19-year-old Bulgarian setter Simeon Nikolov is both the face of a golden generation and a young man paying the price of early fame. Following the historic silver medal from the World Championship in the Philippines, his strong season in Russia, and candid confessions about his personal life, Nikolov also discusses a key, yet often underestimated, moment – the failure in the Nations League, which actually turned out to be a turning point for the national team.

Leadership role at Lokomotiv Novosibirsk

Following his sensational breakthrough with the national team, Simeon Nikolov quickly established himself in club volleyball as well. With Lokomotiv Novosibirsk, he played in the Russian Super Cup final, and in the championship, the team is consistently in second place. The setter himself is among the most impressive players in the league – he attacks aggressively, ranks seventh among the best blockers, and is in the top 15 for aces.

Statistically, he convincingly leads among the highest-scoring setters – 90 points in 15 Super League matches. In his last match against Yaroslavich, Nikolov finished with 10 points.

“I have about 10 points per match. I try to be as aggressive as possible at the net because that creates problems for the opponent. I want to be useful not only with setting but also with points. Instead of adding something new, I prefer to develop what I already have,” says Simeon.

Why Russia, not Italy

His move to Novosibirsk was a carefully considered decision. The Russian club won out over at least seven European teams, and key factors proved to be the presence of Plamen Konstantinov as head coach and a guaranteed spot in the starting lineup.

“I had two options – to play for one of the best teams in Russia or the worst team in Italy. In Italy, I would have been second choice. I wanted to wake up with the thought that I want to win and achieve something,” Nikolov explains.

He is adamant that constant losses do not lead to development, especially for a young player. At the same time, Italy remains a career goal for him. His contract with Lokomotiv is structured as 1+2, with the extension not being mandatory, and reports have already appeared in the Italian press that Simeon might move to Civitanova, where he could play alongside his brother Aleksandar Nikolov.

Loneliness in Novosibirsk and a life dedicated to volleyball

Outside the gym, Nikolov's daily life is far more monotonous. He admits to feeling lonely and having a limited social circle. The language barrier is a serious problem, although the proximity between Bulgarian and Russian languages somewhat helps.

“I am completely alone, I am lonely. But I am here only for volleyball. I have a lot of freedom – I haven’t cooked once, I order food or eat in restaurants. I just play volleyball and rest. I eat, sleep, and spend the rest of my time in the gym,” he recounts.

To interact with people, Nikolov sometimes streams video games. He admits that creating a more home-like atmosphere would help him cope with loneliness, but for now, his entire focus is on sports.

“Perhaps I am too cautious with girls”

Nikolov's candor went even further when he spoke about his personal life. The young setter admits to having serious insecurity in relationships with girls.

“I am too cautious if I like a girl. I never know if she likes me or my fame, my followers, and my money. In most cases, relationships have ended because of me, because I would say: no, this is fake. Perhaps I am too cautious.”

Publicity also restricts him. In the USA, he often avoided going out because he could end up live on social media. In Russia, although he is in the third-largest city, almost no one recognizes him, but the doubts remain.

“Does she really like me? Or is she acting like she doesn't know me? This is probably too much on my part, but when the right girl comes along, I won't care what they write and discuss.”

The Nations League – the failure that changed everything

In his conversation, Nikolov pays special attention to the Nations League – a tournament that ended disappointingly for Bulgaria but proved crucial for future success.

The national team was close to qualifying for the "Final Eight", but everything was decided in the last matches.

“All day we watched the matches of the rivals we depended on. When Canada defeated Ukraine, we jumped for joy. We expended all our energy doing that.”

However, Bulgaria had to do its own job against Iran – and failed.

“We had to beat Iran, but they crushed us. After that match, we were morally broken.”

It was after this meeting that a serious conversation with the coaching staff followed, which proved crucial for the World Championship.

“We had a tough conversation with the coach. We changed our preparation and many other things. In the Philippines, we didn't communicate with anyone on the phone except our parents. They told us: don't answer anyone, that's external noise. Stay focused.”

Even the president of the Bulgarian Volleyball Federation, Lyubomir Ganev, wanted to talk to the team after the victory over the USA, but the coach emphatically refused.

“The coach said: let them only think about volleyball. I think that worked,” Nikolov admits.

The Philippines – the tournament of a lifetime

The World Championship in the Philippines remains the strongest moment in the young setter's career. Bulgaria, which was 16th in the world rankings, started the tournament without serious expectations.

“It all started with Germany. We won the first set 40:38 – that was crazy.”

After the dramatic success against Slovenia came the legendary quarter-final with the USA – a match that Nikolov describes as the most important in his life.

“We were almost at a dead end, but we showed character. In the fifth set, we had more momentum and won. This is the most memorable match of my career.”

In the final, Bulgaria lost to Italy, but Nikolov accepts the defeat with realism.

“We knew Italy was better. They have immense experience, many of their players have been together for 10 years. We gave our all, but they beat us.”

A star for the fans and a look to the future

The Philippines turned Simeon Nikolov into a true superstar. Fans showered him with gifts, and his mother had to buy a new suitcase to take them home.

“I swear, I felt like LeBron James. I hope there will be more tournaments there – Nations League, World Championships, Olympic Games.”

After the World Championship, interest in the Nikolov brothers is huge. Their father Vladimir Nikolov received hundreds of calls daily from sponsors and major international brands. On social media, Simeon already has over half a million followers.

Nevertheless, his focus remains unchanged:

Everything else is just noise. The most important thing is volleyball.

Simeon Nikolov's story is no longer just about one tournament or one season. It's about growth - through the failures in the Nations League, through the loneliness in Russia, and through the euphoria on the world stage. And most importantly - it is still being written.

The material is prepared based on a publication byBO Sport, based on an interview with Simeon Nikolov for the American podcastOut of System.