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Tijana Bošković
2016-12-14 Tijana Boskovic by Sandro Halank.jpg
Bošković with Eczacıbaşı VitrA in 2016
Personal information
Nickname The Boss
Nationality Serbian
Born (1997-03-08) 8 March 1997 (age 27)
Trebinje, Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Hometown Bileća, Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Height 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in)
Weight 78 kg (172 lb)
Spike 329 cm (130 in)
Block 310 cm (122 in)
Volleyball information
Position Opposite spiker
Current club Turkey Eczacıbaşı Dynavit
Number 18 (national team), 3 (club)
Career
Years Teams
2010–2011 Bosnia and Herzegovina ŽOK Hercegovac
2011–2015 Serbia ŽOK Partizan Vizura
2015– Turkey Eczacıbaşı Dynavit
National team
2014– Serbia Serbia
Honours
Women's Volleyball
Representing  Serbia
Olympic rings.svg
Olympic Games
Silver 2016 Rio de Janeiro Team
Bronze 2020 Tokyo Team
World Championship
Gold 2018 Japan Team
Gold 2022 Netherlands/Poland Team
European Championship
Gold 2017 Azerbaijan/Georgia
Gold 2019 Hungary/Poland/Slovakia/Turkey
Silver 2021 Serbia/Bulgaria/Croatia/Romania
Silver 2023 Belgium/Estonia/Germany/Italy
Bronze 2015 Netherlands/Belgium
World Cup
Silver 2015 Japan
FIVB World Grand Prix
Bronze 2017 Nanjing
Junior European Championship
Gold 2014 Tampere/Tartu
European Youth Olympic Festival
Silver 2013 Utrecht

Tijana Bošković (Serbian Cyrillic: Тијана Бошковић; born 8 March 1997) is a Serbian professional volleyball player. She has won gold medals with the Serbia women's national volleyball team at the 2018 and 2022 World Championships, and the 2017 and 2019 European Championships. She is also a two-time Olympic medalist, having won silver at the 2016 Rio Games and bronze at the 2020 Tokyo Games.

Bošković is left-handed and has been one of Serbia’s key players ever since her debut with the national team in 2014. By the age of 21, she had already played in gold medal matches in all major tournaments (Olympic Games, World Championship, and European Championship), and she was one of the players who contributed a lot of winning points for Serbia.

Being selected for the 2019 European Volleyball Confederation Female Volleyball Player of the Year award, Bošković has recorded an impressive achievement by receiving that award for three consecutive years (2017, 2018, 2019).

Bošković's record in major championships is nothing short of phenomenal – 10 majors played, reaching the semifinals 9 times and making it to the finals 7 times. So far, she has never missed standing on the podium in every major she has played, except for her debut year at the 2014 World Championship.

Bošković became the first woman to spike and serve at a speed exceeding 110 km/h.

During the Eczacıbaşı Dynavit–Imoco Volley Conegliano match at the 2022 FIVB Club World Championship, Bošković broke the women's world record for the fastest serve at a lightning speed of 111.4 km/h. Not stopping there, she also smashed her own record for spike speed by hitting the ball at an incredible 110.9 km/h in the same game. This puts her as the second-fastest spiker in women's volleyball history, sharing the spot with Annie Drews, just behind Paola Egonu.

Contents

Career – National team

Junior team

Bošković began her national volleyball team career when she was just 15 years old, joining the Serbian junior team. In 2013, she won a silver medal at the 2013 European Youth Olympic Festival, where she was named the Most Valuable Player and Best Spiker. In the final against Slovenia, she scored 29 points all by herself, but unfortunately, it wasn't quite enough to win the gold medal for her team.

The next year brought an incredible achievement as Bošković played a pivotal role in Serbia's U19 national team securing victory in the 2014 Women's Junior European Volleyball Championship by defeating Slovenia in an exciting five-setter match. Bošković earned her the well-deserved title of Most Valuable Player, as she topped the scorers with 38 points in the final match. This victory was a historic moment for Serbian volleyball, as it marked their first gold medal in a junior-level competition.

Senior team

2013–2014: Debut with Serbia women's national team

At just 16 years old, Bošković received a special call-up to join the senior national team in December 2013 for a two-week training session.

A year later, Bošković stepped onto the world stage, making her debut with the Serbia national team at the prestigious 2014 FIVB Volleyball Women's World Championship. Despite being the youngest player on the team, Bošković left an instant impression by emerging as the top scorer for Serbia in many matches. She showcased her talent by scoring a total of 129 points in eight games, contributing significantly to the team's seventh-place finish.

The iconic American player turned coach, Karch Kiraly, was thoroughly impressed by Bošković's performance, expressing that she is "set for big things." Kiraly's words of praise acknowledged Bošković's exceptional talent and hinted at a promising future for her in the world of volleyball.

“I’m still trying to understand how she’s still only 17 years-old. She’s far beyond her years and if she’s only 17 she’s got an incredibly bright future. She’s going to be a big and important player for Serbia for many years to come. She understands the game well, she can take these high swings and she’s a handful.”

Bošković, who joined the team shortly before the start of the tournament, was pleasantly surprised to receive the national team call-up and felt grateful for the opportunity.

“I didn't imagine that I would play at the World Championship. I'm very happy just for the fact that I'm here. It's for sure a wonderful experience for me and for my future.”

Despite being one of the least experienced players, Bošković participated in the tournament after her triumph at the 2014 Women's Junior European Volleyball Championship. Serbia's head coach, Zoran Terzic, revealed that Bošković had only trained with the senior national team for a mere three or four days before the World Championship. He explained that his plan was to include her in this tournament as preparation for the upcoming 2015 European Championship and the 2016 Olympic Games.

2015–2016: First medal with national team, European Championship bronze medalist and Olympic Rio silver medalist

Bošković achieved her first medal with the senior national team by clinching the silver at the 2015 FIVB Volleyball Women's World Cup. This competition served as a qualification event for the Olympic Games, and Serbia's second-place finish secured their spot at the 2016 Summer Olympics. Bošković, emerging as Serbia's leading scorer, tallied a total of 159 points. Notably, she ranked among the top three highest scorers in the tournament and was the youngest player to be featured in the top 10 scorers' list.

