Former player of national teams of Yugoslavia and Montenegro and the 2004 Olympic silver medalist Vladimir Gojković has been guiding Montenegro as a head coach since 2015.
In the last six years, he led Montenegro to the silver medal at the 2016 European Championships, the title in the 2018 World League, etc.
This year, Montenegro won first place in the World Olympic Qualification Tournament in Rotterdam and gold in the World League.
1. Dusko Pijetlovic (SRB)
Serbian National Player | Clubs: Szolnok, Novi Beograd | Position: Centre-forward
Pijetlović won the Olympic gold and had a fantastic season with Szolnok. Nobody expected that Szolnok would win the Hungarian League. In my opinion, he is a player who has changed water polo in the last ten years. I believe that he also deserves to be the best player of the year once, at least by my choice.
2. Filip Filipović (SRB)
Serbian National Player | Clubs: Szolnok, Olympiacos | Position: Wing
In the previous two years, Filipović was maybe on a slightly lower level than we are used to expecting of him. But he was excellent this season again. He played at an extremely high level in all crucial matches of the Olympic Games.
3. Aleksandar Ivović (MNE)
Montenegrin National Player | Club: Pro Recco | Position: Centre-back
Ivović is a player who makes the biggest difference, and he proved that in the Olympic Qualification Tournament in Rotterdam. He led our weakened team to 1st place and Tokyo. Afterward, he won the World League. It’s enough to say that he clinched the Champions league as Pro Recco captain.
4. Dušan Mandić (SRB)
Serbian National Player | Clubs: Pro Recco, Novi Beograd | Position: Wing
Mandić has been one of Serbia’s key players. He has improved his play considerably in the last two years. He won the Champions League and the Olympic gold.
5. Nikola Jakšić (SRB)
Serbian National Player | Clubs: Ferencvaros, Novi Beograd | Position: Centre-back
Perhaps, he was Serbia’s most valuable player at the Olympic Games. Jakšić has been on the main stage for years. However, he never had a more important role in the team than he had this year. He was great in each game in both directions – defense and attack.
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