Serbia’s national team gathered on Friday evening in Kragujevac as preparations officially began for the upcoming European Championship, set to take place in Belgrade from 10–26 January 2026. The opening weekend included introductory training sessions on Saturday and Sunday, marking the first phase of the build-up to one of the most significant events in the Serbian water polo calendar.
National team coach Uroš Stevanović has called up 23 players for the initial training camp:
Goalkeepers:
Radoslav Filipović (Radnički), Vladimir Mišović (Crvena zvezda), Milan Glušac (Novi Beograd), Radosav Virijević (Valis), Mihajlo Gošić (Sava).
Centres:
Nikola Murišić (Radnički), Nemanja Vico (Primorac), Đorđe Lazić (Jadran HN).
Defenders:
Sava Randjelović (Radnički), Nikola Jakšić (Radnički), Radomir Drašović (Marseille), Dušan Trtović (Novi Beograd), Petar Jakšić (Radnički), Luka Pljevančić (Novi Beograd).
Field Players:
Miloš Ćuk (Novi Beograd), Strahinja Rašović (Radnički), Nikola Lukić (Novi Beograd), Vasilije Martinović (Novi Beograd), Nikola Dedović (Radnički), Dušan Mandić (Ferencváros), Viktor Rašović (Radnički), Vuk Milojević (Novi Beograd), Luka Gladović (Novi Beograd).
Experienced right-hander Strahinja Rašović spoke positively about the opening of camp:
“We have only just started – these are introductory sessions, the kind you expect when preparing for a major competition. The atmosphere is excellent, everyone is motivated, and playing in the Belgrade Arena is a huge inspiration for us.”
The first days of camp also included activities with team sponsors. Serbia will host Romania in Kragujevac from 10–12 December for a series of sparring sessions.
Looking ahead, Rašović added:
“This is just the first phase. After Kragujevac, we head to Kranj for conditioning work – that will be the most physically demanding part. Then we move to Athens, followed by the tournament in Trebinje. There isn’t much time before Belgrade, so we have to make every day count.”
The European Championship returns to the Belgrade Arena a decade after Serbia famously defeated Montenegro in front of a record crowd. Four members of that 2016 squad are part of the current preparations: Sava Randjelović, Nikola Jakšić, Miloš Ćuk, and Dušan Mandić.
Serbia will continue to refine their squad over the coming weeks as they aim to challenge for the continental title on home soil.
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