Regional Water Polo League

Last updated

Regional Water Polo League
RWP logo 2019.png
Official logo
Sport Water polo
Founded2008;16 years ago (2008)
No. of teams12
CountryFlag of Croatia.svg  Croatia
Flag of Montenegro.svg  Montenegro
Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia
Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy (former)
Continent LEN (Europe)
Most recent
champion(s)
Novi Beograd (2nd title)
(2023–24)
Most titles Jug (5 titles)
TV partner(s) Arena Sport
Level on pyramid1
Domestic cup(s)No
Official website rwp-league.com

The Regional Water Polo League (abbr. RWP), commonly known as the Regional League or Adriatic League, is a regional water polo league in Southeast Europe. Originally, the league featured clubs from Croatia, Montenegro, and Slovenia. In later years, clubs from Serbia joined the league and in one season club from Italy participated in the league.

Contents

History

The league was established in 2008 as the "Adriatic Water Polo League" and the inaugural 2008–09 season consisted of clubs from Croatia, Montenegro and Slovenia. Members of the inaugural season were Jug, Mladost, Primorje, POŠK, Jadran Split, Medveščak Zagreb, Šibenik, Mornar, Jadran, Primorac, Budva, and Koper. The first league champions were VK Jug.

In the 2009–10 season, Cattaro joined the league and the Final Four was introduced into the league. In the 2011–12 season, the Italian water polo club Pro Recco request to join the Adriatic League was granted and immediately in their first season they became champions, but left the league after the season. The Serbian clubs (Partizan, Crvena zvezda, Radnički and Vojvodina) joined the league in the 2014–15 season. [1]

Starting from the 2015–16 season, second-tier Regional League A2 was introduced. [2]

In February 2019, three team members of Serbian club Crvena zvezda were attacked in Split by Croatian ultra-nationalists, before regional league game against Mornar. [3] The incident was condemned by Croatian and Serbian public, and by many organizations and officials as well. [4] Following the incident, the Water Polo Federation of Serbia and Serbian clubs in competition sought to not play any further games in Split, and competition's Board of Directors made a decision to postpone any further games in Split in which Serbian clubs are included. [5]

Starting with the 2020–21 season, the league is played in different format due to the COVID-19 pandemic, having two groups (2020–21 season with host cities being Belgrade and Dubrovnik, and 2021–22 season with host cities Belgrade and Split) and final tournament (2020–21 host being Zagreb, and 2021–22 host being Belgrade); [6] In 2020–21 season, the Serbian club Radnički eventually won their first championship, thus ending 8-year dominance of the Croatian clubs. In 2021–22 season, the newcomer to the competition, Novi Beograd, lifted its maiden trophy. [7]

Current clubs

Yugoslavia (1946-1990) location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Jug
Black pog.svg
Belgrade
TransparentPlaceholder.png
Belgrade clubs:
Location of clubs in the 2024–25 season.
Red pog.svg Red: Regional Water Polo League Clubs

Clubs that participate in the 2024–25 season:

Regional Water Polo League
ClubCity
Flag of Croatia.svg Jug Dubrovnik
Flag of Croatia.svg Mladost Zagreb
Flag of Montenegro.svg Jadran Herceg Novi
Flag of Serbia.svg Šabac Šabac
Flag of Serbia.svg Novi Beograd Belgrade
Flag of Serbia.svg Valis Valjevo
Flag of Serbia.svg Radnički Kragujevac
Flag of Croatia.svg Jadran Split
Flag of Serbia.svg Crvena zvezda Belgrade
Flag of Croatia.svg Solaris Šibenik
Flag of Croatia.svg Primorje Rijeka
Flag of Montenegro.svg Primorac Kotor

All-time participants

The following is a list of clubs who have played in the Regional Water Polo League at any time since its formation in 2008 to the current season. A total of 22 clubs from five countries have played in the top-tier of the Regional League.

