It is with very deep sadness and sorrow that the European Volleyball family has learned that former CEV President Aleksandar Boričić passed away on March 4 in his native Belgrade following a short illness. As a former player and coach, President of the National Federation of Yugoslavia, Serbia and Montenegro, Serbia, CEV President from 2015 to 2024 as well as 2nd FIVB Executive Vice-President, Mr Boričić literally lived and breathed Volleyball throughout his entire life. 

Upon assuming the CEV leadership, Mr Boričić initiated a full transformation of the organisation re-shaping it in such a way that it would evolve with the times, while making sure that the good of athletes and coaches would be at the centre of any decision-making process. During his tenure, among other things, he did oversee the revamping of the CEV EuroVolley – now taking place across four countries per gender with participation of 24 teams – and with much composure, sheer determination, and focus he did steer the Volleyball family through the challenging times of the coronavirus pandemic and a variety of other crises. He finished his second and final term at the helm of the European Volleyball family in the summer of 2024 after receiving a standing ovation from all the delegates attending the CEV General Assembly held in Naples, Italy.

Plans have already been made to hold a minute’s silence to pay tribute to his memory and legacy before the start of all matches scheduled for this week in the CEV European Cups.

“I trust all members of our Volleyball family share my same feelings of deep gratitude for his long-time involvement in the governance of our sport and we will all cherish fond memories from our time with him. European Volleyball owes very much to a man who lived and breathed Volleyball throughout his whole life,” says CEV President Roko Sikirić. “While we are deeply saddened by this news, we honour his legacy and remain committed to continuing his work for the good of Volleyball. On behalf of the entire European Volleyball family, I extend my most sincere condolences to his family, friends, and loved ones at this difficult time. His contribution to our sport will always be remembered. May he rest in peace.”

Reviewing a lifetime devoted to Volleyball 

Born on May 24, 1948 in Belgrade, his involvement in Volleyball – the passion and love of his life, as he described it himself – started in 1962 as a player with OK Crvena zvezda, and later as a coach and General Manager of the same club. During his playing career, he was a member of the Yugoslav national team, for which he played 103 international matches. As both a player and coach with OK Crvena zvezda, he won five national championship titles and six national cups. His international career was also marked by trophies, including the bronze medal at the 1975 European Championship played on home soil and third place in the 1986 edition of the CEV Cup, where he led the women’s team of Crvena zvezda as head coach.

He was the 20th and last President of the Volleyball Federation of Yugoslavia (20 June 1992 – 4 February 2003), then the first and only President of the Volleyball Federation of Serbia and Montenegro (4 February 2003 – 22 June 2006), and the first President of the Volleyball Federation of Serbia (22 June 2006 – 7 May 2016). He served as President of the European Volleyball Confederation (CEV) from 17 October 2015 to 24 August 2024.

Aleksandar Boričić was a member of the Presidency and Vice-President of the Yugoslav Olympic Committee until 2000, when he was elected President of the Belgrade Sports Association. In 2001, he became a member of the Executive Board and Vice-President of the CEV, as well as President of its Media Commission. In 1998, he founded and became the first President of the Balkan Volleyball Association (BVA). A year later, in 1999, he was elected a member of the Development Commission of the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB), where he served until 2002, when he became a member of the FIVB Board of Administration. That same year, he was elected President of the Crvena zvezda Sports Society. At the FIVB World Congress in 2006, he was elected a member of the FIVB Executive Committee and Vice-President of the FIVB. He served as FIVB 2nd Executive Vice-President during his tenure as CEV President.

Mr Boričić received numerous prestigious awards, including the title of Honorary Professor of Sport at the Faculty of Sport and Physical Education of the University of Belgrade (2012), the Special Recognition of the Sports Association of Serbia (2014), the “Olympic Heart – General Svetomir Đukić” Trophy awarded by the Olympic Committee of Serbia for special achievements and lifetime contribution to strengthening the Olympic movement (2019), and the Grand Cross of the FIVB, the highest distinction awarded by the International Volleyball Federation (2022).