Multiple-time Slovenian champions ACH Volley LJUBLJANA are once again guided from the bench by the coaching tandem of Igor Kolaković and Dragan Kobiljski, reprising their partnership from 15 years prior. Kolaković, the former long-time head coach of the Serbian national team, previously led ACH Volley (then known as ACH Volley BLED) from 2010 to 2012, securing two national championships and two Slovenian Cups.
Kolaković noted that their current roster includes eight Slovenian national team players from the 2025 World Championship, featuring the starting five—Tine Urnaut, Gregor Ropret, Tonček Štern, Alen Pajenk, and Jani Kovačič—alongside reserves Nejc Najdič, Janž Janez Kržič, and Luka Marovt. “Our captain Urnaut is still recovering from a lengthy injury, so he is not yet in peak condition, but we are striving to meet our own high standards. We had to navigate all three Champions League qualifying rounds, which seems illogical, yet we demonstrated even against TRENTINO that our presence among the elite is warranted,” Kolaković stated at the outset of the interview.
The coaching career of the 60-year-old, born in Podgorica, Montenegro, is rich in accolades, with his initial international triumphs taking place precisely in Slovenia.
“A year before my arrival, ACH finished fourth in the Champions League and reached the Final Four. It was an incredible result and formed the backbone of the club`s structure that persists today. ACH is a perfect representation of Slovenian Volleyball, boasting exceptional organizational quality. Alongside Kobiljski and me, the team included players from Serbia like Vlado Petković, Uroš Kovačević, and Milan Rašić. We all share wonderful memories of our time at the club,” Kolaković emphasized.
Kolaković served as head coach of the Serbian senior national team from 2006 to 2014 and again from 2022 to 2024. In this role, he won eight medals, including a bronze medal at the 2010 World Championship and a gold medal at the 2011 European Championship. He also guided the team to three Olympic Games: Beijing 2008, London 2012, and Paris 2024.
“That era brought me great joy, satisfaction, sadness, and invaluable experience. I am especially proud that I guided Serbia to the Olympics three times. Everyone knows how incredibly difficult it is to qualify for the Olympics and how important it is to be among the 12 best teams in the world. For Serbia, returning to Paris after a 12-year absence was crucial, and we achieved it. I always felt a strong sense of unity among the players, the coaching staff, and the people in the federation. Such harmony is very rare, and we had it. With Serbia, I always felt at home,” Kolaković said nostalgically.
In addition to his national team duties with Serbia and Iran (2017 to 2020), Kolaković has coached clubs like AS CANNES (France), Aluron CMC Warta ZAWIERCIE (Poland), Halkbank ANKARA (Türkiye), and, of course, ACH Volley. During his first tenure at ACH Volley BLED, he recruited a then 17-year-old Uroš Kovačević, who was already a young Serbian international. When asked about the opportunities for young players today, Kolaković was candid:
“From a coach’s perspective, focusing on developing young players is almost impossible. The job is now about survival, moving from one critical match to the next, while player development is largely left to the athletes themselves. It is very difficult to give a young player a chance when you are playing crucial matches, yet without such competitive experience, young players cannot progress. Fifteen years ago, Kovačević was an exceptional talent who later became a great player because he earned his opportunity through sheer quality and maturity. This is a burden for both coaches and young players. Competition is much stronger today, which certainly makes team rejuvenation more challenging.”
The Evolution of Modern Volleyball
With his extensive experience, Kolaković is well placed to compare volleyball in 2010 with the modern game, as well as the evolution of the Champions League.
“Today, many more clubs compete in the Champions League, even without Russian teams due to the ban. The volleyball market has expanded significantly. We now have three clubs each from Türkiye, Poland, and Italy, while all other national champions further strengthen the 20-team competition. Fifteen years ago, it was not possible for so many clubs from one country to play in the elite competition. The field was more balanced, but the overall level was lower. The rules are always key, and the game has sped up. By eliminating the second ‘dirty’ ball, points are now decided by players’ actions rather than referees’ decisions, resulting in longer rallies. The balls have changed, the number of quick combinations has decreased, and physical power has improved dramatically. While changes are necessary to drive progress, they seem to be happening rather slowly,” Kolaković analyzed.
Last week, ACH Volley were defeated 3–0 in Trento, but the set scores indicated that the match was far more competitive than the result suggests, with the Slovenian side having their opportunities.
“TRENTINO have a very respectable squad and will certainly aim not only for the Final Four but also for the trophy. The same applies to our next opponent, Ziraat Bankkart ANKARA. We took a longer route through the qualifiers only to land in what is probably the toughest Champions League group. It`s bad luck, but I think our rivals were also unlucky to be drawn with us. Our ambition is to present ourselves well, and we will persist on that path. The schedule is not important—what matters is how well we play. There are five more rounds in which we will look for our opportunity. First comes Ziraat. We know them, but we want to show ourselves in the best possible light. It is encouraging that we have healthy internal competition in serve reception and among our middle blockers, with players as young as 20 already competing for starting roles,” Kolaković announced a fierce battle for ACH Volley’s continuation in the competition.
The Slovenian champions will host Turkish champions Ziraat Bankkart ANKARA in Pool A, Round 2, at the legendary Tivoli Hall in Ljubljana on Thursday, January 8, scheduled to start at 20:00 local time.
Finley Blackwood