Played in second-tier division (established 2015–16)
1stChampions
2ndRunners-up
3rdThird place
SFSemi-finalists
RRegular season champions
Club09101112131415161718192021222324Total
seasons
Highest
finish
Flag of Slovenia.svg Branik Maribor 12th15th212th
Flag of Montenegro.svg Budva 5th5th5th7th4th6th11th7th9th8th12th13th124th
Flag of Montenegro.svg Cattaro 6th12th26th
Flag of Serbia.svg Crvena zvezda 8th10th7th5th5th6th6th5th85th
Flag of Croatia.svg Jadran Split 9th10th10th12th7th9th12th8thSFSFSF3rd2nd2nd2nd152nd
Flag of Montenegro.svg Jadran Herceg Novi 2nd1st1st5th8thSF5thSF2ndSFSFSF6th5th8th4th161st
Flag of Croatia.svg Jug 1st2ndR2nd3rd2nd2nd2nd1stR1stR1stR2nd2nd2ndR3rd1st3rd161st
Flag of Slovenia.svg Koper 10th13th8th11th48th
Flag of Croatia.svg Medveščak 11th11th9th9th10th10th14th79th
Flag of Croatia.svg Mladost 4th4th4th4th3rd3rdSFSFSF2nd1stR1stR4th9th5th9th161st
Flag of Croatia.svg Mornar 8th8th7th6th5th5th7th6th6th5th6th10th12th10th11th155th
Flag of Serbia.svg Novi Beograd 1stRSFR1stR31st
Flag of Serbia.svg Partizan 6th5thSF6th9th9th10th7th9th12th10SF
Flag of Croatia.svg POŠK 12th12th13th8th6th8th10th9th7th10th106th
Flag of Montenegro.svg Primorac 3rd3rd6th10th9th7th13th8th8th6th9th8th12th133rd
Flag of Croatia.svg Primorje 7th7th3rd2nd1st1st1stR2nd5th10th11th7th121st
Flag of Italy.svg Pro Recco 1st11st
Flag of Serbia.svg Radnički SF7th1st4thSF6th61st
Flag of Croatia.svg Solaris 8th10th11th8th48th
Flag of Serbia.svg Šabac 5th7th7th11th7th10th65th
Flag of Croatia.svg Šibenik 6th9th11th13th12th11th66th
Flag of Slovenia.svg Triglav Kranj 11th111th
Flag of Serbia.svg Vojvodina 9th8th9th38th

Finals

Season [8] Champions Runners-up Result1st of Regular Season
2008–09
Flag of Croatia.svg Jug Flag of Montenegro.svg Jadran
note
Flag of Croatia.svg Jug
2009–10
Flag of Montenegro.svg Jadran Flag of Croatia.svg Jug
11–8
Flag of Croatia.svg Jug (2)
2010–11
Flag of Montenegro.svg Jadran (2) Flag of Croatia.svg Jug
9–7
Flag of Montenegro.svg Jadran
2011–12
Flag of Italy.svg Pro Recco Flag of Croatia.svg Primorje
15–4
Flag of Italy.svg Pro Recco
2012–13
Flag of Croatia.svg Primorje Flag of Croatia.svg Jug
9–8
Flag of Croatia.svg Primorje
2013–14
Flag of Croatia.svg Primorje (2) Flag of Croatia.svg Jug
8–7
Flag of Croatia.svg Primorje (2)
2014–15
Flag of Croatia.svg Primorje (3) Flag of Croatia.svg Jug
15–9
Flag of Croatia.svg Primorje (3)
2015–16
Flag of Croatia.svg Jug (2) Flag of Croatia.svg Primorje
9–5
Flag of Croatia.svg Jug (3)
2016–17
Flag of Croatia.svg Jug (3) Flag of Montenegro.svg Jadran
15–3
Flag of Croatia.svg Jug (4)
2017–18
Flag of Croatia.svg Jug (4) Flag of Croatia.svg Mladost
15–8
Flag of Croatia.svg Jug (5)
2018–19
Flag of Croatia.svg Mladost Flag of Croatia.svg Jug
13–12
Flag of Croatia.svg Mladost
2019–20
Flag of Croatia.svg Mladost (2) Flag of Croatia.svg Jug
15–11
Flag of Croatia.svg Jug (6)
2020–21
Flag of Serbia.svg Radnički Flag of Croatia.svg Jug
14–12
Flag of Croatia.svg Jug (7)
2021–22
Flag of Serbia.svg Novi Beograd Flag of Croatia.svg Jadran Split
14–11
Flag of Serbia.svg Novi Beograd
2022–23
Flag of Croatia.svg Jug (5) Flag of Croatia.svg Jadran Split
14–12
Flag of Serbia.svg Novi Beograd (2)
2023–24
Flag of Serbia.svg Novi Beograd (2) Flag of Croatia.svg Jadran Split
16–14
Flag of Serbia.svg Novi Beograd (3)

note The league was played in a round-robin tournament format.

