The man who won everything, who as a coach was twice Olympic champion, three times European and once world champion will try to bring the former champion of the Old Continent back into the great water polo stories.
Now it's official - Dejan Savić, one of the biggest coaching names, is the new coach of Montenegro, and he signed a four-year contract with the Water Polo and Swimming Federation.
The water polo expert who dominated the planet with Serbia for almost a decade arrived in our country, today he held his first press conference, and soon he will have his first training sessions and challenges with the "sharks".
"We have to make Montenegrin water polo visible again in Europe, and I'm not here just for the results. The machine that currently exists, made by these players, is not broken and I didn't come to fix it, but to find a way to turn it on and drive it." , said the new coach of Montenegro.
Savić will be the fourth selector of our national team - after Petar Porobić, Ranko Perović and Vladimir Gojković.
"It is not only an honor for me to be here because of the tradition of Montenegrin water polo, but also because I come behind exceptional coaches with whom Montenegrin water polo can be proud - since the 1950s. All this carries a great responsibility," emphasized the Serbian expert.
He won 17 medals with Serbia, but he still shows that he is firmly on the ground, eager to start with success on the bench of Montenegro.
"Of course, I consulted with Gojković, and I also called every coach who trains Montenegrin players. I'm not ashamed to ask, vanity must not be represented in our business," Savić is clear.
Montenegro can and must be at the top
When he took over Serbia in the first major competition, he was eliminated by Montenegro - it was at the World Cup in 2013. After that, he mostly celebrated against our national team, as well as against most other selections, but the "sharks" were somehow the toughest rival.
"Montenegro has always been unpleasant, it has a similar mentality and character. Today, the psychological moment is such that we have to fix it - Montenegro can and must be at the top of the world water polo. Everyone will have to show respect when they enter the matches with us ".
The trophy coach knows very well where he has to work the most in order for Montenegro to be at the top.
"There are no problems in the positions of goalkeepers and centers, but we need to improve the game of the backs... In addition, new rules are coming, and the Hungarians believe that water polo can be played without centers. I somewhat agree with that, I think it can, but no in the long term. Every player will have to know how to cover every position," explained Savić.
We can have more than 27 candidates for the A team
On Monday in Kotor, "Ajkule" will start preparations for the qualifying tournament of the A division of the World Cup, which will be played from January 6 to 12 in Otopeni, Romania. It will be Savićević's first action, and he called 27 players for them.
"The list is not definitive - I'm sure that in certain aspects I have to get to know more, we can have more than 27 candidates, so that we can eventually reach the best 18", Savić has no doubts.
He also emphasized that he will not differentiate between younger and more experienced players.
"First of all, they have to get used to me, and at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles they will be three years older. Absolutely if someone deserves to play, age is not a problem. Of course, I would always give preference to a younger player, and I also think that my system it is not difficult to adapt".
About the younger categories, Ferrari and Fiji...
When it comes to young people, the new selector will pay special attention to them, but without pressure.
"Results in the younger categories should be secondary, the most important thing is to create players. We have to create a strategy. My role here is big, as well as that of professional advice. There is potential, we need to get a few players out. It is rare that, like the Croats, In 2012, there will be seven or eight players in the A team in one generation," Savić is clear.
After the memorable results with Serbia, Savić decided on a job that is far from the biggest water polo stories, since he works in Saudi Arabia.
"I wanted to work at a high level and of course there is stress, that's inevitable. However, it's all like driving a car - you either drive a Ferrari or a Fiat, and I drove a Fiat in Saudi Arabia," Savić said honestly.
Vukanić first assistant, Mlađan Janović team manager
With the arrival of Dejan Savić, his coaching staff also became known - his first assistant will be Nenad Vukanić, while the role of team manager will be performed by Mlađan Janović.
For a time, Vukanić was an assistant to the previous coach Gojković, while after that he led France independently.
Mlađan Janović, one of the European champions from Malaga, was the president of Primorje for a short time after his playing career.
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