Bošković made her first appearance in the Women's European Volleyball Championship and secured her first medal in a major tournament. The team's victory over Turkey in straight sets earned them the bronze medal at the 2015 Women's European Volleyball Championship.

In the following year, Bošković and the team accomplished a remarkable feat by winning a silver medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics. This achievement marked Serbia's first-ever medal in Olympic Games volleyball history. Bošković, alongside Brankica Mihajlović, led the team to the final, delivering outstanding performances in a thrilling five-set match against the world's number one and undefeated team in the tournament, the United States. At the age of 19, Bošković emerged as a sensational talent and a key offensive force for Serbia throughout the tournament. Her outstanding performance placed her among the top three scorers in the competition. She not only led Serbia in scoring but also secured the second spot in serving, following her teammate Milena Rašić. In a historic achievement, Bošković recorded 10 aces and became the first player in Olympic Games history to achieve serve speeds exceeding 100 km/h.

2017: Bronze in World Grand Prix and European Champion

After a successful 2016 with Serbia, Bošković continued to shine at the 2017 FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix. Scored a total of 31 points, she led the team to a bronze medal victory, defeating the host team, China in four sets. Bošković received the recognition of being named the Best Opposite Player of the tournament.

In the 2017 Women's European Volleyball Championship, Bošković led her team to a flawless victory over the Netherlands, resulting in Serbia clinching their second European title, undefeated. This marked her first major title with the senior national team, and her outstanding performance crowned her the title of the tournament's Most Valuable Player. Bošković accumulated a total of 130 points, averaging an impressive 7.22 points per set, surpassing the scoring record of every other player in the competition.

Immediately after winning her first major title, Bošković shared her immense joy and commended her team for their exceptional performance throughout the championship.

“We are European champions, this feeling is incredible!  We played really well, like one, as a team from the beginning.  We lost only two sets from the start of the European Championship.  We worked five months for this and you can see the result.”

Anne Buijs, a player representing the Netherlands, openly acknowledged that her team had been thoroughly prepared to face Serbia. However, they encountered difficulties in containing the formidable duo of Bošković and Mihajlović. Buijs also conceded that Serbia outperformed their team, making them the superior side on that day.

2018–2019: World Champion, back to back European Champion and Olympic Games Qualification

During the first edition of the VNL, the 2018 FIVB Volleyball Women's Nations League, Serbia ranked 5th in the tournament, and Bošković stood out as the best attacker, registering an impressive total of 206 successful killing spikes.

Bošković helped Serbia achieve a historic milestone by getting their first-ever title at the 2018 FIVB Volleyball Women's World Championship, defeating Italy in a thrilling five-sets game. She was honored as the Most Valuable Player of the tournament, and once again, she emerged as the top scorer for Serbia, amassing a total of 193 points. She also established herself as the best spiker in the championship, boasting an impressive success rate of 53.7% in her spike attempts. One of the highlights of the final match was Bošković's incredible attack, where she managed to find a sharp angle over a high triple block with just a bump set from the libero. Achieved a spike speed of 102.7 km/h during this impressive play; this feat was even applauded by the Italian head coach, Davide Mazzanti.

Bošković and Serbia continued their winning streak in majors by securing back-to-back European titles at the 2019 Women's European Volleyball Championship. They triumphed over the host team, Turkey, in a nail-biting five-set match, leaving the 10,000-strong home crowd in Ankara in stunned silence. Bošković's exceptional performance did not go unnoticed, as she received dual honors by being named the Most Valuable Player and Best Opposite of the tournament. This remarkable achievement made her just the second player, following Russia's Tatiana Kosheleva, to earn the MVP award two times in a row.

At the 2019 FIVB Women's Volleyball Intercontinental Olympic Qualification Tournaments, Bošković contributed a total of 75 points in the three matches played, securing her team's qualification for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Bošković not only ranked among the top three highest scorers in the tournament but also excelled as the best spiker, achieving an impressive success rate of 56.9% in her spike attempts.

2021: Olympic Tokyo bronze and European Championship silver medal

Tijana Bošković is widely acknowledged as one of the most dominant volleyball players in the world. Her value in the sport was highlighted in 2020 when she got named as part of the International Volleyball Federation's Roster100, an honor designated for the 100 greatest volleyball players between 2010 and 2020.

At the 2020 Summer Olympics, Bošković earned the title of Best Opposite in the Tokyo 2020 Dream Team as she carried her team to a bronze medal victory. She achieved a remarkable milestone by becoming the first player to score 30 points or more in three different matches within a single Olympic Games tournament. She accomplished this feat twice in three sets, registering 34 points against Japan and 33 points against Korea, and added 32 points in a four-set defeat against Brazil. Furthermore, Bošković and Jordan Thompson are the only players in Olympic Games history to score 30 or more points in just three sets. She also becomes the third player, following legends Yekaterina Gamova and Kim Yeon-Koung, to have three entries in the list of those who have scored 30 points or more in a single Olympic Games match. Bošković emerged as the tournament's top scorer, scoring a total of 192 points across eight matches, averaging a staggering 24 points per match. She showcased exceptional efficiency as an attacker, converting 165 of her 313 swings for an outstanding 52.7% killing rate. Additionally, she was the second-best server with 12 aces. During the matches against Japan and Korea, Bošković single-handedly scored 34 and 33 points, while her teammates contributed a total of 30 and 25 points in total.

Just a month after the 2020 Summer Olympics, Bošković earned the Fans' All Star Team Best Opposite with 263,932 votes, as her team won the silver medal at the 2021 Women's European Volleyball Championship. With this achievement, Serbia's women's volleyball national team became the only European team, encompassing both men and women, to claim a medal in both the 2020 Olympic Games and the 2021 European Championship. Bošković was the top scorer of the tournament, amassing an impressive total of 215 points. She consistently led Serbia in scoring throughout all nine games, registering as the best spiker of the tournament with 196 successful attacks and a 52.3% killing spike rate. A defining moment came during the semi-final match against Turkey when Bošković broke the women's world record for spike speed, reaching an astounding velocity of 110.3 km/h.

