Nikola Jovović ready to lead Serbia’s new generation at EuroVolley
Feature
As Serbia’s men’s national team enters a period of transition, Nikola Jovović has taken on a particularly important role - that of a link between two generations. Named captain ahead of the 2026 season, the experienced setter is now tasked not only with leading a new-look squad on court, but also with passing on the lessons of a successful era. The 2019 European champion hopes his experience can help Serbia rebuild and return to the top four at CEV Enel EuroVolley 2026 Men.
Serbia are among the most decorated nations in the history of the Men’s European Championship, with 12 medals won under the banners of Yugoslavia, Serbia and Montenegro, and Serbia. Only Russia and Italy have collected more. Nikola Jovović has been part of that history himself, with the 34-year-old setter winning bronze medals in 2013 and 2017 before reaching the top of the podium with Serbia in 2019.
Following the retirement of several key players after the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Serbia are now going through a generational change. With many familiar faces gone, Nikola Jovović remains one of the experienced figures in the squad. As both setter and captain, he has become a bridge between the successful generation that came before and the young players now taking their first steps on the international stage. Rather than seeing the arrival of a younger generation as a challenge, Jovović has embraced the opportunity to work with the next wave of Serbian talent.
“I really like working with young guys. They are full of emotion and full of energy, and this also makes me want to practise and speak with them more and more. They are listening and improving day by day. With the help of the head coach, who is really passionate and in love with volleyball, giving them unconditional time, and I can also say something like a father’s love during the practices, it’s really good - not only for this moment, but also for this generation and for the future. It’s very important to have a head coach like Gheorghe Cretu, who wants to help young guys and give them a chance. It’s important for the future of Serbian Volleyball. We know that after the European Championship in 2019 we didn’t win another medal, but I think this is a good way for the youngsters to make some nice results in the future. Now at the trainings we have three, let’s say, ‘old guys’ — Marko Ivović, Dražen Luburić and myself. So it’s also interesting for me, and for us, to practise with young guys and give them some of our experience, hoping to help them improve their game. I think it’s good. Actually, I’m enjoying my time in the national team now.”
For Nikola Jovović, the upcoming tournament will be his sixth EuroVolley campaign. He made his debut in 2013 and, after missing the 2023 edition, is now back carrying memories of Serbia’s golden run six years earlier.
Nikola Jovović“I didn’t even think about the fact that this is already my sixth EuroVolley. Nice — it means I’ve been in this competition for a long time! When I think about 2019, it immediately puts a smile on my face. It’s one of the best moments in my life.”
Interestingly, however, it is not the final that stands out most vividly in his memory: “I think it was the win against France in the semifinal, because after that game, after all those emotions and the energy, we knew what our bodies were capable of and how well we had reacted to the victory. We beat an amazing team and we were sure that, no matter how well Slovenia were playing at that European Championship, we were going for gold. That semifinal against France gave us incredible power. They were in top form and playing at home, so I think that game was our gold before the actual gold medal.”
More than a decade on the international stage has brought Jovović another new responsibility. He was named Serbia’s captain at the beginning of the 2026 season, only for an injury to interrupt his start in the new role. He returned to the national team in time to lead Serbia during the VNL home leg in Belgrade.
Nikola Jovović“I really like being team captain. I haven’t changed my way of thinking or playing, but this role makes me even more responsible for all the guys. At the same time, we are doing everything together. Nothing is the decision of one player. I didn’t have the opportunity to be captain many times in my career, so now that it’s my time to be captain, something I wanted to improve in our group was that it should be the TEAM captain, not a captain for himself. It’s a way that many national teams approach it, and during my career I learned from some captains. I also have experience with this from my clubs. I want to bring something more — good responsibility, a good way of thinking and good energy to my team. That’s all. That’s my role.”
Serbia’s preparations are now entering their final stages. The team have already played friendly matches against Slovenia, winning one, and will face Bulgaria before heading to Finland for EuroVolley.
“The preparation for EuroVolley is different from the preparation for VNL. We are focusing more on reception, high balls and serving because we want to improve those elements. We still have some time, and I hope we will reach the level we need for the European Championship because that can improve our game.”
The ambitions are clear. Serbia want to restore themselves among Europe’s elite, and Nikola Jovović believes the team have what it takes to make a serious run.
Nikola Jovović“I really wish, and I really think, that we can reach the semifinal. We really want it. We want to fight for the medal. The competition is really tough, with a lot of amazing teams in Europe, but our goal is really to reach the semifinal and to arrive in Milano for that.”
Serbia will begin their EuroVolley campaign in Tampere, Finland, where they will face Estonia, Finland, the Netherlands, Denmark and Belgium in Pool C. And Jovović expects little to come easily in what he sees as one of the most evenly matched pools of the tournament.
“I can even say — joking, obviously — that I hate this pool, because there are five teams that are really similar in terms of playing style, quality of players, willingness to win, hard work and good serve-defence systems. I think it will be really interesting. Our group will definitely be interesting to watch, and I think everybody can beat everybody. Every team can fight for first place in the pool, so it will be tough. I’m sure there will be many tough matches, and I guess we will have more four- and five-setters than in the other groups.”
From the golden generation that lifted the trophy in 2019 to a new Serbia built around young talents, Nikola Jovović finds himself at the crossroads of two eras. As captain and one of the team’s most experienced players, his responsibilities now extend beyond his role as setter, with the 34-year-old also helping guide the next generation and shape the future of Serbian Volleyball.