Montenegrin First League of Water Polo

Last updated
First Water polo League
Sport Water polo
Founded2006
No. of teams4
Country Montenegro
Continent LEN (Europe)
Most recent
champion(s)		 Jadran
Most titles Jadran
(12 titles in independent Montenegro; 18 overall)
TV partner(s) RTCG
Level on pyramid1
Domestic cup(s) Montenegrin Water Polo Cup
Official website Official Website

The Montenegrin First League of Water Polo is the national professional water polo league in Montenegro. It was established in 2006. shortly after Montenegro declared its independence from Serbia and Montenegro. It is organized by the Water Polo and Swimming Federation of Montenegro.
Three clubs from Montenegrin League are playing in Adriatic Water Polo League.

Contents

History

Before independence

During their history, Montenegrin water polo clubs played in the top-tier competition of Kingdom of Yugoslavia, SFR Yugoslavia, FR Yugoslavia and Serbia and Montenegro, with important roles in Yugoslav Water Polo Championship. Among them are PVK Jadran, VK Primorac Kotor, VK Budva and VK Bijela, who played in top-tier.
The very first Montenegrin side which participated in official competitions was PVK Jadran, who finished second in 1935 Yugoslav Championship, played in Dubrovnik. [1] First Montenegrin team which played in Yugoslav Championship after the World War II was VK Primorac (season 1946).
Below is the list of all-time participants of Montenegrin clubs in Yugoslav Championship from 1935 to 1938.

Club353637
Jadran 243

Below is the list of all-time participants of Montenegrin clubs in Yugoslav First League from 1946 to 1970.

Club4651535455565758596061626364656667686970
Primorac 5----------8--778644
Jadran -7766331122344344579

Below is the list of all-time participants of Montenegrin clubs in Yugoslav First League from 1971 to 1991, including the placements in First 'B' League from 1989 to 1991.

Club717273747576777879808182838485868788899091
Primorac 656532464335474157667
Jadran 56947884644464891097912
Bijela ------12-----------1819-
Budva ------------------151519

Below is the list of all-time participants of Montenegrin clubs in First League of FR Yugoslavia / Serbia and Montenegro from 1992 to 2006.

Club929394959697989900010203040506
Primorac 434786554432333
Jadran 566645-83221111
Budva -51223446756654

In that competitions, Montenegrin clubs won 6 titles of national champion. First time, PVK Jadran became champion of Yugoslavia on season 1957-58. Next year, Jadran defended the trophy. [2] VK Primorac won their first champion title on 1985-86 season. On season 1993-94, champion of Yugoslavia became VK Budva. [3] After two trophies in 50's, PVK Jadran won four champion titles on 2002-03, 2003–04, 2004–05 and 2005-06. Below is the list of Montenegrin clubs' champion titles in the First League of Yugoslavia.

ClubWinnersRunners-upWinning Years
PVK Jadran Herceg Novi
6
4
1957-58, 1958-59, 2002-03, 2003-04, 2004-05, 2005-06
VK Primorac Kotor
1
2
1985-86
VK Budva
1
2
1993-94

After independence

Soon after the Montenegrin independence referendum, Water polo Federation of Montenegro founded its own competitions, with the First League as a top-tier competition. Number of teams in the First League varied - from 4 to 8.
All the titles in Montenegrin League won three teams - Jadran, Primorac and Budva. Montenegrin clubs are participants of Adriatic Water polo League, too, from its first season.

Champions

From the inaugural season (2006-07), three different clubs won champion titles in Montenegrin First League of Water Polo.

