Seven completed VNL seasons in the pack. Then the Nikolov brothers changed the story.
Bulgaria are one of volleyball’s proud old names – World Championship silver medallists in 1970 and 2025, Olympic silver medallists in 1980, and a national team with deep roots in the men’s game. In the Volleyball Nations League, however, they spent most of the competition’s first era stuck near the bottom of the table.
Bulgaria have appeared in every completed men’s VNL edition since the tournament launched in 2018, but they have never reached the Finals or Final Phase. Their best result is 11th overall – first achieved on debut in 2018 and matched in 2025, when a young, fast-improving team finally began toppling bigger names.
That 2025 campaign did not end with a quarterfinal place, but it changed the tone of Bulgaria’s VNL story. Under Italian coach Gianlorenzo Blengini, a new generation led by Aleksandar and Simeon Nikolov turned Bulgaria from regular lower-table survivors into one of the most interesting rebuilding teams in world volleyball.
This guide covers Bulgaria’s complete men’s VNL record from 2018 to 2025: every season’s finish, the coaches who shaped the team, the veterans and teenagers who defined the era, and the 2025 breakthrough that put Bulgarian volleyball back on the map.
Quick Facts
| Category | Record |
| VNL editions competed (Men) | 7 completed editions (2018, 2019, 2021-2025) |
| VNL titles / medals | 0 / 0 |
| Finals / Final Phase appearances | 0 |
| Best VNL result | 11th overall (2018 and 2025) |
| 2025 Preliminary Phase | 10th of 18 (6-6, 17 pts) |
| 2025 final standing | 11th of 18 after hosts China finished 8th |
| Head coach (2024-present) | Gianlorenzo Blengini (Italy) |
| Captain (2025) | Aleks Grozdanov |
| Rising stars | Aleksandar Nikolov, Simeon Nikolov |
VNL Results by Year
| Year | Final standing | Finals status |
| 2018 | 11th | Did not reach the Final Six |
| 2019 | 12th | Did not reach the Final Six |
| 2020 | – | Tournament cancelled (COVID-19) |
| 2021 | 15th | Did not reach the four-team Finals |
| 2022 | 14th | Did not reach the quarterfinals |
| 2023 | 15th | Did not reach the quarterfinals |
| 2024 | 14th | Did not reach the quarterfinals |
| 2025 | 11th overall | 10th in Preliminary Phase; did not reach quarterfinals |
Season-by-Season History
2018 – A Solid Debut
Bulgaria made a respectable start to the VNL era. At the inaugural 2018 edition, under head coach Plamen Konstantinov, they finished 11th – a result that would remain their best overall VNL finish for several years.
There were individual highlights as well. Middle blocker Svetoslav Gotsev was one of the standout blockers of the Preliminary Round, averaging 0.57 stuff blocks per set, while captain Tsvetan Sokolov remained the team’s main attacking reference point.
It was a promising debut for a nation with a rich volleyball history. The challenge, as the next seasons would show, was turning that competitiveness into sustained movement up the table.
2019 – Slipping Back Under Prandi
For 2019, the federation brought in experienced Italian coach Silvano Prandi. Bulgaria did produce bright moments, including a comeback from two sets down to beat France 3-2, with Rozalin Penchev among the key scorers.
The wider campaign was still a grind. Bulgaria finished 12th and never seriously threatened the Final Six places. The gap to the tournament’s final stage remained clear.
2020-2021 – Cancellation, Then 15th in Rimini
The 2020 edition was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. When the VNL returned in 2021 inside a strict bubble in Rimini, Bulgaria struggled again and finished 15th under Prandi.
It was one of their weakest VNL campaigns and a reminder of how far the team still sat behind the competition’s leading nations. The top four advanced to the Finals that year; Bulgaria were far from that level.
2022 – New Format, Same Struggles
Bulgarian great Nikolay Jeliazkov, long Prandi’s assistant, took over as head coach for 2022 and set a target of moving closer to the top eight. The VNL format now sent the top eight teams to a knockout Finals stage.
Bulgaria fell well short, finishing 14th. The rebuild was clearly going to take time, with a young squad still learning how to turn good stretches of volleyball into full-match wins against elite opposition.
