Bulgarian volleyball left its definitive mark on the 68th edition of the "Sportsman of the Year" ceremony. The men's national team was chosen as Bulgaria's Team No. 1, coach Gianlorenzo Blengini triumphed as Coach of the Year, and Aleksandar and Simeon Nikolov found a place among the country's top ten athletes. The evening was symbolic \u2013 recognition for the silver medal from the World Championship in the Philippines and for the generation that brought volleyball back into the public spotlight.
The President of the Republic of Bulgaria, Iliana Iotova, also attended the ceremony \u2013 she presented the "Sportsman of the Year" award to Carlos Nasaar, who won the accolade for the second consecutive year.
Special Award of the Association of Sports Federations
Volleyball also received additional institutional recognition through the Special Award of the Association of Sports Federations. This is a clear indicator that the national team's success is not viewed in isolation as a one-time breakthrough, but as a strategic result of targeted work in recent years.
Inspiration: Maya and Vladimir Nikolov
The ceremony began with an emotional highlight \u2013 the special "Inspiration" award was presented to Maya Nikolova and Vladimir Nikolov. The honor is recognition not only for their role as parents of two national team members, but also for their long-standing contribution to Bulgarian volleyball.
Vladimir Nikolov is a symbol of the golden generation, and today we see the continuation of this lineage in Aleksandar and Simeon. The award also carries a strong message \u2013 continuity is the foundation of success.
Coach of the Year: Gianlorenzo Blengini
The Italian specialist became the first foreigner to be honored with the No. 1 prize in Bulgaria in the "Trud" newspaper's poll. He gathered 105 points in the voting by 25 sports editorial offices.
| Rank | Coach | Sport |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Gianlorenzo Blengini | Volleyball |
| 2. | Atanas Petrov | Volleyball |
| 3. | Anatoliy Zamfirov | Snowboard |
| 3. | Pavel Hristov | Weightlifting |
The first two positions are entirely volleyball-related – a telling fact about the sport's dominance in 2025. Blengini was the architect of the journey to the 2025 World Championship final, where Bulgaria lost to Italy with 1:3(22:25,25:20,18:25,21:25). Tactical discipline, attacking variability, and reception stability were among the key factors for the historic success.
Team of the Year: The Men's National Team
The World Championship silver medalists rightfully topped the ranking for Team No. 1.
| Rank | Team | Achievement |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Bulgaria – Men | World Vice-champion |
| 2. | Bulgaria U19 – Girls | World Champion |
The volleyball double at the top is interesting. Besides the men's team, the girls' national U19 team also ranked second after their world title. This highlights the systemic nature of the rise – there are results among both men and youth.
Simeon Nikolov – No. 6 in "Sportsman of the Year"
The 19-year-old setter took sixth place with 419 points. In 2025, he was the mastermind of the national team on their way to the final.
Among his individual achievements stand out:
NCAA Champion with Long Beach
106 aces for the season – a record in the collegiate championship
MVP and member of the NCAA All-America Team
No. 6 in the world according to FIVB
Best Setter in the first half of the Russian Super League with Lokomotiv (Novosibirsk)
Aleksandar Nikolov – No. 2 in "Sportsman of the Year"
The 22-year-old all-rounder received 913 points from 117 journalists and finished second in the poll. In 2025, he was the top scorer at the World Championship with 173 points and Bulgaria's leader in the final push.
With his club team Cucine Lube (Civitanova), he won the Italian Cup and played in the finals for the Scudetto and in the Challenge Cup tournament. The International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) ranked him second in the world for the year.
His emotional video address during the ceremony showed maturity and ambition – the goal remains conquering the world's summit.
The presence of two brothers in the country's top 6 is a precedent in Bulgarian volleyball. This is not just a family success, but proof of the quality of the new generation.
Volleyball didn't just win awards – it dominated in the key categories. Team No. 1, Coach No. 1, two players in the top 6, institutional recognition, and a symbolic award for "Inspiration".
The year 2025 will remain as the season in which the national team brought Bulgaria back onto the world map, and Bulgarian volleyball – into people's hearts. After the final in the Philippines, one step remains – the last one.
Photos: Nikolay Varadinov
