He led five national teams - SFR Yugoslavia, Italy. Croatia, the USA and Brazil - he won four Olympic golds, and three world and European golds each, and dominated club water polo.
Ratko Rudić is more than a water polo legend, probably the greatest coach in the history of this sport, these days he is staying in Ulcinj, where the Friendship World Cup is being held.
"I just arrived and haven't seen everything yet, but even this is a bit impressive - in a way, a recognition of sports creativity. All this should be even more present in the population that follows sports... Truly an initiative worthy of praise and perhaps among the best in sports the world", pointed out Rudić.
He was known by the pool as a "tough character".
"The Italians explained it vividly when they said that I looked like an elephant in a glass shop when I arrived in their league. Discipline always helps the players, and I had very creative and capable players to get out of certain frames," Rudić added.
He kept his way until the end of his coaching career.
"I coached Pro Reko until covid and I always behaved in the same way, I believed that there must be certain rules and I introduced the players to them. I believed that players are not only developed through training, but also through behavior in general - I am literally in everything it was 24 hours. It was not difficult for me to do something, not even to face anyone. I had my goal and I adhered to it."
If he needed to emphasize something special, he always went to the biggest stars.
"The team is more important than the individual, and individuals must show respect for the team. Because of such things, I also reacted to small things so that they did not turn into big problems. If I had to send a message, I did not go to face young and weaker players but it was with the strongest and most famous players," the Croatian coach pointed out.
One thing was always most important.
"I had a professional way of working and I am of the opinion that this is the only way to achieve results - in the end, history gives me the right."
He also spoke with journalists in Ulcinj about the documentary film "Ratko Rudić – it happened".
"It was an emotional moment, I remembered things I had forgotten, because my way of working was to look forward and erase the past. The players were very honest in the film, and that's why it was so emotional for me," concluded Rudić.
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