Tijana Bošković's exceptional performance in 2021 is widely regarded as her own career peak, as she heavily dominates the statistics in both tournaments. At the end of the year, she was chosen for the 4th place in the list of The Best Player (women) of 2021 by volleyballworld.

2022: Back-to-back World Champion

At the 2022 FIVB Volleyball Women's World Championship, Bošković took on the role of team captain for the first time in her senior national team career, stepping in for Maja Ognjenović. Under her leadership, Serbia successfully defended their second World title. Bošković's remarkable contributions crowned her the titles of Most Valuable Player and Best Opposite of the tournament. She became the second player in history to achieve back-to-back World Championship MVP awards, following in the footsteps of Cuba's Regla Torres, making her the sole player in the history of European volleyball to attain this feat. Bošković was also the most efficient attacker of the tournament, with 55.6% of the kills. In Serbia's opening match against Canada, she set a record by delivering the fastest serve in this edition, reaching a speed of 106.8 km/h.

2023: Volleyball Nations League, European Championship silver medal and Olympic Games Qualification

Bošković has often opted for a break following demanding national team and club seasons, considering the FIVB Volleyball Nations League not a major tournament in volleyball. This year marked her return to the VNL after skipping the last two editions, with her previous appearance in week 1 of the 2019 FIVB Volleyball Women's Nations League held in Belgrade, Serbia. Bošković, alongside team captain Maja Ognjenović, rejoined the Serbian team during week 3 of the 2023 FIVB Volleyball Nations League in Suwon. Over the course of four matches, she scored a total of 109 points with an impressive 58.8% success rate in her spike attempts. Bošković became the first player, both male and female, in this edition to score 39 points or more in a single match. While she led her team to victory in three out of four matches, Serbia's team fell short of making it to the finals as they finished outside the top 8 in the preliminary round.

At the 2023 Women's European Volleyball Championship, Bošković and the team advanced to the final for the fourth consecutive edition. Serbia had to settle for the silver medal after a hard-fought five-set match, narrowly missing the victory. Bošković showcased an outstanding performance, scoring 37 points in the gold medal match, yet it was not enough for the win. Despite the final outcome, she emerged as the best scorer of the tournament, tallying an impressive 229 points and surpassing her records from the previous editions she has played. Additionally, Bošković was also the best spiker in the tournament.

Without delay, Bošković and Serbia swiftly traveled to China to participate in the Olympic games qualification, just a week after concluding the European Championship. Bošković and Serbia booked their place in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris at the 2023 FIVB Volleyball Women's Olympic Qualification Tournaments, emerging victorious in 6 out of 7 matches. This achievement marks Bošković's third appearance in the Olympic Games.

Career – Club

2010–2015: ŽOK Hercegovac and ŽOK Partizan Vizura

Bošković first club was ŽOK Hercegovac, a club from Bosnia and Herzegovina, where she played in the 2010–11 season. After playing for only one season with the club, she transferred to ŽOK Partizan Vizura, a club from Serbia, at the beginning of the 2011–12 season. She left her family when she was only 14 years old and moved to Belgrade with her older sister.

Bošković started playing in the Serbian League as an Outside hitter for the team. She was awarded as the Best Outside Hitter at the 2012–13 Serbian Cup. Subsequently, her role on the court evolved to that of an Opposite Spiker starting from the 2013–14 season, a transition that marked a significant chapter in her career. She was named the Most Valuable Player in the 2013–14 Serbian Super League.

Overall, she has won two Serbian Super League titles (2013–14 and 2014–15), two Serbian Super Cups (2013 and 2014), and one Serbian Cup (2014–15) with the club.

2015–present: Eczacıbaşı

Bošković ended her collaboration with ŽOK Partizan Vizura in 2015, sparking widespread interest from prominent volleyball teams across Europe, particularly from Italy, Poland, and Turkey. As one of the most sought-after players during the transfer window, she received enticing offers from big clubs worldwide, including European powerhouses VakifBank, Galatasaray, and Fenerbahçe. However, at the end, Bošković ultimately made a decisive choice to join the ranks of Eczacıbaşı, one of the volleyball giants, signing a substantial four-year contract with the club.

In 2016, UTSA volleyball head coach Laura Neugebauer-Groff tried to recruit Bošković to play in America for a year, along with her sister Dajana. However, with her prior commitment to Eczacıbaşı through a four-year deal, Bošković graciously declined the tempting offer, opting to remain in Turkey and continue her journey with the club.

2015–2016, Debut Season with Eczacıbaşı

In her debut season with Eczacıbaşı, Bošković made a significant impact, securing a commendable third-place finish in the 2015–16 Turkish Volleball League. Despite the fact that she is Neslihan Demir's backup, Bošković's performance was nothing short of impressive. Notably, she clinched the seventh spot for the best opposite, amassed a total of 316 points across 23 matches. Remarkably, she also earned the distinction of being the league's youngest player to break into the top ten for best opposites during the season.

The team finished in 7th place in the 2015–16 CEV Women's Champions League.

2016–2017 Season

Bošković achieved a milestone in her club career by winning her first trophy with Eczacıbaşı at the 2016 Club World Championship in the Philippines. Her stellar performance earned her the prestigious titles of the tournament's Most Valuable Player and Best Opposite. Standing out among the top scorers, she claimed the third position with an impressive total of 85 points, showcasing her prowess through 64 kills and 14 blocks across five exceptional matches. Bošković, alongside Zhu Ting, and Lucia Bosetti, jointly led the tournament in aces with an impactful contribution of 7 aces each.

Despite being the Best Opposite player in the 2016–17 Turkish Volleyball League, Eczacıbaşı closed the season in fourth place after losing to VakifBank, resulting in the team not being able to play in the CEV Champion League, the highest level European volleyball club tournament for next season, due to the rules that only the top 3 clubs from Turkey can take part in the tournament.

In the 2016–17 CEV Champions League, Bošković and her team advanced to the Final Four held in Italy. The team defeated Dynamo Moscow in four sets to win the bronze medal. Bošković showcased her exceptional skills, topping the charts in scoring with an impressive 221 points, while her powerful serves earned her the distinction of leading in aces with a remarkable tally of 26.

