Serbia men's national water polo team

Last updated

Serbia
WaterPoloSwimsuits back Serbia 2015.png
FINA code SRB
Nickname(s)Делфини / Delfini
(The Dolphins)
Association Water Polo Association of Serbia  [ sr ]
Confederation LEN (Europe)
Head coach Uroš Stevanović
Asst coachDarko Bilić
Stefan Ćirić
Captain Nikola Jakšić
Most caps Dejan Savić (444)
Top scorer(s) Aleksandar Šapić (981)
FINA ranking (since 2008)
Current3 (as of 9 August 2021)
Highest1 (2009–2011, 2014–2019)
Lowest4 (2013)
Olympic Games  (team statistics)
Appearances 8 (first in 1996 )
Best resultGold medal icon.svg (2016, 2020, 2024)
World Championship
Appearances14 (first in 1998 )
Best resultGold medal icon.svg (2005, 2009, 2015)
World Cup
Appearances9 (first in 1997 )
Best resultGold medal icon.svg (2006, 2010, 2014)
World League
Appearances18 (first in 2003 )
Best resultGold medal icon.svg (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019)
European Championship
Appearances13 (first in 1997 )
Best resultGold medal icon.svg (2001, 2003, 2006, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018)
Europa Cup
Appearances2 (first in 2018 )
Best result4th (2018)
Mediterranean Games
Appearances6 (first in 1997 )
Best resultGold medal icon.svg (1997, 2009, 2018, 2022)
Media
Website waterpoloserbia.org
Logo of the Water Polo Association of Serbia Waterpolo Association of Serbia.jpg
Logo of the Water Polo Association of Serbia
The 2015 world championship team on a Serbian postage stamp RS053-15.jpg
The 2015 world championship team on a Serbian postage stamp

The Serbia men's national water polo team represents Serbia in international men's water polo. It is considered to be one of the most successful men's water polo teams in the world, winning medals in all Olympic tournaments it has entered, including three golds, and being a multiple world and European champion.

Contents

Not including the results of the former Yugoslav team, the Serbian team won three World Championships, seven European Championships, three World Cups, record 12 FINA World Leagues, four gold medals at Mediterranean Games, four gold medals at Summer Universiades and gold medal at the first and so far only water polo tournament at the European Games, justifying the status of water polo as the national sport of Serbia.

In 2016, Serbia became the first national water polo team to simultaneously hold titles in all five existing major championships—European Championship, World Championship, World Cup, World League and Olympic Games. [1] The team holds the record for the most consecutive World League titles, winning five consecutive titles from 2013 to 2017. They are Serbia's most successful national sports team, having won more titles than all other Serbian national teams combined. [2]

Competitive record

Medals

Includes matches of Serbia and Montenegro and Serbia.

Updated after the 2022 Mediterranean Games

CompetitionGold medal icon.svgSilver medal icon.svgBronze medal icon.svgTotal
Olympic Games 3137
World Championship 3238
European Championship 72110
World Cup 3025
World League 121114
Europa Cup 0000
Mediterranean Games 4015
Summer Universiade 4127
Total3671356

Olympic Games

Year [3] Position
1936 to 1988 part of SFR Yugoslavia
as Flag of Serbia and Montenegro (1992-2006).svg  FR Yugoslavia
Flag of Spain.svg 1992 Barcelona suspended
Flag of the United States.svg 1996 Atlanta 8th
Flag of Australia (converted).svg 2000 Sydney Bronze medal icon.svg
as Flag of Yugoslavia (1992-2003); Flag of Serbia and Montenegro (2003-2006).svg  Serbia and Montenegro
Flag of Greece.svg 2004 Athens Silver medal icon.svg
as Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg 2008 Beijing Bronze medal icon.svg
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg 2012 London Bronze medal icon.svg
Flag of Brazil.svg 2016 Rio de Janeiro Gold medal icon.svg
Flag of Japan.svg 2020 Tokyo Gold medal icon.svg
Flag of France.svg 2024 Paris Gold medal icon.svg
Flag of the United States.svg 2028 Los Angeles future events
Flag of Australia (converted).svg 2032 Brisbane

