Vladimir Vujasinović has been appointed as the new head coach of the Serbian men’s national team, the Water Polo Federation of Serbia confirmed this morning.
One of the greatest players in the history of the sport, Vujasinović now takes charge of Serbia at a pivotal moment, following a turbulent period that has included an announced boycott of the national team by 11 players.
As a player, Vujasinović enjoyed an outstanding career. A former captain of the national team, he was one of the leaders of a generation that won numerous medals at the highest level between the 1990s and 2008, when he retired from international water polo.
At club level, he represented Primorje, Crvena zvezda, Barcelona, Partizan, Roma and Pro Recco, winning 37 trophies, including four EuroLeague titles. With the national team, he won four major gold medals: the 2005 World Championship, as well as the 2001, 2003 and 2006 European Championships. He also collected four silver and four bronze medals, and in 2001 was named World Water Polo Player of the Year.
Since beginning his coaching career with Partizan in 2012, Vujasinović has coached Partizan, Pro Recco, Novi Beograd and Greece’s Vouliagmeni. It has not yet been confirmed whether he will remain with Vouliagmeni, although the Serbian federation allows its national team head coach to also lead a foreign club.
Vujasinović also returns to familiar surroundings within the Serbian national team setup. He previously served as assistant coach to Dejan Savić during Serbia’s golden era, when the team won Olympic gold in 2016, the 2015 World Championship, the 2014 and 2016 European Championships, and four consecutive World League titles between 2013 and 2016.
He has also coached Serbia’s junior national team, winning medals at both European and World age-group championships.
At club level, Vujasinović guided Pro Recco to the Champions League final in 2018 and reached the semifinals of the competition on four occasions: with Partizan in 2013 and 2014, Pro Recco in 2017, and Vouliagmeni in 2023.
“We are confident that Vujasinović, through his authority, expertise and commitment to the national team, will contribute to its further development and the achievement of the highest goals in the years ahead,” the WPF of Serbia announced, adding that his appointment “marks an important moment for both the national team and Serbian water polo as a whole.”
Vujasinović’s current coaching and support staff will include Miloš Korolija and Sergej Sveljo as assistant coaches, alongside doctors Đorđe Ivančević and Goran Lončar, and physiotherapist Dragan Parandilović.
Serbia’s next major assignment will be the Mediterranean Games in August, giving Vujasinović time to begin work with the team.
His appointment comes at a difficult moment, but his leadership, experience and stature within Serbian water polo could prove crucial in helping to steady the national team and put it back on track.
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