2017–2018 Season

Despite the team's inability to win a medal, Bošković's individual performance shone at the 2017 FIVB Volleyball Women's Club World Championship. She not only earned the title of the Best Opposite but also stood out as the tournament's premier spiker and server. Bošković leading the charts with an impressive 78 spikes and delivering 10 aces.

Eczacıbaşı participated in the CEV Cup, the second-tier European club volleyball competition for this season. Triumphantly, they clinched the cup by dominating Minchanka Minsk in straight sets in the second leg of the final on their home court in Istanbul. Bošković's outstanding contributions were once again recognized as she was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament, claiming the titles of the best scorer and best spiker.

In the 2017–18 Turkish Cup, Bošković and her team secured the silver medal after a straight sets loss to VakifBank.

Finished in the 2nd place after a loss to VakifBank, Bošković once again earned the title of the Best Opposite in the 2017–18 Turkish Volleyball League. She stood out as one of the top three scorers in the league, scoring a total of 558 points.

2018–2019 Season

At the 2018 FIVB Volleyball Women's Club World Championship, Bošković's amazing performance garnered her the Best Opposite award for an extraordinary third consecutive time as the team claimed the bronze medal. She left an indelible mark as the tournament's best attacker, boasting an impressive 52.3% success rate in her killing spikes.

Throughout the season, Bošković enjoyed a remarkable run with the Tigers, clinching two trophies – the Turkish Super Cup and the Turkish Cup. Bošković was named the Most Valuable Player as she topped the scores in the Turkish Cup.

Unfortunately, Eczacıbaşı faced another loss in the final of the 2018–19 Turkish Volleyball League to VakifBank. Despite the team's setback, Bošković received another recognition as the Best Opposite of the tournament – for the third consecutive year. Her amazing performance included scoring a total of 515 points, placing her position as one of the top two scorers in the competition. Despite the team's overall result, her individual achievements continued to highlight her exceptional skills and contribution to the game.

Bošković and Eczacıbaşı finished in 5th place in the 2018–19 CEV Women's Champions League.

As of May 22, 2018, Bošković had a contract for one more season with Eczacıbaşı. However, she made the decision to extend her commitment until the conclusion of the 2020–2021 season. Notably, despite receiving tempting offers from clubs in China, Japan, Brazil, and other Turkish clubs, she opted to stay loyal to her current team for an additional three seasons.

2019–2020 Season

In the subsequent year, Bošković added another trophy to her collection by winning her second Turkish Super Cup with the team. She was awarded the title of Most Valuable Player of the tournament.

Eczacıbaşı won the silver medal at the 2019 FIVB Volleyball Women's Club World Championship. Bošković was the best server in the tournament, recording an impressive 0.74 average per set with a total of 14 aces.

The team was unable to finish another three tournaments for 2019–20 season due to Covid-19 outbreak.

2020–2021 Season

Following the departure of team captain Kim Yeon-Koung in the 2020–21 season, the leadership of the team transitioned to two temporary captains, Bošković and Simge Aköz.

In this season, she secured her third Turkish Super Cup and was honored as the Most Valuable Player for the second consecutive time.

Despite her team finishing in the 4th position in the 2020–21 Turkish Volleyball League, Bošković showcased incredible performance, claimed the top spot on the best scorer chart by scoring a total of 692 points with an impressive average of 6.65 points per set, particularly with a remarkable 52% success rate in spike attempts.

Overall, the team ranked 2nd in the Turkish Cup and 5th in the CEV Champions league for the season.

In her sixth season with the Tigers, Eczacıbaşı made a significant announcement, revealing that Bošković had renewed her contract with the team for an additional two years, extending until the 2022–2023 season. She was appointed as the captain of the team.

2021–2022 Season

Eczacıbaşı kicked off the season by clinching the silver medal in the Turkish Super Cup.

Bošković guided Eczacıbaşı to clinch yet another CEV Cup trophy at the 2021–22 Women's CEV Cup, where she not only excelled as the best scorer of the tournament but also displayed her prowess as the best spiker. Accumulating a total of 170 points with an impressive 56.5% success rate, Bošković showcased her dominance on the court. Additionally, she was one of the top two best servers and top three best blockers in the tournament, further highlighting her multifaceted contributions to the team's success.

Finishing third in the regular league, the 2021–22 Turkish Volleyball League, Bošković showcased her scoring prowess by accumulating a total of 483 points. Notably, she secured the position as the second-highest scorer in the league, coupled with an impressive success rate of 52%.

2022–2023 Season

The team won the bronze medal at the 2022 FIVB Volleyball Women's Club World Championship, with Bošković not only earning the title of best server of the tournament but also standing out as the best scorer, best attacker, and best blocker for her team.

Boskovic and her team experienced another disappointment in the Turkish League final, suffering a loss to Fenerbahçe. Apart from that, Bošković stood out as the top scorer per set throughout the tournament, boasting an impressive 6.09 average and a 54% success rate in attacks.

Boskovic achieved a historic milestone in her career, reaching the CEV Champions League final for the first time. However, the team faced a tough defeat against their Turkish rival, VakifBank, in four sets. Throughout the tournament, Boskovic showcased her excellence, emerging as the top scorer for her team.

Concluding her eighth season with Eczacıbaşı, Bošković made the decision to continue her journey with the club for at least another year until 2023–24, with the added provision of a renewal option for the subsequent season, 2024–25. In a significant development, she extended her contract with an annual salary exceeding €1.45 million (US$1.59 million) per season, solidifying her position as one of the highest-paid volleyball players globally.

2023–2024 Season

Overall, She has won seven trophies with Eczacıbaşı in total. She has won three Turkish SuperCup (2018, 2019 and 2020), two CEV Cup (2017–18 and 2021–22), one Turkish Cup (2018–19) and FIVB Club World Championship (2016).

Early and personal life

Tijana Bošković was born to Serb parents on 8 March 1997 in Trebinje, Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Bošković can speak three languages: Serbian, Turkish and English. She is the second child of Ljupko Bošković and Vesna Bošković. Her father was a football player. She has two siblings – a brother Vuk and a sister Dajana. Her younger brother, Vuk Bošković is a basketball player and her older sister Dajana Bošković plays for the Bosnia and Herzegovina women's national volleyball team. The two sisters played their first international match against each other in 2021 Women's European Volleyball Championship.

Tijana Bošković and Dajana Bošković
Bošković sisters during their first match against each other with the national team at 2021 Women's European Volleyball Championship

Based on Bošković's social media updates, she is currently dating Djorde Orestijevic, a software engineer residing in Serbia. They both keep their personal life private, so the exact start and details of their relationship are not widely known.

Bošković hails from Bosnia and Herzegovina but holds Serbian citizenship. Born in Trebinje, a city located in Republika Srpska, she has been playing for Serbia since the age of 15. Unlike naturalized players who often face a two-year waiting period after acquiring citizenship, Bošković, having Serbian citizenship already, did not undergo such a waiting period, following the rules of the International Volleyball Federation.

Bošković initially ventured into sports through karate but found it less suitable due to her tall stature. Her journey into volleyball began when she attended one of her older sister's volleyball matches. Inspired by the game, she made the decision to become a volleyball player herself. Bošković transitioned to volleyball at the age of 7, during her primary school years. She quickly excelled, winning three championships with her school team.

Before joining the Serbia junior team, Bošković attracted the attention of Galatasaray while playing in a match in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The club invited her and her sister, Dajana, to Istanbul, Turkey, for trial training. Accepting the offer, Bošković, along with her sister, traveled to Istanbul with their father. After showcasing her talent in training, Bošković, who was just 12 at the time, received praise from the coaches. Galatasaray's managers then approached her family with a transfer offer, including the option to acquire Turkish citizenship and play for the Turkish national team. However, her father firmly declined the offer, emphasizing that Bošković would only represent the Serbia national team. Consequently, they returned to Serbia, where she continued her promising volleyball journey.

Recognition and rewards

Having achieved numerous achievements and individual awards at such a young age, Tijana Bošković, the world-class volleyball player, has received widespread acknowledgment and rewards. This recognition extends beyond governmental appreciation to include non-governmental organizations, underscoring her exceptional contributions to the sport of volleyball.

Serbian Volleyball Champions Honored with Generous Donations and Advocates for Sports Recognition

President Milorad Dodik of Republika Srpska announced a generous donation of KM 20,000 (US$11,000) each to the acclaimed volleyball players Tijana Bošković, Brankica Mihajlović, and Jelena Blagojević. This gesture, accompanied by appropriate gifts, comes in celebration of their remarkable achievement in securing the gold medal for the Serbian national team at the 2017 European Volleyball Championship.

Following discussions with Bošković and Mihajlović, both gold medalists at the European Championship, Dodik conveyed his pride in having female volleyball players from Republika Srpska contribute to the success of the Serbian national team, emphasizing the potential this showcases for the region. Bošković extended her thanks to President Dodik and the welcoming reception they received, expressing hope for continued success and appreciation for the ongoing support.

Diplomatic Passport of Bosnia and Herzegovina to The Best Volleyball Player in Europe

Hailing from Bileca, Bošković, the standout volleyball player born in this small town, received an extraordinary honor in 2018. The Minister of Foreign Affairs for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Igor Crnadak, presented her with a diplomatic passport at the General Consulate in Istanbul. This recognition wasn't just for her sports achievements but was part of a broader humanitarian-sports campaign.

Sports Hall in Bileća Named After World's Best Volleyball Player

In July 2019, the sports hall in Bileća was officially named after Tijana Bošković – who took her first sporting steps in this hall, in a special ceremony led by the President of the National Assembly, Nedeljko Čubrilović and Bošković herself. During a press conference, Čubrilović expressed that Bošković's achievements serve as a great inspiration for young people in the Republic of Srpska and worldwide. He emphasized that the Republic of Srpska is committed to supporting young athletes and acknowledged that Bošković deserves even more recognition.

Bošković, deeply honored by the decision, thanked the municipality of Bileća and everyone involved in this initiative. She pledged to continue representing her city and herself with excellence, striving for more successes and medals in the future. President of the Serbian Volleyball Federation, Zoran Gajić, highlighted that the facility aptly bears Bošković's name, recognizing her unwavering character from her early days in the Bileća sports hall to her current status as the best volleyball player in the world. MP Radovan Vuković proposed the idea of organizing a volleyball school or camp in Bileća, also carrying the name of Tijana Bošković, as a testament to her lasting impact on the community.

Diplomatic Honors for Serbian Volleyball Stars

In a ceremonial gesture, Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dačić personally presented diplomatic passports of Serbia to the members of the Serbian national volleyball teams. Among the honored athletes were Maja Ognjenović, Tijana Bošković, Ana Bjelica, Jovana Stevanović, and Teodora Pušić. During discussions with the athletes, Minister Dačić expressed that this act serves as a token of gratitude from the state to individuals who have consistently brought medals to Serbia. Dačić further underlined that while diplomatic passports are not prerequisites for these accomplished athletes to serve as ambassadors for their country, their achievements and conduct have already established them as exemplary representatives.

Awards

National teams

Junior teams

  • 2013 European Youth Olympic Festival – Med 2.png Silver Medal
  • 2014 Junior European Championship – Med 1.png Gold Medal

Senior teams

  • 2015 World Cup – Med 2.png Silver Medal
  • 2015 European Championship – Med 3.png Bronze Medal
  • 2016 Olympic Games – Med 2.png Silver Medal
  • 2017 World Grand Prix – Med 3.png Bronze Medal
  • 2017 European Championship – Med 1.png Gold Medal
  • 2018 World Championship – Med 1.png Gold Medal
  • 2019 European Championship – Med 1.png Gold Medal
  • 2020 Olympic Games – Med 3.png Bronze Medal
  • 2021 European Championship – Med 2.png Silver Medal
  • 2022 World Championship – Med 1.png Gold Medal
  • 2023 European Championship – Med 2.png Silver Medal

Club

Serbian SuperCup

  • 2013 Serbian Super Cup – Simple cup icon.svg Champion, with OK Partizan Vizura
  • 2014 Serbian Super Cup – Simple cup icon.svg Champion, with OK Partizan Vizura

Serbian Cup

  • 2012/13 Serbian Cup – Gorm silver cup.jpg Runner-Up, with OK Partizan Vizura
  • 2013/14 Serbian Cup – Gorm silver cup.jpg Runner-Up, with OK Partizan Vizura
  • 2014/15 Serbian Cup – Simple cup icon.svg Champion, with OK Partizan Vizura

Serbian SuperLeague

  • 2011/12 Wiener SuperLiga – Med 3.png Third place, with OK Partizan Vizura
  • 2012/13 Wiener SuperLiga – Med 3.png Third place, with OK Partizan Vizura
  • 2013/14 Wiener SuperLiga – Simple cup icon.svg Champion, with OK Partizan Vizura
  • 2014/15 Wiener SuperLiga – Simple cup icon.svg Champion, with OK Partizan Vizura

Turkish Super Cup

  • 2018 Spor Toto Champion's Cup – Simple cup icon.svg Champion, with Eczacıbaşı VitrA
  • 2019 Spor Toto Champion's Cup – Simple cup icon.svg Champion, with Eczacıbaşı VitrA
  • 2020 AXA Sigorta Champion's Cup – Simple cup icon.svg Champion, with Eczacıbaşı VitrA
  • 2021 AXA Sigorta Champion's Cup – Gorm silver cup.jpg Runner-Up, with Eczacıbaşı Dynavit

Turkish Cup

  • 2017/18 Turkish Volleyball Cup – Gorm silver cup.jpg Runner-Up, with Eczacıbaşı VitrA
  • 2018/19 AXA Sigorta Volleyball Cup – Simple cup icon.svg Champion, with Eczacıbaşı VitrA
  • 2020/21 AXA Sigorta Volleyball Cup – Gorm silver cup.jpg Runner-Up, with Eczacıbaşı VitrA

Turkish League

  • 2015/16 Turkish Volleball League – Med 3.png Third place, with Eczacıbaşı VitrA
  • 2017/18 Vestel Venus Sultanlar Ligi – Gorm silver cup.jpg Runner-Up, with Eczacıbaşı VitrA
  • 2018/19 Vestel Venus Sultanlar Ligi – Gorm silver cup.jpg Runner-Up, with Eczacıbaşı VitrA
  • 2021/22 Misli.com Sultanlar Ligi – Med 3.png Third place, with Eczacıbaşı Dynavit
  • 2022/2023 Misli.com Sultanlar Ligi – Gorm silver cup.jpg Runner-Up, with Eczacıbaşı Dynavit

CEV Cup

  • 2017/18 CEV Cup – Simple cup icon.svg Champion, with Eczacıbaşı VitrA
  • 2021/22 CEV Cup – Simple cup icon.svg Champion, with Eczacıbaşı Dynavit

CEV Champions League

  • 2016/17 CEV Champions League – Med 3.png Bronze Medal, with Eczacıbaşı VitrA
  • 2022/23 CEV Champions League – Gorm silver cup.jpg Runner-Up, with Eczacıbaşı Dynavit

FIVB Volleyball Club World Championship

  • 2016 Club World Championship – Simple cup icon.svg Champion, with Eczacıbaşı VitrA
  • 2018 Club World Championship – Med 3.png Bronze Medal, with Eczacıbaşı VitrA
  • 2019 Club World Championship – Gorm silver cup.jpg Runner-Up, with Eczacıbaşı VitrA
  • 2022 Club World Championship – Med 3.png Bronze Medal, with Eczacıbaşı Dynavit

Individual Awards (awarded)

National Team

  • 2013 European Youth Olympic Festival "Most valuable player"
  • 2014 Junior European Championship "Most valuable player"
  • 2017 FIVB World Grand Prix "Best opposite"
  • 2017 European Championship "Most valuable player"
  • 2018 World Championship "Most valuable player"
  • 2019 European Championship "Most valuable player"
  • 2019 European Championship "Best opposite"
  • 2020 Summer Olympics "Best opposite"
  • 2022 World Championship "Most valuable player"
  • 2022 World Championship "Best opposite"

Club

  • 2016 FIVB Club world Championship "Most valuable player"
  • 2016 FIVB Club world Championship "Best opposite"
  • 2016/17 Turkish League Regular Season "Best opposite"
  • 2017 FIVB Club world Championship "Best opposite"
  • 2017/18 Turkish League Regular Season "Best opposite"
  • 2017/18 Women's CEV Cup "Most valuable player"
  • 2018 FIVB Club world Championship "Best opposite"
  • 2018/19 Turkish Cup "Most valuable player"
  • 2018/19 Turkish League "Best spiker"
  • 2019 Turkish Super Cup "Most valuable player"
  • 2019/20 Turkish League Regular Season "Best opposite"
  • 2020 Turkish Super Cup "Most valuable player"

Additional individual awards (not awarded)

National Team

  • 2013 European Youth Olympic Festival – Best spiker
  • 2018 Nations League – Best spiker
  • 2018 World Championship – Best attacker
  • 2019 Intercontinental Olympic Qualification – Pool A best attacker
  • 2019 Intercontinental Olympic Qualification – Pool A best server
  • 2020 Summer Olympics – Best scorer
  • 2020 Summer Olympics – Best attacker
  • 2021 European Championship Fans' All Star Team – Best opposite
  • 2021 European Championship – Best scorer
  • 2021 European Championship – Best spiker
  • 2022 World Championship – Best spiker
  • 2023 European Championship – Best scorer
  • 2023 European Championship – Best spiker

Club

  • 2012/13 Serbian Cup – Best outside hitter
  • 2016/17 CEV Champions League – Best server
  • 2016/17 CEV Champions League – Best scorer
  • 2017 FIVB Club World Championship – Best spiker
  • 2017 FIVB Club World Championship – Best server
  • 2017/18 CEV Cup – Best scorer
  • 2017/18 CEV Cup – Best spiker
  • 2018 Turkish Super Cup – Best scorer
  • 2018 Turkish Super Cup – Best attacker
  • 2018 FIVB Club World Championship – Best spiker
  • 2018/19 Turkish Cup – Best scorer
  • 2019 Turkish Super Cup – Best opposite
  • 2019 Turkish Super Cup – Best scorer
  • 2019 FIVB Club World Championship – Best server
  • 2019/20 Turkish League Regular Season – Best scorer
  • 2020 Turkish Super Cup – Best attacker
  • 2020/21 Turkish Cup – Best scorer
  • 2020/21 Turkish League Regular Season – Best scorer
  • 2021/22 Women's CEV Cup – Best scorer
  • 2021/22 Women's CEV Cup – Best spiker
  • 2022 FIVB Club World Championship - Best server

