Dejan Savić and Montenegro - a year after the debut of the trophy expert and legendary water polo player, it's time for another major competition, the January European Championships in Belgrade.
The "Sharks" coach led our national team for the first time at the World Cup tournament in Bucharest, then at the Superfinal in Podgorica, as well as at the World Championship in Singapore.
Fifth place in a weaker competition and sixth at the World Cup - is the coach satisfied or not?
"It's hard to be satisfied, no coach can ever be completely satisfied, but in 2025, a step forward has been made," believes Savić.
When he arrived, he said that the Montenegrin water polo machine had not broken down and that it was up to him to find a way to turn it on. And, with the right machine, the top is not far away.
"Our goal is for Montenegro to be at the very top of world and European water polo. Where it deserves to be," emphasized Savić.
8
In the last major competitions (Olympics, World Championships, European Championships), Montenegrin water polo players finished in the quarterfinals or earlier.
A year after his debut, Savić and the "Sharks" are facing a new big competition - the European Championship begins on January 10th at the Belgrade Arena.
"Expectations are high. We have a tough group, the competition system is different, but that must not scare us or slow us down."
Montenegro's rivals in the group will be Hungary, France and Malta. The top three teams will continue the competition in the main round in a group that will be completed by the top three from the group that includes Serbia, Spain, the Netherlands and Israel.
The two top-ranked teams from the new group will advance to the semifinals.
"If we take into account the new competition system, the Greek, Croatian and Italian teams have practically one game until the semi-finals, which opens up the question of a long group where everyone can beat everyone," Savić assessed.
European water polo is returning to Belgrade after ten years, and in 2016 Savić defeated Montenegro in the final with Serbia. Now he faces a new challenge in the same place.
"We have a plan, which we are implementing. All candidates are healthy and without injuries, and time will tell everything else. We will be ready for the championship."
Who are the favorites for the European Championship?
"For medals, it's the first four teams from Singapore - Spain, Hungary, Serbia and Greece, and of course Croatia," concluded Savić.
Bonus video:
