If you’ve ever sat in a packed Pionir Hall in Belgrade when the game is on the line, you know it's not just about the sport. It’s loud. It’s heavy. It’s a place where the air feels like it’s vibrating. The Serbia men's national volleyball team—affectionately known as the "Orlovi" or Eagles—carries a weight that most other nations simply don't have to deal with. They aren't just playing for a medal; they’re carrying the legacy of a golden generation that basically owned the early 2000s.
Honestly, being a fan of this team lately has been a bit of a rollercoaster. One minute they're toppling giants, and the next, you're scratching your head during a VNL preliminary round. But as we move through 2026, there’s this feeling that the "rebuilding phase" isn't just a placeholder anymore. It’s becoming a real, dangerous identity.
The New Boss: Gheorghe Cretu and the 2026 Reset
Let’s talk about the Romanian in the room. When Gheorghe "Gianni" Cretu took the reins from Igor Kolakovic in early 2025, people weren't entirely sure what to expect. Cretu is a tactical obsessive. You might remember him steering Slovenia to that historic fourth place at the 2022 World Champs or winning the triple crown with ZAKSA. The guy knows how to win.
But his biggest challenge? Transitioning away from the legends.
For over a decade, the Serbia men's national volleyball team relied on the "Big Three": Aleksandar Atanasijević, Uroš Kovačević, and Marko Podraščanin. These guys were the backbone. Following the Paris 2024 Olympics, where Serbia finished 9th, that era officially ended. Atanasijević and Podraščanin stepped away from international play, leaving a massive void in both points and leadership.
Cretu didn't blink. He basically started a "new era" call-up system, bringing in 28 players for the 2025 season and continuing that aggressive rotation into 2026. He’s betting on youth. He’s betting on guys like 19-year-old setter Danilo Veselić and 18-year-old outside hitter Nikola Brborić. It’s a gutsy move in a country where fans expect podium finishes every single summer.
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Who’s Actually Carrying the Load Now?
With the veterans gone, the spotlight has shifted. If you’re watching a match today, these are the names you'll see doing the heavy lifting:
- Dražen Luburić: He’s no longer just the "other" opposite. Luburić has become the primary scoring engine. His serve is still one of the most violent in the CEV.
- Miran Kujundžić & Pavle Perić: These two are the future of the outside hitter position. Interestingly, they both play under Cretu at the club level in Poland (PGE GiEK SKRA Bełchatow), so the chemistry is baked in.
- Nikola Jovović: The veteran presence. In a team full of kids, Jovović is the one keeping the pulse steady.
- Srećko Lisinac: When he's healthy, he's arguably the best middle blocker in the world. His connection with Jovović is almost telepathic.
Why Everyone Still Fears the Serbian Jersey
You'll often hear commentators talk about "Serbian spite" or inat. It’s a real thing. This team has a weird habit of playing their best volleyball when they’re ranked 10th or 12th in the world and everyone has written them off.
Look at the 2024 VNL. They weren't the favorites. They were fighting for every single ranking point just to sneak into the Paris Olympics. They had a brutal schedule—facing Japan, Brazil, and Germany in the same week. They lost some heartbreakers (that 2-3 against Argentina still stings), but they did exactly what they needed to do to secure that Olympic quota. They’re grinders.
The Serbia men's national volleyball team doesn't always have the raw height of the Russians or the flashy speed of the Americans, but they have this tactical "nastiness." They touch everything at the net. They make you play one more ball. It’s exhausting to play against.
The Ranking Reality
As of 2026, Serbia is hovering around the 10th to 13th spot in the FIVB World Rankings. To some, that looks like a decline. To Cretu and the Serbian Federation, it’s a starting point. They’ve managed to stay ahead of rising powers like Turkey and Iran while keeping pace with teams like Canada and Germany.
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The goal for the 2026 season is clear: get back into the top 8. Ranking points are the currency of the modern game, and with the World Championships in the Philippines and the expanded VNL schedule, there’s no room for "off" nights.
The Ghost of Sydney 2000
You can't talk about this team without mentioning 2000. It’s the benchmark. When the team (then Yugoslavia) swept Russia in the Sydney final, it changed the sport in the Balkans forever.
Every kid in Belgrade or Novi Sad who picks up a volleyball wants to be the next Ivan Miljković or Nikola Grbić. That history is a blessing because it produces incredible talent, but it’s a curse because the fans have zero patience for "rebuilding."
I’ve seen people on Serbian sports forums calling for a complete overhaul after a single loss to Slovenia. It’s intense. But that’s the pressure that makes these players so tough. They grow up in a pressure cooker.
What Most People Get Wrong About Serbian Volleyball
There's a common misconception that Serbia is just a "tall team that hits hard." That's lazy analysis. If you actually watch their defensive transitions, they are incredibly sophisticated.
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The Serbia men's national volleyball team excels in what coaches call "out-of-system" play. When the pass is bad and the setter is running 20 feet off the net, Serbian hitters are some of the best at using the block to reset the play. They don't just swing blindly. They play the angles. It’s a high-IQ style of volleyball that often gets overlooked because people just want to see 120 km/h aces.
Looking Ahead: The 2026 Road Map
The 2026 calendar is packed, and for this squad, it’s all about consistency. We’ve seen flashes of brilliance—beating Poland in a set or taking Italy to the limit—but the goal now is doing that three nights in a row.
Key Milestones for the Season:
- VNL Core Integration: Cretu will likely use the first two weeks of the Nations League to test the Veselić-Brborić connection. Don't be surprised if the scores look ugly early on.
- Defensive Stabilization: With the retirement of some defensive specialists, the libero position is under the microscope. Finding a permanent successor who can command the backcourt is priority number one.
- The Middle Block Attack: Serbia needs to use Lisinac and Nedeljković more aggressively. When the middle is a threat, it opens up the wings for Luburić to do his thing.
If you’re looking for a dark horse in the upcoming major tournaments, keep an eye on the Eagles. They might not be the favorites on paper, but they are the team nobody wants to see in a knockout bracket.
Actionable Insights for Following the Team:
- Track the VNL Stats: Keep an eye on Pavle Perić’s reception percentage; if he stabilizes the backrow, Serbia becomes a top-tier threat.
- Watch the Youth Movement: Follow the progress of the U22 players being integrated by Cretu—these are the guys who will lead the Los Angeles 2028 charge.
- Don't Ignore the Rankings: Since the FIVB uses a "per-match" point system, every 3-0 sweep against lower-ranked teams is vital for their Olympic seeding.
The transition is happening in real-time. It’s messy, it’s loud, and it’s quintessentially Serbian. But the Eagles are far from grounded.