Individual achievements

  • 2013 OSS (Serbian: Odbojkaški savez Srbije - Volleyball Federation of Serbia) Best Young Volleyball Player of the Year
  • 2014 OSS Best Young Volleyball Player of the Year
  • 2016 OSS Best Female Volleyball Player of the Year
  • 2017 OSS Best Female Volleyball Player of the Year
  • 2018 OSS Best Female Volleyball Player of the Year
  • 2019 OSS Best Female Volleyball Player of the Year
  • 2022 OSS Best Female Volleyball Player of the Year
  • 2017 Young Athlete of The Year by the Serbian Olympic Committee
  • 2018 Sport Woman of The Year by the Serbian Olympic Committee
  • 2019 Sport Woman of The Year by the Serbian Olympic Committee
  • 2022 Team Sport Athlete of The Year by the Serbian Olympic Committee
  • 2018 The best Athlete of the Republic of Srpska of the year
  • 2019 The best Athlete of the Republic of Srpska of the year
  • 2022 The Best Athlete of the Republic of Srpska of the Year
  • 2017 CEV Female Volleyball Player of the Year
  • 2018 CEV Female Volleyball Player of the Year
  • 2019 CEV Female Volleyball Player of the Year

Career statistics

Junior team

Tournament Year Played Points Serve Reception Attack Block
M S Tot per set Ace per set Tot Err Neg Exc Exc% Eff Tot Err Blk Exc Exc% Eff Pts per set
Junior World Championship – European Qualification 2012 3 10 48 0.48 6 0.6 78 5 8 37 47.4% 0.31 5 0.5
U18 World Championship 2013 7 28 137 4.89 9 0.32 289 25 108 37.4% 0.29 16 0.57
U20 World Championship 2013 8 27 135 5 7 0.26 279 35 112 40.1% 0.28 16 0.59
U19 European Championship 2014 9 29 175 6.03 12 0.41 282 24 9 146 51.8% 0.40 17 0.59

National team

Major tournaments

Tournament Year Played Points Serve Reception Attack Block
M S Tot per set Ace per set Tot Err Neg Exc Exc% Eff Tot Err Blk Exc Exc% Eff Pts per set
European Championship 2015 5 17 89 5.24 7 0.41 166 20 16 74 44.6% 0.23 8 0.47
2017 6 18 130 7.22 11 0.61 3 0 2 1 33.3% 0.33 198 17 13 109 55.1% 0.4 10 0.56
2019 9 27 142 5.26 14 0.52 1 0 0 1 100% 1 269 22 20 118 43.9% 0.28 10 0.37
2021 9 31 215 6.94 7 0.23 375 35 20 196 52.3% 0.38 14 0.45
2023 9 32 229 7.16 15 0.47 367 24 18 199 54.2% 0.43 15 0.47
Total 38 125 805 6.44 54 0.43 1375 118 87 696 50.6% 0.36 57 0.46
World Championship 2014 8 27 146 5.41 4 0.15 274 37 119 43.4% 0.3 23 0.85
2018 11 34 193 5.68 6 0.18 328 50 176 53.7% 0.38 11 0.32
2022 11 36 240 6.67 8 0.22 394 49 219 55.6% 0.43 13 0.36
Total 30 97 579 5.97 18 0.19 996 136 514 51.6% 0.38 47 0.48
Olympic Games 2016 8 26 137 5.27 10 0.38 238 52 116 48.7% 0.27 11 0.42
2021 8 24 192 8 12 0.5 313 51 165 52.7% 0.36 15 0.63
Total 16 50 329 6.58 22 0.44 551 103 281 51.0% 0.32 26 0.52

Other tournaments

Tournament Year Played Points Serve Reception Attack Block
M S Tot per set Ace per set Tot Err Neg Exc Exc% Eff Tot Err Blk Exc Exc% Eff Pts per set
World Grand Prix 2015 4 16 41 2.56 2 0.13 73 11 30 41.1% 0.26 9 0.56
2016 3 14 60 4.29 2 0.14 127 20 50 39.4% 0.24 4 0.29
2017 8 29 144 4.97 15 0.52 239 40 123 51.5% 0.35 10 0.34
Total 15 58 245 4.22 19 0.33 439 71 203 46.2% 0.30 23 0.40
Volleyball Nations League 2018 13 47 238 5.06 8 0.17 418 80 206 37.7% 0.30 24 0.51
2019 2 6 39 6.50 3 0.5 73 10 35 47.9% 0.34 1 0.17
2023 4 16 109 6.81 4 0.25 165 13 7 97 58.8% 0.47 8 0.5
Total 19 69 386 5.59 15 0.22 656 110 338 51.5% 0.35 33 0.48
World Championship – European Qualification 2017 4 11 82 7.45 6 0.55 3 0 1 0 0 0 117 6 3 69 59.0% 0.51 7 0.64
Intercontinental Olympic Qualification 2019 3 10 75 7.5 7 0.7 109 13 62 56.9% 0.45 6 0.6
2023 5 17 129 7.59 13 0.76 204 25 105 51.5% 0.39 11 0.65
Total 8 27 204 7.56 20 0.74 313 38 167 53.4% 0.41 17 0.63
World Cup 2015 10 35 159 4.54 8 0.23 269 47 131 48.7% 0.31 20 0.63

Season by club

League (regular season and finals)

