Aleksandar Boričić, a prominent figure in international volleyball and former president of the European Volleyball Confederation (CEV), died on March 4, 2026, in Belgrade after a short illness. He was 78.
Boričić spent more than six decades involved in volleyball as a player, coach and sports administrator, playing a major role in the development of the sport in Serbia, Europe and worldwide.
Born in Belgrade on May 26, 1948, he began his volleyball career in 1962 with OK Crvena zvezda. As a member of the Yugoslav national team, he played 103 international matches between 1969 and 1978. One of the highlights of his playing career came in 1975 when Yugoslavia won the bronze medal at the European Championship.
At club level with Crvena zvezda, Boričić won five national championship titles and six national cups as both a player and coach. As head coach of the club’s women’s team, he led them to third place in the 1986 CEV Cup.
After retiring from playing, Boričić moved into sports administration and became one of the most influential volleyball officials in Europe. He served as the final president of the Volleyball Federation of Yugoslavia from 1992 to 2003, then as the first president of the Volleyball Federation of Serbia and Montenegro (2003–2006) and later the first president of the Volleyball Federation of Serbia from 2006 to 2016.
On the international stage, he served as president of the European Volleyball Confederation from 2015 to 2024. During his tenure, European competitions expanded, including the European Championship, which grew to feature 24 teams and multiple host countries.
Boričić also held several senior roles within the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB), including serving as executive vice president. He was also the founder and first president of the Balkan Volleyball Association, established in 1998. His contribution to sport was recognized with numerous honors, including the Grand Cross of the FIVB in 2022, the highest award given by the international federation.
Boričić leaves behind a lasting legacy as one of the key figures who helped shape modern volleyball in Europe.