Obituary for Georg Grozer senior

Grozer came to Germany when he was only 21 years old and his son Georg Jr. was already born there. Almost two decades before the equally talented offspring was supposed to continue the family tradition, the outside attacker made a huge impact in his new home. With his death, “German and international volleyball is losing a defining personality,” wrote the German Volleyball Association (DVV): “His successes as a player and his many years of work for volleyball will be remembered.”

Grozer wrote his success story at Moerser SC in 1988; he led the club from the Lower Rhine to the German championship, two cup successes and also a triumph in the European Cup at the beginning of the 1990s. “Georg was an extraordinary world-class athlete and one of the most influential personalities in the history of our club,” said the MSC.

Because when Grozer, whose inimitable style was characterized by pure power, stepped onto the field, spectacle was guaranteed. If the outside attacker tried to jump, then he stood in the air, when he swung to strike, there was a crash. “This man,” as Volleyball magazine once wrote, “was a natural phenomenon.”

Grozer played two European Championships for Germany, although he did not make more than 19 international appearances due to a dispute with the then national coach. It was his son who was to take on a larger role in the national team. He was trained by his father for two years in Moers and was appointed a national player under his watch.

For over two decades, the diagonal attacker has been one of the most influential figures in German volleyball; he also inherited his nickname and playing style from his father. But the 41-year-old’s era is slowly coming to an end, and the star player is missing from the current European Championship.

Luckily, the next volleyball star named Grozer has long been ready. Leana (19) caused a sensation at her first European Championships in August with the DVV women. The exceptional talent, born in Moers, is already following her grandfather and father when it comes to brutal attacking power. And her sister Loreen (15) is also starting to jump in Schwerin. The Grozer family and German volleyball belong together.