Awards

Season [9] MVPTop Scorer
2008–09 Flag of Montenegro.svg Aleksandar Ivović (Jadran)
2009–10 Flag of Montenegro.svg Aleksandar Ivović (Jadran)
2010–11 Flag of Hungary.svg Denes Varga (Primorje Rijeka) Flag of Hungary.svg Denes Varga (Primorje Rijeka)
Flag of Croatia.svg Sandro Sukno (Primorje Rijeka)
2011–12 Flag of Serbia.svg Filip Filipović (Pro Recco) Flag of Montenegro.svg Darko Brguljan (Budva)
2012–13 Flag of Croatia.svg Sandro Sukno (Primorje Rijeka) Flag of Montenegro.svg Aleksandar Ivović (Jug)
2013–14 Flag of Croatia.svg Paulo Obradović (Primorje Rijeka) Flag of Hungary.svg Denes Varga (Primorje Rijeka)
2014–15 Flag of Croatia.svg Sandro Sukno (Primorje Rijeka)
2015–16 Flag of Spain.svg Felipe Perrone (Jug)
2016–17 Flag of Croatia.svg Luka Loncar (Jug) Flag of Croatia.svg Paulo Obradović (Jug)
2017–18 Flag of Croatia.svg Marko Macan (Jug) Flag of Croatia.svg Luka Bukić (Jug)
2018–19 Flag of Romania.svg Cosmin Radu (Mladost) Flag of Russia.svg Daniil Merkulov (Jug)
2019–20 Flag of Croatia.svg Luka Bukić (Mladost)
2020–21 Flag of Serbia.svg Lazar Dobožanov (Radnički) Flag of Russia.svg Daniil Merkulov (Jug)
2021–22 Flag of Serbia.svg Duško Pijetlović (Novi Beograd) Flag of Serbia.svg Nikola Lukić (Radnički)
2022–23 Flag of Croatia.svg Toni Popadić (Jug) Flag of Croatia.svg Loren Fatovic (Jug)
2023–24 Flag of Spain.svg Álvaro Granados (Novi Beograd)

Records and statistics

Performance by clubs

ClubWinnersRunners-upYears wonYears runners-up
Flag of Croatia.svg Jug 582008–09, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2022–232009–10, 2010–11, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21
Flag of Croatia.svg Primorje 322012–13, 2013–14, 2014–152011–12, 2015–16
Flag of Montenegro.svg Jadran 222009–10, 2010–112008–09, 2016–17
Flag of Croatia.svg Mladost 212018–19, 2019–202017–18
Flag of Serbia.svg Novi Beograd 202021–22, 2023–24
Flag of Italy.svg Pro Recco 102011–12
Flag of Serbia.svg Radnički 102020–21
Flag of Croatia.svg Jadran Split 032021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24

By country

Club / NationWonRunners-up
Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia
10
14
Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia
3
0
Flag of Montenegro.svg  Montenegro
2
2
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
1
0

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ABA League</span> 1st-tier regional mens professional basketball league

The ABA League, renamed the ABA League First Division in 2017, is the top-tier regional men's professional basketball league that originally featured clubs from former Yugoslavia. Due to sponsorship reasons, the league was also known as the Goodyear League from 2001 to 2006, the NLB League from 2006 to 2011, and as the AdmiralBet ABA League from 2021.

The First Federal Basketball League was the highest tier level men's professional club basketball competition in the former country of SFR Yugoslavia. Founded in 1945, and folded in 1992, it was run by the Basketball Federation of Yugoslavia. With a total of 16 European-wide trophy winners and 11 finalists, the Yugoslav First Basketball League was one of the strongest European national domestic basketball leagues of all time.

Aleksandar Ćirić is a Serbian retired water polo player and current head coach of European powerhouse Olympiacos Women's Water Polo Team, who played for two Olympic bronze medal squads, one for FR Yugoslavia at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, the other for Serbia at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, and one Olympic silver medal squad for Serbia and Montenegro at the 2004 Olympics in Athens. His most notable achievements during his club career are: winning the Euroleague with VK Bečej in 2000, when he gained the title of MVP of competition; and four LEN Cups, three with Brescia and one with VK Radnički Kragujevac.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vanja Udovičić</span> Serbian politician and water polo player

Vanja Udovičić is a Serbian politician and former professional water polo player who served as minister of youth and sports from 2013 to 2022. An independent politician, he is aligned with the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS).

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Filip Filipović (water polo)</span> Serbian water polo player (born 1987)

Filip Filipović is a Serbian professional water polo player widely considered to be one of the greatest players in the history of the sport. He was a member of the Serbia men's national water polo teams that won bronze medals at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics and gold medals in 2016 and 2020. He also held the world title in 2009 and 2015 and the European title in 2003, 2006, 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2018. He was named Most Valuable Player at the 2011 World Championships. He was also voted as the male water polo "World Player of the Year" in 2009, 2011, 2014 and 2021 by the FINA magazine. He played for Pro Recco in Italy and won three LEN Champions League and three LEN Super Cup with them. Currently, he plays for Novi Beograd.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Duško Pijetlović</span> Serbian water polo player

