Whether he is by the pool during a settled domestic or regional league match or in a match at the Olympic Games, his motive and desire to win are always the same.
Vladimir Gojkovic left the Montenegrin national team a little less than a year ago, returned to Jadran M:tel, but remained maximally dedicated - the epilogue is the new title that the legendary water polo player brought to his club as a coach.
- If I don't have what I have now, then it's better for me not to do this job anymore. I'm happy, I love Jadran, I've been here my whole life and we're trying to keep everything going in quite turbulent times when finances in water polo are not ideal - Gojković told "Vijesti".
His chosen ones were better than their biggest rival Primorac in the playoff final, so Gojković brought another one to Škver after six titles in his first term.
- I love what I do and I hope my motivation won't drop. Sport without enthusiasm has no real dimension - added Gojković.
Now the quality is higher
How different was it to win the title now compared to the previous ones won from 2014 to 2019?
- The first one was won practically with the children, when we turned things around after Budva held the lead. And then we became more and more dominant year after year, so the question of whether we would be champions was no longer even raised - Gojković recalled.
However...
- Primorac's title last season and the beginning of this season were an announcement that the teams would have larger budgets, and in my opinion, the most important thing is that the teams are of better quality now than they were then, and that can only bring improvement to Montenegrin water polo - emphasized the Jadran coach.
The new page in the Adriatic started with a place in the Champions League, but not everything was ideal at first.
- Our goal was to win the title, and after we lost the Cup trophy to Primorac, it became clear that it would be uncertain and that we had an imperative in the championship. Not only because of the Cup, but above all because winning the title brings direct placement in the Champions League. Last year, we reached the European elite through the qualifications, but they are always a double-edged sword.
There were many matches in the region, Europe, Montenegro, and in the end everything came together in the final of the domestic playoff, where Jadran won the title twice through the penalty box and once after a 3:0 turnaround.
- I am happy with this trophy, because I returned after five years in the national team, but also because the championship was very uncertain. I am happy and satisfied with how the team has grown from match to match. In any case, the main difference compared to previous titles is that the quality is now higher and it brings a ticket to the Champions League - Gojković emphasized.
Sorry about the seven days, the team is mostly complete
Jadran's season could have been even better after good performances in Europe and the Regional League.
- The biggest regret remains the final four of the Regional League. We played against Jadran from Split, an exceptional team that became the Croatian champion with a 3:0 win. We simply weren't up to par after 17 wins in a row at home, and I think we had to go through then because of our form and everything. During those seven days, we didn't score in two important games - that one and the quarter-finals of the Eurocup, when a single goal decided the outcome against Mladost - said Gojković.
His next words perhaps best illustrate how successful the season has been in other areas, in addition to the title.
- I think we were the seventh or eighth team in the Regional League in terms of budget, and we finished the league part first in the standings.
As soon as the curtain has come down on this season, Jadran and his coach are already thinking about the next one.
- We have mostly closed the team for next season - some players are leaving, we have also arranged some arrivals. There may be some more reinforcements in addition to that - revealed Gojković.
He said goodbye to water polo. Aleksandar Ivović, and besides the legend, the club was also left by Danilo Radovic (Posilipo), Uroš Vučurović (Telimar Palermo), Darko Đurović (Šabac) and Vuk Milojević (Red Star).
- I'm happy for them because they found clubs and made a step forward in their careers - even though everything was over before the playoffs, they had motivation and we finished the final series in the right way as a group - Gojković underlined.
Leka raises the team from average to top level
Together with Vladimir Gojković, Aleksandar Ivović returned to Jadran at the beginning of the season - after winning the title, one of the best water polo players in the world of the last decade said goodbye to water polo.
- I often told the other players - he is the man who was the captain of Pro Reka, the team that was the water polo Real Madrid. Let's ask then how much Luka Modrić meant to that football club - Gojković emphasized.
And Ivović meant a lot to Jadran.
- Leka is a top player, maybe the best I've coached. His arrival alone raised the team from average to top level, and the biggest benefit is that the young players were able to see his approach - his every training session and desire to achieve results - concluded Gojković.
From 2003 to 2025, at least one cup
Another season has ended, and Jadran must once again find a place for the trophy in the trophy room.
With the new title, the club from Herceg Novi continued its streak since 2003 of bringing at least one of the most important trophies to Škver.
In 2003, Jadran became the champion of the former country after 44 years, and then continued to win in Serbia and Montenegro, and then even when our country regained its independence.
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