Titles by season

Montenegrin First League of Water Polo
SeasonChampionSecondThird
2006–07 600px White bordered Blue HEX-161384.svg Primorac 600px HEX-1372AC White.svg Budva 600px Giallo con bande Blu.png Jadran
2007–08 600px White bordered Blue HEX-161384.svg Primorac (2) 600px HEX-1372AC White.svg Budva 600px Giallo con bande Blu.png Jadran
2008–09 600px Giallo con bande Blu.png Jadran 600px White bordered Blue HEX-161384.svg Primorac Rosso e Giallo.png VA Cattaro
2009–10 600px Giallo con bande Blu.png Jadran (2) 600px White bordered Blue HEX-161384.svg Primorac Rosso e Giallo.png VA Cattaro
2010–11 600px HEX-1372AC White.svg Budva 600px Giallo con bande Blu.png Jadran 600px White bordered Blue HEX-161384.svg Primorac
2011–12 600px Giallo con bande Blu.png Jadran (3) 600px HEX-1372AC White.svg Budva 600px White bordered Blue HEX-161384.svg Primorac
2012–13 600px HEX-1372AC White.svg Budva (2) 600px White bordered Blue HEX-161384.svg Primorac 600px Giallo con bande Blu.png Jadran
2013–14 600px Giallo con bande Blu.png Jadran (4) 600px HEX-1372AC White.svg Budva 600px White bordered Blue HEX-161384.svg Primorac
2014–15 600px Giallo con bande Blu.png Jadran (5) 600px HEX-1372AC White.svg Budva 600px White bordered Blue HEX-161384.svg Primorac
2015–16 600px Giallo con bande Blu.png Jadran (6) 600px HEX-1372AC White.svg Budva 600px White bordered Blue HEX-161384.svg Primorac
2016–17 600px Giallo con bande Blu.png Jadran (7) 600px HEX-1372AC White.svg Budva 600px White bordered Blue HEX-161384.svg Primorac
2017–18 600px Giallo con bande Blu.png Jadran (8) 600px HEX-1372AC White.svg Budva 600px White bordered Blue HEX-161384.svg Primorac
2018–19 600px Giallo con bande Blu.png Jadran (9) 600px HEX-1372AC White.svg Budva 600px White bordered Blue HEX-161384.svg Primorac
2019–20Interrupted due to the coronavirus pandemic
2020–21 600px Giallo con bande Blu.png Jadran (10) 600px White bordered Blue HEX-161384.svg Primorac 600px HEX-1372AC White.svg Budva
2021–22 600px Giallo con bande Blu.png Jadran (11) 600px White bordered Blue HEX-161384.svg Primorac 600px HEX-1372AC White.svg Budva
2022–23 600px Giallo con bande Blu.png Jadran (12) 600px White bordered Blue HEX-161384.svg Primorac 600px HEX-1372AC White.svg Budva

Titles by Club

Montenegrin League

Below is a list of clubs with titles won in Montenegrin First League of Water Polo.

ClubTitlesRunners-upYears Won
Jadran Herceg Novi 1212008-09, 2009–10, 2011–12, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19, 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23
Budva 292010-11, 2012–13
Primorac Kotor 262006-07, 2007–08

Overall

Below is an overall list, with titles won in both leagues - Montenegrin League and SFR Yugoslavia / Serbia and Montenegro Championship.

ClubTitlesRunners-upYears Won
Jadran Herceg Novi 1851957-58, 1958–59, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2011–12, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19, 2020-21, 2021-22, 2023
Budva 3111993-94, 2010–11, 2012–13
Primorac Kotor 371985-86, 2006–07, 2007–08

Montenegrin water polo clubs in Adriatic League

Clubs from Montenegro were among the founders of Adriatic Water Polo League, which is established at 2008. Since its first season, Montenegrin sides were among the most successful participants of regional competition, and PVK Jadran Herceg Novi won two titles on seasons 2010-11 and 2011-12.
Other clubs from Montenegro which participated in Adriatic League are VK Primorac Kotor, VK Budva and VA Cattaro Kotor.
Below is list of participation of Montenegrin clubs by every season of Adriatic League.

A1 League

Club091011121314151617181920212223
Jadran 211584532223658
Primorac 33569713--8878812
Budva 556104611-79-61213-
Cattaro -611------------

A2 League

Club16171819202223
Primorac 41-----
Budva 2--1--5
Cattaro 658911510

Montenegrin water polo clubs in European competitions

Montenegrin water polo clubs are participating in the LEN competitions since the season 1986-97.
First team which ever competed at the European cups was VK Primorac Kotor. Except them, in LEN competitions played also PVK Jadran Herceg Novi, VK Budva, VA Cattaro Kotor and PVK Val Prčanj.
Biggest success in the history of Montenegrin waterpolo made VK Primorac, who won the title in LEN Champions League 2009. Except them, another Montenegrin holder of European trophy is VA Cattaro.
Among the titles which Montenegrin teams won in LEN competitions are:

During the overall history, five different Montenegrin clubs played in LEN competitions.

TeamSeasonsGWDL
PVK Jadran Herceg Novi
16
156
74
23
59
VK Primorac Kotor
15
141
84
7
50
VK Budva
14
124
66
9
49
VA Cattaro Kotor
3
32
22
1
9
PVK Val Prčanj
4
26
8
2
16

As of the end of LEN competitions 2015–16 season.

See also

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References

  1. ↑ http://dalmatica.svkst.hr/document_viewer/izbornik.php?viewer=6&docid=1005&page=3&fid=&c=org&ext=pdf&doctype=5
  2. ↑ "Istorija kluba". www.pvkjadran.com. Retrieved 22 August 2016.
  3. ↑ "Vaterpolo klub Budva". www.vkbudva.com. Retrieved 22 August 2016.
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