Duško Pijetlović is a Serbian water polo center forward for VK Novi Beograd. He was a member of the Serbia men's national water polo teams that won Olympic gold medals in 2016 and 2020, and bronze medals at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics. He held the world title in 2009 and 2015 and the European title in 2006, 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2018. Pijetlović won three consecutive Euroleague titles with three teams: in 2011 with Partizan in 2012 with Pro Recco and in 2013 with Crvena Zvezda.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrija Prlainović</span> Serbian water polo player

Andrija Prlainović is a Serbian professional water polo player widely regarded as one of the greatest players ever. He was a member of the Serbia men's national water polo teams that won bronze medals at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics and gold medals in 2016 and 2020. He also held the world title in 2009 and 2015 and the European title in 2006, 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2018. In 2011, he won the LEN Euroleague with VK Partizan and in 2013 with Red Star Belgrade, where he was one of the best scorers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KK FMP</span> Basketball club in Belgrade, Serbia

Košarkaški klub FMP, commonly referred to as KK FMP or as FMP Soccerbet due to sponsorship reasons, is a men's professional basketball club based in Belgrade, Serbia. The club plays in the ABA League, the Basketball League of Serbia, and the Basketball Champions League. Their home arena is the Železnik Hall.

The Serbian Super League is the highest level of men's water polo in Serbia and it is organized by the Water polo Federation of Serbia.

The Yugoslav Water Polo Championship was the premier league competition for men's water polo clubs in Yugoslavia. Originally established in 1921 in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, it ran for almost 20 years before being suspended due to the Second World War and the Invasion of Yugoslavia.

The 2014–15 Adriatic League was the 7th season of the Adriatic Water Polo League, with 15 teams from Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro and Slovenia participating in it.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KK FMP (1991–2011)</span> Defunct basketball club in Belgrade, Serbia

Košarkaški klub FMP, commonly referred to as KK FMP, was a men's professional basketball club based in Belgrade, Serbia. The club played its home games at the 3,000 capacity Železnik Hall and have won the regional ABA League twice, in the 2003–04 and 2005–06 seasons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ivica Tucak</span> Croatian water polo player and coach

Ivica Tucak is a Croatian professional water polo coach and former player who has been the head coach of the Croatia men's national water polo team since 16 September 2012.

The 2017–18 Basketball League of Serbia is the 12th season of the Basketball League of Serbia, the highest professional basketball league in Serbia. It is also 74th national championship played by Serbian clubs inclusive of nation's previous incarnations as Yugoslavia and Serbia & Montenegro.

The 2019–20 ABA League First Division was the 19th season of the ABA League with 12 teams from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, Slovenia and Serbia participating in it. The season started on 4 October 2019 and played its last games on 9 March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VK Novi Beograd</span> Serbian water polo club

VK Novi Beograd is a professional water polo club based in New Belgrade, Serbia. As of 2023–24 season, the club competes in the Serbian League, Regional League A1 and LEN Champions League.

The 2021–22 LEN Champions League was the 59th edition of LEN's premier competition for men's water polo clubs.

The 1994–95 YUBA League was the third season of the YUBA League, the top-tier professional basketball league in Yugoslavia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023–24 LEN Champions League</span> Water polo sports season

The 2023–24 LEN Champions League is the 61st edition of LEN's premier competition for men's water polo clubs. Because of the congested schedule, there's a new format this year. Pro Recco are the three time defending champions.

References

  1. "Predstavljena nova regionalna vaterpolo liga". dnevnik.hr (in Croatian). 5 September 2014. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  2. "Regionalna liga od 25.septembra". waterpoloserbia.org (in Serbian). 26 August 2015. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  3. "Serbian water polo team attacked in Croatia". washingtonpost.com. Associated Press. 9 February 2019. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  4. "Srbi sazvali izvanrednu konferenciju zbog napada u Splitu, HVS i HOO najoštrije osudili izgred". dnevnik.hr (in Croatian). 9 February 2019. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  5. "ODRŽANA SEDNICA UO REGIONALNE LIGE: Mornar ne snosi odgovornost za napad, utakmice sa splitskim klubovima se odlažu do daljnjeg". novosti.rs (in Serbian). Tanjug. 18 February 2019. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  6. "Regionalna vaterpolo liga počinje u januaru: Beograd i Dubrovnik domaćini polufinalnih turnira". mozzartsport.com (in Serbian). 21 December 2020. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
  7. "Novi Beograd šampion Regionalne lige, prvi trofej u klupskoj istoriji!". regionalnavaterpololiga.com (in Serbian). Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  8. "Regionalna vaterpolo liga". www.rwp-league.com. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  9. "Regionalna vaterpolo liga". www.rwp-league.com. Retrieved 8 March 2022.

See also