2023 – 15th, With the Future Starting to Appear
Plamen Konstantinov returned to the bench for 2023, and the squad list captured a team in transition: 38-year-old legend Matey Kaziyski was named alongside 19-year-old outside hitter Aleksandar Nikolov.
The results did not improve – Bulgaria finished 15th – but the outline of a new generation was taking shape. Aleksandar Nikolov was no longer only a prospect; he was beginning to look like the face of Bulgaria’s next cycle.
2024 – Blengini Arrives
In 2024, the federation made its most significant move of the VNL era by appointing Italian coach Gianlorenzo Blengini on a three-year deal. Blengini arrived with Olympic silver from Rio 2016 and a European title from his time with Italy, and his appointment was framed as a long-term project aimed at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic cycle.
His first VNL campaign brought another 14th-place finish, but the emphasis was on structure, roles and development. The table did not yet show a breakthrough, but Bulgaria were preparing the foundation for one.
2025 – The Breakthrough Year
The 2025 VNL was the season Bulgaria’s rebuild came alive. They finished 10th in the Preliminary Phase with a 6-6 record and 17 points – still outside the top eight, but much closer to the Finals than in previous years. In the official final standings, they were ranked 11th overall after hosts China entered the Finals and finished eighth.
The finish told only part of the story. Blengini’s young side beat Germany, Japan, Slovenia and, most memorably, world number one Poland in Gdansk. Outside hitter Aleksandar Nikolov emerged as one of the competition’s leading scorers, finishing fourth in the Preliminary Phase with 208 points.
The belief built in the VNL carried over immediately. Weeks later, Bulgaria reached the 2025 FIVB Men’s World Championship final in the Philippines and won silver – their first World Championship final since 1970. It was a separate competition, but it confirmed that the 2025 VNL was not a false dawn. Bulgaria had entered a new phase.
Key Players in Bulgaria’s VNL History
Aleksandar Nikolov (Outside Hitter)
The face of Bulgaria’s revival. Son of Bulgarian great Vladimir Nikolov, the explosive outside hitter broke through as a teenager and, by 2025, had become one of the most dangerous young attackers in international volleyball. His scoring volume, confidence and ability to take responsibility in high-pressure rallies changed Bulgaria’s ceiling.
Simeon Nikolov (Setter)
Aleksandar’s younger brother and Bulgaria’s long-term playmaker. Simeon Nikolov became central to Blengini’s project while still very young, bringing composure, creativity and a fearless serving game. His game-winning ace against Poland in Gdansk became the defining image of Bulgaria’s 2025 VNL rise.
Aleks Grozdanov (Middle Blocker / Captain)
The leader holding the team together. A commanding middle blocker, Grozdanov captained Bulgaria during the rise of the Nikolov generation and anchored the net alongside a developing support cast. His reliability made him one of the key stabilising figures in the 2025 team.
Tsvetan Sokolov (Opposite)
The veteran star of Bulgaria’s earlier VNL years. A powerful opposite and long-time national-team leader, Sokolov carried much of the attacking burden during the 2018-2021 campaigns before the team gradually shifted toward a younger core.
Svetoslav Gotsev (Middle Blocker)
One of the standout individual performers from Bulgaria’s early VNL period. Gotsev’s blocking numbers in the 2018 Preliminary Round remain a notable high point from Bulgaria’s first campaign in the competition.
Signature Moment: Gdansk 2025 – Bulgaria Topple World Number One
Bulgaria 3-2 Poland – Preliminary Phase, VNL 2025, Gdansk
Bulgaria’s finest VNL day came in front of a sold-out Ergo Arena in Gdansk. Facing FIVB World Ranking leaders and hosts Poland – a team that had beaten them ten straight times – Bulgaria refused to fold.
After dropping the first set, they clawed their way back through every twist of the match and eventually won 3-2 (17-25, 25-22, 25-23, 27-29, 15-11). Aleksandar Nikolov led the scoring effort, while teenage setter Simeon Nikolov came off the bench and delivered the game-winning ace.
The result did not lift Bulgaria into the Finals, but it changed perceptions. Beating the eventual VNL champions in their own arena showed that Blengini’s team had become far more than a lower-table survivor. Bulgaria were now a team nobody could take lightly.
