Serbian · Klek, SFR Yugoslavia · Born 6 September 1973Serbian setter widely regarded as one of the greatest in volleyball history, who captained Yugoslavia to the 2000 Olympic gold medal before a two-decade club career across Italy and Russia.
Nikola Grbić was born on 6 September 1973 in Klek, in what was then the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, the younger brother of fellow professional volleyball player Vladimir Grbić. He joined the senior Yugoslav national team in 1991 at just 18, but his international career was immediately interrupted for two years by United Nations sanctions imposed on Yugoslavia during the Balkan wars. After the embargo lifted, Grbić moved to Italy in 1994, beginning a two-decade club career that spanned eight different Italian teams, winning eight Italian league titles and two CEV Champions League titles between 1994 and 2013, before finishing his playing career with a Russian championship at Zenit Kazan in 2014. Internationally, he helped Yugoslavia win bronze at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, and became national team captain in 1999, a role he held for over a decade. Grbić's defining moment came at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, where he captained Yugoslavia to a dominant three-set win over Russia in the final to win gold. He was named European Championship Best Setter on multiple occasions (1997, 2001, 2003, 2005) and helped Serbia win bronze at the 2010 FIVB World Championship in Italy, where he was named the tournament's best setter in what proved to be his final major international appearance. He competed at four Olympic Games in total (1996, 2000, 2004, 2008) and was inducted into the International Volleyball Hall of Fame in 2016, alongside his brother Vladimir, making them the first siblings both enshrined in the Hall. Grbić transitioned into coaching after retiring in 2014, leading Serbia to a 2016 World League title over reigning Olympic champions Brazil, and has since coached Poland's national team to multiple Nations League titles and a World Championship bronze medal.
Captaining Yugoslavia to Olympic gold at the 2000 Sydney Games, part of a career widely regarded as among the greatest by a setter in volleyball history
How They Played
Technically precise setter renowned for exceptional court vision, tactical intelligence, and leadership, capable of elevating the play of attackers around him across every team he represented
Lasting Impact
Regarded as one of the finest setters the sport has produced, whose two-decade career spanning four Olympics and eight Italian league titles was followed by a successful coaching career that included leading Poland to multiple international titles
Career Honours
- 2000 Olympic Gold Medalist (Captain)
- 1996 Olympic Bronze Medalist
- 8x Italian League Champion
- Inducted into the International Volleyball Hall of Fame (2016)
Serbian Athletes