Quick Facts
Biography
Nikola Grbić (Serbian Cyrillic: Никола Грбић; born 6 September 1973) is a Serbian professional volleyball coach and former player. He has been a member of Yugoslavia in 1995–2003, Serbia and Montenegro in 2003–2006 and Serbia in 2006–2010, gold medalist of the Olympic Games Sydney 2000, bronze medalist of the Olympic Games Atlanta 1996, also participant of the Olympic Games (2004 Athens, 2008 Beijing), multimedalist of the World Championships, European Championships and World League, a double Italian Champion (2008, 2010), Russian Champion (2014), head coach of Serbia men's national volleyball team and Calzedonia Verona. He was named European Player of the Year in 2007 and inducted into the Volleyball Hall of Fame in 2013.
Personal life
Grbić was born in Klek, SR Serbia, Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. He has older brother Vladimir, who is also former professional volleyball player.
From 2006, he is married with Stanislava and they have two sons who practice volleyball.
Career as player
Club
After the embargo was lifted in 1994, Nikola Yugoslavian national team career resumed at a time when he transferred to Italian club team Gabeca Montichiari, which started a 13-year career playing for eight different Italian teams and resulting in eight league titles from 1994 to 2013. He won two Championship titles in Italy (2008 Trentino - 2010 Cuneo), and one in Russia (2014 Zenit Kazan). He also won two CEV Euro Champions League titles (2000 Sisley - 2009 Trentino).
National team
He started with senior national team in 1991, when he was 18 years old.Then, for two years (1992-1994) wasn't playing because of international embargo.He was a captain of his national team in 1999–2010. In 1996 Yugoslavia, including Grbić, won bronze medal of the Olympic Games Atlanta 1996. Nikola was honored as the European Championship Best Setter in 1997 as Yugoslavia earned the silver medal. In 1998 Yugoslavia on Volleyball at the World World Championship won a silver medal. At the next Olympics his team achieved gold of the Olympic Games 2000 in Sydney. Yugoslavia went on to capture the 2000 Olympic Games gold-medal with a dominating three-set win over Russia in the finals. They beat Russia in final match (3-0). Again, in 2010, with Serbia his team won a bronze medal. Nikola career was not over following Beijing as he helped Serbia win bronze at the 2010 FIVB World Championship in Italy where he was named Best Setter of the tournament.
Career as coach
In May 2014 he became head coach of Italian club Sir Safety Perugia. On February 3, 2015 Grbić was announced new head coach of Serbia men's national volleyball team. Nikola in the first step winner Silver medal at 2015 FIVB World League. In next year Serbia with powerful presence winner Gold medal 2016 FIVB World League. Serbia had lost their five previous appearances in World League final including three times to Brazil and last year’s against France, now after five silver medals and three bronze, in 2016 year won first Gold medal.
Sporting achievements
Player
Clubs
CEV Champions League
1999/2000 – with Sisley Treviso- 2008/2009 – with Itas Diatec Trentino
2012/2013 – with Bre Banca Lannutti Cuneo
1999/2000 – with Sisley Treviso
2012/2013 – with Bre Banca Lannutti CuneoCEV Cup
- 2006/2007 – with Copra Piacenza
- 2009/2010
– with Bre Banca Lannutti Cuneo
– with Bre Banca Lannutti CuneoCEV Cup Of The Cups
- 1997/1998 – with TNT Traco Cuneo
- 1998/1999 – with TNT Traco Cuneo
CEV European Supercup
- 1997/1998 European Supercup, with TNT Alpitour Cuneo
- 1999/2000 European Supercup, with Sisley Treviso
CEV Top Teams Cup
- 2005/2006 – with Copra Piacenza
National championships
- 1991/1992 Yugoslavian Cup, with Vojvodina Novi Sad
- 1991/1992 Yugoslavian Championship, with Vojvodina Novi Sad
- 1992/1993 Yugoslavian Championship, with Vojvodina Novi Sad
- 1993/1994 Yugoslavian Cup, with Vojvodina Novi Sad
- 1993/1994 Yugoslavian Championship, with Vojvodina Novi Sad
- 1997/1998 Italian Championship, with TNT Alpitour Cuneo
- 1998/1999 Italian Cup, with TNT Alpitour Cuneo
- 1999/2000 Italian Cup, with Sisley Treviso
- 1999/2000 Italian Championship, with Asystel Milano
- 2003/2004 Italian Championship, with Copra Piacenza
- 2005/2006 Italian Cup, with Copra Piacenza
- 2006/2007 Italian Championship, with Copra Piacenza
- 2007/2008 Italian Championship, with Itas Diatec Trentino
- 2008/2009 Italian Championship, with Itas Diatec Trentino
- 2009/2010 Italian Cup, with Bre Banca Lannutti Cuneo
- 2009/2010 Italian Championship, with Bre Banca Lannutti Cuneo
- 2010/2011 Italian SuperCup 2010, with Bre Banca Lannutti Cuneo
- 2010/2011 Italian Cup, with Bre Banca Lannutti Cuneo
- 2010/2011 Italian Championship, with Bre Banca Lannutti Cuneo
- 2013/2014 Russian Championship, with Zenit Kazan
Individual
- 1997 CEV European Championship – Best Setter
- 1997 Awards of Olympic Committee of Serbia - Sportsman of The Year
- 2000 Lega Volley Serie A – Best Player
- 2000 Lega Volley Serie A – Best Foreign Player
- 2001 CEV European Championship – Best Setter
- 2003 CEV European Championship – Best Setter
- 2003 FIVB World Cup – Best Setter
- 2005 CEV European Championship – Best Setter
- 2006 Top Teams Cup - Best Setter
- 2009 FIVB World League – Best Setter
- 2010 Lega Volley Serie A – Best Setter
- 2010 Lega Volley Serie A Italian Cup – Best Player
- 2010 CEV Cup – Best Setter
- 2010 FIVB World Championship – Best Setter
- 2014 CEV – Ultimate Team Leader
Manager
International
- 2015 FIVB World League, with Serbia
- 2016 FIVB World League, with Serbia
- 2017
CEV European Championship, with Serbia
CEV European Championship, with Serbia