Team League Season Played Points Serve Reception Attack Block
M S Tot per set Ace per set Tot Err Neg Exc Exc% Eff Tot Err Blk Exc Exc% Eff Pts per set
Partizan Serbian Super League 2011–12 6 9 3 0.33 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 7 1 0 3 42.9% 0.29 0 0
2012–13 25 87 335 3.85 22 0.25 54 13 5 15 27.8% 0.04 638 65 26 278 43.6% 0.29 37 0.43
2013–14 22 72 372 5.17 28 0.39 676 59 32 304 45.0% 0.32 40 0.56
2014–15 6 17 88 5.18 4 0.24 162 16 8 74 45.7% 0.31 10 0.59
Total 59 185 798 4.31 54 0.29 1,483 141 66 659 44.4% 0.3 87 0.47
Eczacıbaşı Turkish League 2015–16 23 79 316 4 14 0.18 633 56 32 274 43.3% 0.29 28 0.35
2016–17 25 91 374 4.11 34 0.37 652 57 43 300 46.0% 0.31 40 0.44
2017–18 30 105 558 5.31 36 0.34 938 92 70 481 51.3% 0.34 41 0.39
2018–19 28 93 534 5.74 49 0.53 924 91 58 442 47.8% 0.32 43 0.46
2019–20 18 66 402 6.09 40 0.61 600 48 25 323 53.8% 0.42 39 0.59
2020–21 27 104 692 6.65 41 0.39 1164 99 64 602 51.7% 0.38 49 0.47
2021–22 24 81 483 5.96 18 0.22 828 51 47 428 51.7% 0.4 37 0.46
2022–23 21 70 426 6.09 17 0.24 701 51 57 382 54.5% 0.39 27 0.39
Total 196 689 3,785 5.49 249 0.36 6,440 545 396 3,232 50.2% 0.36 304 0.44

Domestic cups and regional competitions

Team Season League Played Points Serve Reception Attack Block
M S Tot per set Ace per set Tot Err Neg Exc Exc% Eff Tot Err Blk Exc Exc% Eff Pts per set
Partizan 2012–13 Serbian Cup 5 16 77 4.81 6 0.36 12 2 0 1 8.3% -0.08 119 12 4 60 50.4% 0.37 11 0.69
2013–14 Serbian Cup 2 6 55 9.17 3 0.5 50 3 6 21 42.0% 0.24 2 0.33
2014–15 Serbian Cup 2 3 16 5.33 2 0.67 23 1 0 14 60.9% 0.57 0 0
Champions League 3 11 66 6 2 0.18 155 13 9 62 40.0% 0.26 2 0.18
Season Total 5 14 82 5.86 4 0.29 178 14 9 76 42.7% 0.30 2 0.14
Eczacıbaşı 2015–16 Champions League 8 25 101 4.04 5 0.2 2 0 1 0 0 0 194 16 9 76 39.2% 0.26 20 0.8
2016–17 Turkish Cup 2 8 22 2.75 1 0.13 50 7 6 17 34.0% 0.08 4 0.5
Club World Championship 4 17 85 5 7 0.41 150 20 64 42.7% 0.29 14 0.82
Champions League 14 51 221 4.33 26 0.50 1 1 0 0 0 0 381 36 17 178 46.7% 0.33 17 0.33
Season Total 20 76 328 4.32 34 0.45 581 86 259 44.6% 0.30 35 0.46
2017–18 Turkish Cup 3 10 53 5.3 3 0.3 84 10 7 43 51.2% 0.31 7 0.7
Club World Championship 5 19 96 5.05 10 0.53 150 20 78 52.0% 0.39 8 0.42
CEV Cup 10 32 193 6.03 14 0.44 1 1 0 0 0 0 270 21 14 164 60.7% 0.48 15 0.47
Season Total 18 61 342 5.61 27 0.44 504 72 285 56.6% 0.42 30 0.49
2018–19 Turkish Super Cup 1 4 24 6 0 0 46 2 5 23 50.0% 0.35 1 0.17
Turkish Cup 3 12 62 5.17 3 0.25 101 7 7 54 53.5% 0.4 5 0.42
Club World Championship 4 15 81 5.4 5 0.33 132 16 69 52.3% 0.4 7 0.47
Champions League 7 26 142 5.46 7 0.27 246 27 13 116 47.2% 0.31 19 0.73
Season Total 15 57 309 5.42 15 0.26 525 77 262 49.9% 0.35 32 0.56
2019–20 Turkish Super Cup 1 5 27 5.4 1 0.2 52 7 2 23 44.2% 0.27 3 0.6
Club World Championship 5 19 114 6 14 0.74 194 32 91 46.9% 0.3 9 0.47
Champions League 6 24 124 5.17 9 0.37 2 0 1 0 0 0 195 17 11 104 53.3% 0.39 11 0.46
Season Total 12 48 265 5.52 24 0.5 441 69 218 49.4% 0.34 23 0.48
2020–21 Turkish Super Cup 1 5 35 7 2 0.4 61 9 1 33 54.1% 0.38 0 0
Turkish Cup 6 19 118 6.21 8 0.42 180 16 8 102 56.7% 0.43 8 0.42
Champions League 8 30 236 6.05 5 0.17 325 21 18 157 48.3% 0.36 17 0.57
Season Total 15 54 389 7.20 15 0.28 566 46 27 292 51.6% 0.39 25 0.46
2021–22 Turkish Super Cup 1 3 21 7 2 0.67 31 2 0 17 54.8% 0.48 2 0.67
Turkish Cup 4 10 55 5.5 3 0.3 90 7 8 44 48.9% 0.32 8 0.8
CEV Cup 8 24 170 7.08 15 0.63 1 1 0 0 0 0 237 15 10 134 56.5% 0.46 21 0.88
Season Total 13 37 246 6.65 20 0.54 358 24 18 195 54.5% 0.43 31 0.84
2022–23 Turkish Cup 1 3 21 7 0 0 40 2 4 18 45.0% 0.3 3 1
Club World Championship 4 14 95 6.79 8 0.57 145 17 82 56.6% 0.45 5 0.36
Champions League 7 28 169 6.04 6 0.21 1 1 0 0 0 0 306 26 25 148 48.4% 0.32 15 0.54
Season Total 12 45 285 6.33 14 0.31 491 74 248 50.5% 0.35 23 0.51

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Tijana Bošković para niños

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Tijana Bošković Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.