PAOK strengthened in the net. His team Josko Milekonskiwas long in search of a central and after methodical moves, proceeded to acquire the 27-year-old Bulgarian international, Nikolai Kolef.
The announcement in detail:
“PAOK, and the men’s volleyball department, announce the start of cooperation with the athlete, Nikolai Kolef, for the remainder of the 2024-2025 season.
Born in Varna, Bulgaria on 16/12/1997, Nikolai Kolef plays as a center and is 204cm tall.
He made his first professional steps in the 2017–18 season from VC Cherno More Bask, staying there until the 2019–20 season. Alongside his collegiate career, he also competed with the Bulgarian Men’s National Team in the VNL in the 2018-19 season.
The next stage of his career (2020-21) was Neftochimik Burgas, with which he won the Bulgarian Cup and the Bulgarian Super Cup, while at the same time he competed in the top interclub competition, the CEV Champions League, but later also in the CEV Cup.
He remained in Neftochimik Burgas for the following season (2021-22), enriching his performances from the championship level.
This was followed by a two-year spell (2022-24) in France, more specifically at Centurions Narbonne, with which he expanded his European performances by playing in the CEV Cup. At the same time, he competed both in the VNL, with the Bulgarian National Team, and in the qualifying round for the Paris Olympics.
In the first half of this season he played in the Bulgarian SKV Montana.
Regarding the start of cooperation with PAOK, Nikolai Kolef stated on the Association’s official website, acpaok.gr:
“I am very happy for the trust of the team. I hope that we will experience unique moments together, and lead the team to where it deserves. PAOK is a big club, with high goals, with a long history, and this is always a motivation for every athlete to join his family. I believe that with the creation of this new team, we have many chances to star.”
I am currently a news writer for News Bulletin247 where I mostly cover sports news. I have always been interested in writing and it is something I am very passionate about. In my spare time, I enjoy reading and spending time with my family and friends.
