This summer, immediately after the Olympic Games in Paris, a nine-year era ended Vladimir Gojković on the bench of the water polo national team of Montenegro, and the last days of November officially started a new one.
He sat on the "shark" bench a little over a month ago Dejan Savic, another celebrated player from the area of the former Yugoslavia, but also an expert who made incredible successes with Serbia and marked a period in world water polo.
Everything is known about Dejan Savić as a player, and no matter how big a name he was with the cap on his head, it is even bigger now that he is in the coaching role - in short and clearly, as a selector he has become a giant.
Among the active coaches, whether they are in the club or the national team, there is hardly a name that carries with it more flair than the popular Deki - Montenegro has such a person at the head of the senior team now, and it must take advantage of that. To begin with, to return to the fight for medals at the biggest competitions, and when and if he reaches that level, then to start winning them...
Savić certainly cannot be a guarantee of success, it does not exist in sports, but it can be said that he is synonymous with high ambitions - the same ambition for the "sharks" to be the cream of the crop again was shown by the Water Polo Association of Montenegro, which has been looking for for the selector had a clear intention to hire the 49-year-old from Belgrade.
"WE WILL BE READY FOR THE FIRST RIDE"
Ten days ago, Savić gathered the national team members at the start of the preparations for the qualification tournament of the A division of the World Cup (from January 6 to 12 in Romania), and at the beginning of the interview for "Vijesti" he referred to the statement he made at the presentation in Podgorica on the 21st. December.
Then he said that "the machine made by the players did not break down and he did not come to fix it, but to turn it on".
- It takes time for all things to fit together - a little more oil, pour gasoline, remove rust and we will be ready for the first drive. Impressions from the beginning of the preparations are positive, the candidates are working hard and not giving up - Savić vividly explained.
The tournament in Romania is an ideal test for Savić and the "sharks", because they won't even have pressure to score. Namely, Montenegro will be the host of the Superfinal of the World Cup, and therefore has a guaranteed place in the final.
- Our job has been made easier by having an organization, so we can focus on ourselves and not think so much about the result. We should focus on playing together and preventing or reducing the volume of mistakes - said Savić.
And what kind of team will Savić have at his disposal and how much can he improve it? Montenegro no longer has top class players, the time of brothers has passed Janović, Vladimir Gojković, Boris Zloković, Predrag Jokić, Aleksandar Ivović, Miloš Šćepanović...
These are different times, so it's no coincidence that our selection won the last medal from major competitions five years ago from the European Championship in Budapest (bronze).
- I don't like to compare things and generations, I think there is no basis for that. It's the same as if we were to draw a parallel now as to who is better - Muhammad Ali or Mike Tyson. It makes no sense - Savić is clear.
On the bench of the national team, he succeeded Vladimir Gojković, who was the coach since September 2015. He replaced a former teammate from the club and the national team, but also a great friend with whom he talks a lot about water polo. He also spoke after assuming office, and Gojković himself recently said that "the arrival of Savić is the best thing that could have happened to Montenegrin water polo".
- Of course Vlado and I talked! We talked and he told me a lot. And what did he tell me? I will keep that for myself... Gojković left a big mark in water polo and he must not be neglected because he represents the pearl of knowledge transfer. Of course, subjective thinking is always present because he is like a younger brother to me, a supporter and a great man - said Savić about the recent coach and legend of Montenegrin sports.
MONTENEGRO WATER POLO HAS ALWAYS BEEN AND WILL BE PART OF THE WORLD SCENE
And what is the status of Montenegro in world water polo? Savić does not believe that his arrival raises the rating of the former European champion, who last played in the semi-finals of the EP, WC or OI in January 2020.
- Montenegrin water polo has always been and will be a part of the world scene. That status was built a long time ago, it's just about results and creating continuity of success.
With Serbia, which he led from 2012 to 2022, he had both results and continuity of success, although not everything started as Savić imagined. Thus, at the first major competition with the "dolphins", at the World Championship in Barcelona, he was eliminated in the quarter-finals - the better team was Montenegro, which a few days later became the vice-champion of the world.
A year later, Serbia defeated our national team in the semifinals of the European Championship in Budapest, even though they had four goals on three occasions. Then she won the title, perhaps turning the wheel of history in her favor. After her, the successes began to line up...
- What happened with Serbia is just a fond memory. To answer the question of whether that victory marked the beginning of dominance, I would first go back to the defeat by Montenegro in the quarter-finals of the World Cup in Barcelona in 2013. That match had a great influence on the development of events and everything that happened later - Savić notes that sometimes even failures can be the beginning of something great...
And everyone who follows water polo knows what happened after that victory over the "sharks". Serbia was European champion three times in a row (2014, 2016 and 2018), world champion (2015), won two Olympic golds (2016 and 2021)...
All this, of course, with Savić and his charisma with which he captivated by the water, so it is clear why the Montenegrin public believes that such a coach can launch them to the top.
Dejan Savić won 16 medals as the coach of Serbia. Of these, as many as 14 gold medals, two of which are Olympic - in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro and in 2021 in Tokyo. He was European champion three times on the "dolphin" bench, he also has gold and bronze from the world championships...
And what does he consider to be a good result on the bench of a team that has not played a semi-final for five years? Savić answered specifically:
- Only medals represent success. I think that the answer imposed itself - said the fourth selector in the history of the Montenegrin water polo national team.
The Arabs understood the seriousness of the negotiations with the VPSCG
The position of head coach of the Montenegrin water polo national team is not the only appointment for Savić - he also leads the Saudi club Al Kadisi, on whose bench he has been sitting since November last year.
It was his involvement in the Middle East that was a certain problem in taking over the "sharks", but the negotiations ended successfully. Savić will thus have two jobs until the summer, and after that he will devote himself only to the Montenegrin national team.
- Negotiations with the leaders of the Water Polo and Swimming Federation of Montenegro lasted ten days. We would have agreed much earlier if my engagement in Saudi Arabia had not been a problem. In the end, the Arabs understood the seriousness and importance of the negotiations, so I owe them a lot of gratitude for the concessions - said Savić.
The last months of 2024 were also marked by the decisions of "World Aquatics" to launch new water polo rules in their competitions - with shorter dimensions, less time to attack... All this was met with resistance from coaches and players across Europe, but so far without results.
- Will the new rules suit us? It is not at all a question of whether and to whom it will answer. It is up to us to accept them as soon as possible and to fit in. More precisely, to adapt as soon as possible - concluded Savić.
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