Head Coaches
| VNL editions | Coach | Nationality |
| 2018 | Plamen Konstantinov | Bulgarian |
| 2019-2021 | Silvano Prandi | Italian |
| 2022 | Nikolay Jeliazkov | Bulgarian |
| 2023 | Plamen Konstantinov | Bulgarian |
| 2024-present | Gianlorenzo Blengini | Italian |
Few teams have changed VNL coaches as often as Bulgaria. Plamen Konstantinov led the 2018 debut, Italian Silvano Prandi took over from 2019 to 2021, and Nikolay Jeliazkov stepped up in 2022. Konstantinov returned for 2023 before Gianlorenzo Blengini began the current, more stable era in 2024.
Bulgaria VNL Records at a Glance
| Record | Detail |
| Best VNL result | 11th overall (2018 and 2025) |
| Worst VNL result | 15th overall (2021 and 2023) |
| VNL medals / Finals appearances | 0 / 0 |
| Editions competed | 7 completed men’s VNL editions since 2018 |
| Best Preliminary Phase finish | 10th of 18 in 2025 (6-6, 17 pts) |
| Biggest VNL win | def. world number one Poland 3-2 (2025, Gdansk) |
| Notable individual | Svetoslav Gotsev – best blocker, 2018 Preliminary Round |
Frequently Asked Questions
Has Bulgaria ever won a VNL medal?
No. Bulgaria have never won a men’s VNL medal and have never reached the Finals or Final Phase. Their best overall result is 11th place, achieved in 2018 and again in 2025.
What is Bulgaria’s best VNL finish?
Bulgaria’s best VNL finish is 11th overall. They first finished 11th on their 2018 debut and matched that result in 2025, when they placed 10th in the Preliminary Phase but 11th in the official final standings after hosts China advanced to the Finals.
Did Bulgaria reach the VNL Finals in 2025?
No. Bulgaria finished 10th in the 2025 Preliminary Phase with a 6-6 record and 17 points, two places outside the top eight cutoff. They were listed 11th in the final standings because China, as Finals hosts, advanced automatically and finished eighth overall.
Did Bulgaria’s 2025 VNL form carry over?
Yes. Only weeks after their improved VNL campaign – which included wins over Japan, Slovenia and Poland – Bulgaria reached the 2025 FIVB Men’s World Championship final and won silver. The World Championship was a separate tournament, but it confirmed the strength of the new generation.
Who is Bulgaria’s head coach?
Italian coach Gianlorenzo Blengini has led Bulgaria since 2024. He previously won Olympic silver at Rio 2016 and a European title as Italy’s head coach, and his Bulgaria project is built around long-term development toward the 2028 Olympic cycle.
Who are the Nikolov brothers?
Outside hitter Aleksandar Nikolov and setter Simeon Nikolov are the sons of Bulgarian great Vladimir Nikolov. Aleksandar has become Bulgaria’s leading attacker, while Simeon is the young setter around whom the team’s next era is being built.
Has Bulgaria always played in the VNL?
Yes. Bulgaria have played in every completed men’s VNL edition since the tournament launched in 2018. The only missing year in the timeline is 2020, when the tournament was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
When did Bulgaria beat Poland in the VNL?
Bulgaria beat Poland 3-2 in July 2025 in Gdansk. It was their first victory over Poland since 2017 and the signature result of their VNL breakthrough campaign.
Quick Summary
- Ever-present, never in the Finals: Bulgaria have played every completed men’s VNL since 2018 but have not yet reached the Final Phase.
- Best finish: Their ceiling is 11th overall, first achieved in 2018 and matched in 2025.
- Lean years: Bulgaria spent most of the 2021-2024 period between 14th and 15th place.
- 2025 breakthrough: Under Gianlorenzo Blengini, Bulgaria finished 10th in the Preliminary Phase and earned major wins over Japan, Slovenia and Poland.
- Gdansk upset: The 3-2 win over world number one Poland, sealed by Simeon Nikolov’s ace, became the defining VNL moment of the new generation.
- Beyond the VNL: Bulgaria’s later World Championship silver in 2025 confirmed that the Nikolov-led rise was real, even if a first VNL Final Phase remains the next target.
Coverage note: This article covers completed men’s VNL editions through 2025. Results from the ongoing 2026 tournament are not included in the historical totals until the competition concludes.
Last updated: July 2026
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