Nikola Grbic must make a revolution. Are Polish fans ready for this?

If we were to look for a monumental figure over the last few or even a dozen or so years – let’s assume the time frame is only the 21st century – then in the case of the Polish national volleyball team, we can point to one person who is still in the team. At least until the squad for the 2026 season is announced. That person is Bartosz Kurek.

The Polish national team without Bartosz Kurek. Time for a revolution?

Coach Nikola Grbic, during a meeting with the media in Warsaw last Thursday (i.e. April 16), openly admitted that he had already talked to the captain of the national team. Mature and explaining where Kurek himself is, but also what the team needs.

The attacker has been playing in the Polish senior national team since 2007. Taking into account that at that moment Tomasz Fornal and Jakub Kochanowski… were ten years old, this also shows the scale of the longevity of “Kuraś”. Now, however, the national team must cope without its boss. The new captain was – no surprise here – Aleksander Śliwka. Although it will not be the receiver who will play in a position that, in Kurek’s absence, will need a new, clear leader.

In the 2025 season, Kewin Sasak appeared in PlusLiga and the national team. The attacker of Bogdanki LUK Lublin won virtually everything that could be won in the club (apart from the Polish Cup, added in the 2025/26 season). What’s more, Sasak won the Nations League gold with his teammates. However, when it came to playing in the most important event, i.e. the World Championships, Grbic chose Kurek. Unfortunately, the Polish captain lost his health just before the medal game. Kurek watched the semi-final and the match for 3rd place off the pitch.

It seems that Sasak will become number one in the upcoming season. Although, paradoxically, Bogdanka’s attacker LUK does not play such a role… even in the club. All because of an injury that could have resulted in even bigger problems and a longer break. Ultimately, however, without the need for surgery, Sasak returned to training and is currently a “back-up” for Mateusz Malinowski.

The Polish coach is aware of this, which is no surprise.

– The most important thing is that Kewin is healthy. His current form is not the most important thing to me. It won’t be valid at the first tournament either. He won’t be in the second one either, Grbic said on the day the appointments were announced.

Who, if not Sasak, will be the attacker in the Polish national team, at least at the beginning of the national team season?

– Of course, at the beginning it will be a big opportunity for the volleyball players. There is Dulski, who plays very well. And I don’t know how they will play or train, who will be better. I think I will have the opportunity to see them. The same situation was last season with Kuba Nowak and Maks Granieczny – added the coach of the Polish team.

The above-mentioned Dawid Dulski actually had a great time in the French league. In addition, Grbic also has Bartłomiej Bołądź on the list, i.e. Olympic vice-champion (2024). Although the volleyball player initially could not fit into the team from Zawiercie, at the end of the season he became an important figure in the team of Aluron CMC Warta, under the supervision of coach Michał Winiarski.

In addition, there are even younger and slightly less experienced players – Bartosz Gomułka from PGE Projekt Warszawa and Aliaksei Nasevich from Energa Trefl Gdańsk, and a complete “rookie” in the senior team, i.e. Wojciech Gajek. The latter operated on a daily basis in the United States, and from the new season (i.e. 2026/27) it is to choose the French direction. That is, exactly the one in which Dulski found himself so well.

Will Grbic ultimately choose the most experienced players – Sasak and Bołądź? This seems very likely. Though…

– I know that of course if I can count on everyone I want, I can have an even stronger team. But sometimes only the one with the best team will not win – noted Grbic, talking about the changes affecting the Polish team.

Kurek’s absence is, paradoxically, the best moment for the “angry young ones”. Intentional quotation marks, because in most cases the record does not indicate the status of a debutant from A to Z (maybe apart from Gajek), but the chance to play in the two attackers of the senior Polish national team is a big thing.

That’s why it can be a real revolution, also in fan awareness. The squad without Kurek, the famous leader of the “Łysy” gang, will be different. But life abhors a vacuum and one may get the impression that we will witness important moments – also in terms of the future of the national team.

Is Nikola Grbic a guarantee of medals for the Polish team? Statistics don’t lie!

The Serbian coach has been working in the Polish national team since the beginning of 2022. In the case of Grbic, it can be safely admitted that whatever the coach touches, he turns into a medal. Statistics show clearly – in each of the most important events (i.e. Olympic Games, World and European Championships, Nations League), Poles, under the baton of the current coach, stood on the podium.

Starting from 2022: silver in the World Championships and bronze in the VNL. Then 2023, definitely the most successful year for Poles – two golds, the European Championship and the Nations League. In 2024, VNL bronze and silver in the Olympic tournament. Last season? VNL gold and World Championship bronze medals.

It is therefore hardly surprising that Poles are the leader of the FIVB world ranking. Poland has held this position, with minor breaks, for many years. The first long-term domination in this ranking on the white and red side lasted from June 2022. After slight perturbations in 2025, when the Poles fell to the second position for a moment, everything returned to “normal” in July last year.

It is therefore no surprise that regardless of the composition of the Polish national team, it is indicated in every possible place as one of the favorites to play for the most valuable laurels. This is not only the merit of coach Grbic, but certainly the consistently built position, actually since the runner-up finish in the world championship in… 2006.