He announced before the World Championship in Fukuoka, and now it's official - the long-time Montenegrin water polo representative Uroš Čučković has finished his playing career.
"For me, playing water polo meant playing for the national team. Representing my country at the biggest world competitions is something that has always motivated me to play water polo," Čučković said in a statement for the website of the Water Polo Swimming Association of Montenegro.
Čučković made the decision to retire at the age of 33, and during his career he played for Primorac, Partizan, Eger and Marseille.
He debuted in a cap with the Montenegrin coat of arms in 2014. He played 192 games in the national team and scored 87 goals. He won European bronze in 2020, and performed at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo.
He emphasized that he will remember the period of playing for the national team the most because of the feeling of belonging to the team and the selfless giving of himself for the achievement of a common goal.
"That feeling followed me throughout my entire national team career. That's why I don't regret too much about some failures," Čučković said.
He emphasized that he will remember two participations in the Olympic Games and two victories over Croatia, in the bronze medal match at the European Championship in Budapest and in the round of XNUMX match of the last World Championship.
"I remember the first one because it showed the quality of the generation at that time, and I'm sorry that the corona prevented us from continuing in that rhythm. The second game against Croatia, I hope, hinted at the quality of this team, which can do a lot in the future. I believe that the boys will know that to nurture," said Čučković.
He announced that he will stay in water polo and be a coach in Marseille.
"From September, I start working as a coach in the development categories of Marseille. It's a call I've been preparing for for a long time and I believe it will suit me," Čučković concluded.
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