from home. I didn't like anything – the food, the people, everything was different. And even more amusing – I was housed in a dormitory with only black students. I was the only white person in the entire block. Not that I have anything against it, it was just strange. But that's how I learned to manage on my own.

He admits that he didn't study at all at first, then he pulled himself together. "My father told me: 'Just hold on a little. It will pass and get better.' And so it did."

Blengini was hard on me at first, but now I thank him.

When I went to Lube, Blengini literally wouldn't leave me alone. He scolded me for every ball. For every reception – a remark. Sometimes I would leave practice with my head spinning. But now I thank him. He made me who I am.

Alex also shares how much the coach's approach changed afterward:
In the national team, he no longer controlled me for every little thing. He told me: 'Handle it yourself.' And that's the next level – when you can correct your own mistakes.

Moni has an eagle eye. He sees everything.

The conversation cannot proceed without his brother Simeon. Alex describes him with great pride:
Of all the players I know, Moni is the most observant. He sees things no one else does – nets, angles, everything. Half of the net touches against Slovenia were his.

But there's also a dark side – Simeon's injury in the match against Turkey.
I warned the boys that their attacker was entering our field. And he did exactly that. It hit me very hard. Our morale dropped then.

About sacrifices, discipline and… burgers

When the conversation turns to the topic of sacrifices, Alex smiles broadly:
People talk about sacrifices, but I don't feel them as sacrifices. This is part of my life. I do what I love.

And he adds, with a typical sense of humor:
I eat everything. I have 5% body fat. Hot dogs, chips, pizzas – it doesn't matter. So far, it doesn't stick to me!

Matey Kaziyski and the example of the greats

To be mentioned with Kaziyski in the same sentence is an honor," says Nikolov. "We have played against each other at least 15 times in Italy. He didn't give me advice, but just by watching him – how he moves, how he warms up, how he chooses his shots – that's a school. You learn from him with your eyes."

Volleyball as a life, not a job

At the end of the conversation, Alex speaks calmly and maturely:
What people don't understand is that for us, volleyball is not just a profession. It's a way of life. And when we step onto the court, we don't think about salary or fame. We think about Bulgaria, about the team, about the people who are watching us.

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• He wearsnumber 11, because this is the family number: his father, his uncle, and even his brother's birthday are related to the number 11.

• His ideal team includes: Simeon Nikolov,Micheletto,Marlon Yant,Simon,Tynan Yies and Jenya Grebennikov.

• If he had a podcast, his first guest would be LeBron James:

  "He is an example of hard work, longevity, and family."
  
  
  

In this long, human conversation, Alex Nikolov shows not only talent, but maturity, character, and a deep sense of belonging.
He doesn't hide behind his father's glory, but builds upon it. He doesn't talk about "connections", but about hard work. And when he says "I'm back, boy," it no longer sounds like an excuse – it sounds like a promise that Bulgaria has a new leader.