Nikolay Ivanov, the captain of the Bulgarian team, is their best and one of their most experienced players.
Only 192cm tall the 31-year-old started his career as a spiker in the Bulgaria club of CSKA but soon developed into one of the best passers in the country. His sound defensive skills and lethal attacking arm have been prominent for Bulgaria throughout his 165 caps in the white, green and red, including 15 games at the World Championship and six at the Olympic Games.
Ivanov now plays for the Turkish club Arcelik and with that experience on the national and international stage he is one of the genuine leaders in the Bulgarian side.
Despite Bulgarian having fallen off the pace a little in recent years compared to its glory days of the '70s and '80s, Ivanov is one who can and has the aim to lead this Bulgarian side back into some form starting with some good results during the 2003 World
Cup.
Nikolay Ivanov, the captain of the Bulgarian team, is their best and one of their most experienced players. 