World Championship

Year [3] Position
1973 to 1991 part of SFR Yugoslavia
as Flag of Serbia and Montenegro (1992-2006).svg  FR Yugoslavia
Flag of Italy.svg 1994 Rome suspended
Flag of Australia (converted).svg 1998 Perth Bronze medal icon.svg
Flag of Japan.svg 2001 Fukuoka Silver medal icon.svg
as Flag of Yugoslavia (1992-2003); Flag of Serbia and Montenegro (2003-2006).svg  Serbia and Montenegro
Flag of Spain.svg 2003 Barcelona Bronze medal icon.svg
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg 2005 Montreal Gold medal icon.svg
as Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia
Flag of Australia (converted).svg 2007 Melbourne 4th
Flag of Italy.svg 2009 Rome Gold medal icon.svg
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg 2011 Shanghai Silver medal icon.svg
Flag of Spain.svg 2013 Barcelona 7th
Flag of Russia.svg 2015 Kazan Gold medal icon.svg
Flag of Hungary.svg 2017 Budapest Bronze medal icon.svg
Flag of South Korea.svg 2019 Gwangju 5th
Flag of Hungary.svg 2022 Budapest 5th
Flag of Japan.svg 2023 Fukuoka 4th
Flag of Qatar.svg 2024 Doha 6th
Flag of Singapore.svg 2025 Kallang future events
Flag of Hungary.svg 2027 Budapest

European Championship

YearPosition
1950 to 1991 part of SFR Yugoslavia
as Flag of Serbia and Montenegro (1992-2006).svg  FR Yugoslavia
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg 1993 Sheffield suspended
Flag of Austria.svg 1995 Vienna did not participate
Flag of Spain.svg 1997 Seville Silver medal icon.svg
Flag of Italy.svg 1999 Florence 7th
Flag of Hungary.svg 2001 Budapest Gold medal icon.svg
as Flag of Yugoslavia (1992-2003); Flag of Serbia and Montenegro (2003-2006).svg  Serbia and Montenegro
Flag of Slovenia.svg 2003 Kranj Gold medal icon.svg
as Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia
Flag of Serbia (2004-2010).svg 2006 Belgrade Gold medal icon.svg
Flag of Spain.svg 2008 Malaga Silver medal icon.svg
Flag of Croatia.svg 2010 Zagreb Bronze medal icon.svg
Flag of the Netherlands.svg 2012 Eindhoven Gold medal icon.svg
Flag of Hungary.svg 2014 Budapest Gold medal icon.svg
Flag of Serbia.svg 2016 Belgrade Gold medal icon.svg
Flag of Spain.svg 2018 Barcelona Gold medal icon.svg
Flag of Hungary.svg 2020 Budapest 5th
Flag of Croatia.svg 2022 Split 9th
Flag of Croatia.svg 2024 Dubrovnik and Zagreb 7th
Flag of Serbia.svg 2026 Belgrade future event

World Cup

Year [3] Position
1979 to 1991 part of SFR Yugoslavia
as Flag of Serbia and Montenegro (1992-2006).svg  FR Yugoslavia
Flag of Greece.svg 1993 Athens suspended
Flag of the United States.svg 1995 Atlanta did not participate
Flag of Greece.svg 1997 Athens 7th
Flag of Australia (converted).svg 1999 Sydney 5th
Flag of Serbia and Montenegro (1992-2006).svg 2002 Belgrade Bronze medal icon.svg
as Flag of Yugoslavia (1992-2003); Flag of Serbia and Montenegro (2003-2006).svg  Serbia and Montenegro
Flag of Hungary.svg 2006 Budapest Gold medal icon.svg
as Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia
Flag of Romania.svg 2010 Oradea Gold medal icon.svg
Flag of Kazakhstan.svg 2014 Almaty Gold medal icon.svg
Flag of Germany.svg 2018 Berlin Bronze medal icon.svg
Flag of the United States.svg 2023 Los Angeles 7th

