An $S$-ring (Schur ring) is called central if it is contained in the center of the group ring. We introduce the notion of a generalized Schur group, i.e. such finite group that all central $S$-rings over this group are schurian. It generalizes in a natural way the notion of a Schur group and they are equivalent for abelian groups. We establish basic properties and provide infinite families of nonabelian generalized Schur groups