World League

Year [3] Position
as Flag of Serbia and Montenegro (1992-2006).svg  FR Yugoslavia
Flag of Greece.svg 2002 Patras did not participate
as Flag of Yugoslavia (1992-2003); Flag of Serbia and Montenegro (2003-2006).svg  Serbia and Montenegro
Flag of the United States.svg 2003 New York 4th
Flag of the United States.svg 2004 Long Beach Silver medal icon.svg
Flag of Yugoslavia (1992-2003); Flag of Serbia and Montenegro (2003-2006).svg 2005 Belgrade Gold medal icon.svg
Flag of Greece.svg 2006 Athens Gold medal icon.svg
as Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia
Flag of Germany.svg 2007 Berlin Gold medal icon.svg
Flag of Italy.svg 2008 Genoa Gold medal icon.svg
Flag of Montenegro.svg 2009 Podgorica Bronze medal icon.svg
Flag of Serbia.svg 2010 Niš Gold medal icon.svg
Flag of Italy.svg 2011 Florence Gold medal icon.svg
Flag of Kazakhstan.svg 2012 Almaty did not participate
Flag of Russia.svg 2013 Chelyabinsk Gold medal icon.svg
Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg 2014 Dubai Gold medal icon.svg
Flag of Italy.svg 2015 Bergamo Gold medal icon.svg
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg 2016 Huizhou Gold medal icon.svg
Flag of Russia.svg 2017 Ruza Gold medal icon.svg
Flag of Hungary.svg 2018 Budapest preliminary round
Flag of Serbia.svg 2019 Belgrade Gold medal icon.svg
Flag of Georgia.svg 2020 Tbilisi preliminary round
Flag of France.svg 2022 Strasbourg 5th

Europa Cup

YearPosition
Flag of Croatia.svg 2018 Rijeka 4th
Flag of Croatia.svg 2019 Zagreb 6th

Mediterranean Games

YearPosition
1959 to 1991 part of SFR Yugoslavia
as Flag of Serbia and Montenegro (1992-2006).svg  FR Yugoslavia
Flag of France (lighter variant).svg 1993 Languedoc-Roussillon suspended
Flag of Italy.svg 1997 Bari Gold medal icon.svg
Flag of Tunisia.svg 2001 Tunis 4th
as Flag of Yugoslavia (1992-2003); Flag of Serbia and Montenegro (2003-2006).svg  Serbia and Montenegro
Flag of Spain.svg 2005 Almeria Bronze medal icon.svg
as Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia
Flag of Italy.svg 2009 Pescara Gold medal icon.svg
Flag of Turkey.svg 2013 Tunis 6th
Flag of Spain.svg 2018 Tarragona Gold medal icon.svg
Flag of Algeria.svg 2022 Oran Gold medal icon.svg
Flag of Italy.svg 2026 Taranto future event

Team

Current squad

Roster for the 2024 Summer Olympics.

A 19-player roster was announced on 24 June 2024. [4] The final roster was announced on 21 July 2024. [5]

Head coach: Uroš Stevanović [6]

Coaches

Most appearances and goals

Professional friendly and competitive matches only where Yugoslavia, Serbia and Montenegro and now Serbia were represented.

NameYearsMatchesGoals
1 Dejan Savić 1994–2008444405
2 Aleksandar Šapić 1997–2008385981
3 Filip Filipović 2003–2021381677
4 Živko Gocić 2003–2016362207
5 Slobodan Nikić 2003–2016355354
6 Igor Milanović 1984–1996349540
7 Aleksandar Ćirić 1997–2008346201
8 Vladimir Vujasinović 1990–2008341391
9 Duško Pijetlović 2005–2021340472
10 Andrija Prlainović 2005–2021336541

Statistics accurate as of matches played 6 August 2021

Philanthropy

On 25 December 2011, Serbia's water polo team was included in a humanitarian action "Bitka za Bebe" ("the Battle for the Babies") playing an exhibition match with the team of the Faculty of Organizational Sciences (FON), in Belgrade. Before the Serbian water polo team had joined the action, many other athletes were included. Among them was the world number one in tennis at that time, Novak Djokovic, football and basketball players of Red Star Belgrade, and many others. Proceeds from the ticket sales went to fund "Bitka za Bebe" and enough money was successfully raised to purchase one hundred incubator.

See also

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References

  1. "Rulers of all competitions". b92.net. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
  2. "Vaterpolo Srbija - Serbia Water Polo: Osvojene medalje".
  3. 1 2 3 4 "HistoFINA – Water polo medalists and statistics" (PDF). fina.org. FINA. September 2019. pp. 4, 14, 25, 40, 48. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 August 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  4. "Reprezentacija na pripremama u Kranju". waterpoloserbia.org. 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  5. "Srbija na Olimpijskim igrama u Parizu". waterpoloserbia.org. 21 July 2024. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  6. "Team roster: Serbia" (PDF). Olympics.com. 26 July 2024. Retrieved 26 July 2024.