Today, we publish the last part of the series of articles about Jadran Herceg Novi’s history.
The club, founded on July 8, 1922, achieved significant results in the 21st century.
At the end of the article, you can find some stats about Jadran’s most successful athletes.
INTO THE NEW MILLENNIUM WITH MEDALS, CUPS AND THE TITLE OF EUROPEAN VICE-CHAMPION (2002 – 2011)
The doors of the new millennium were wide open. In terms of its organization, the Club was fully prepared to jump into the new period. The first team was doing an excellent job. In addition to a number of brilliant water polo players – Gojković, Jokić, Zloković, Vukčević, Šćepanović, Ivović, Prlainović, the Club hired Šefik and Strugar, as experienced players, whereas native Krivokapić was the team captain. All that under Petar Porobić’s guidance strengthened the hope and faith that Jadran was going to the very top. Younger water polo players were coached in a well-organized and planned manner so that several juniors were candidates for the first team each year. The swimmers, coached by Ivan Zuber and with the help of junior Ristović, Adrović and Željko Ivičević, were doing a great job.
Petar Porobić and his assistant Mirko Blažević with the players, 2002
The club advanced in each segment. In summer 2002, the club opened Sport Caffe at the Škver–its own magnificent bar, which was renovated with the help of its friends – partners. Everything was gradually falling into place. The townspeople and fans have recognized its good work and top quality so that the Club and its first team got unprecedented support. The stands were always full.
A game in Herceg Novi in the pool in Igalo, 2005
Young players were growing up and getting stronger. The team was reinforced by the left-handed Mesaroš, and everything was ready. The interest shown for the home and European competition matches was tremendous. The scenery and decorations of the swimming pool proved that Jadran became a great club.
The champions of Serbia and Montenegro 2003
The moment has come: on 19 April 2003, Jadran won 1st place in a national competition after 44 years, Jadran became the champion! The support to the Club was bigger than anyone could ever remember and provided by every single person – from Cikota to the youngest players, or, in one word: “Everybody’s for Jadran”.
Nobody either could or wanted to stop this spontaneous celebration. Many thousands of Herceg Novi town people cheered and carried club flags, banners, and torches. They came to Škver, followed by the first team, coaches and management members. With much singing, thunderous cheering, and chanting, the joy spread all around, and the celebration lasted well into the night. Drinks and food were free. The party culminated with fireworks, which will remain in eternal memory. Participants had an impression of watching, staring or even directing the most beautiful and long-desired movie.
The packed stands at the celebration of the title in 2003
There were also rewards, recognitions, cups, medals, plaque awards, proclamations, and receptions. Jadran was simply loved.
Everything achieved after that was of top quality and won by victory, but never so emotional again. The emotions have probably accumulated for 44 years and erupted like a volcano at the right moment – something that’s very difficult to describe.
The coaches Porobić (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006), Krivokapić (2007 and 2008), Mustur (2009 and 2010) and Tucak (2010 and 2011) won six titles of national champion, five national Cups, two Regional/ Adriatic Leagues, the title of the European vice-champion (2004) – and all this in the first decade of the new millennium.
The champions of Serbia and Montenegro, 2005
Jadran had the European and the world champions, Olympic medals, the best sportsmen and sportswomen of Montenegro, and was the pride of the town, the Bay of Kotor, and entire Montenegro. The swimmers of Jadran also won titles: 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011, in addition to who knows how many titles won by junior water polo players.
The first title in the Regional League, 2010
In this millennium, Jadran has “resurrected” in the true sense of the word.
DREAM OF 90 JADRAN”s GENERATIONS HAS COME TRUE – – SWIMMING POOL AT ŠKVER (2012 – 2021)
After having won two titles – the Championship and the Cup of Montenegro, the head coach of the first team Ivica Tucak left Jadran.
But, one of the most important things in the Club’s history was happening: Jadran came in its original place – the legendary Škver – again. The Club has got a magnificent outdoor swimming pool built according to all applicable European standards. We named it Jadran to represent the Club symbolically and belong to all its members and fans. With a lot of perseverance and efforts put in by the Club President Đuro Marić with the help of others – Jadran got the facility it is proud of.
The new pool in Škver
The swimming pool was opened with a spectacular ceremony on 19 July 2012, which was attended by numerous distinguished guests and Jadran’s people of all generations. It was built by the Kotor-based company Yu-Briv according to the project designed by the architect Veljko Radulović of Herceg Novi. This investment proved immediately to be justified. The quality of the Club’s performance in all segments and categories during the six-month summer period raised to a higher level, whereas the number of children who joined the Club was significantly increased. But what’s more important for the tourist industry of Herceg Novi, 23 national teams and over a hundred foreign clubs chose this town and this swimming pool for their preparations. Many of them have done it several times.
The first match in the new pool, Montenegro – Spain, 19 July 2012
The results were evident! Younger water polo categories were dominant both in Montenegro and in the region. Jadran’s water polo school and the creation of top players have been recognized and appreciated throughout Europe.
However, the chronic lack of money didn’t allow us to keep our stars. Instead, they joined other clubs for many times the amount we can offer. A similar situation was with the coaches. What were we left with? The work with the younger and always young and promising first team. The goal was to be dominant in Montenegro, at the top of the regional league, and continuously fight in European competitions.
The coaches Vladimir Gojković (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019) and Petar Radanović (2020 and 2021) won eight national championships and nine national Cups. Although no championship took place in 2020 due to COVID 19, we were officially named “the most successful club”. Moreover, it should be added that we played in the Euro Cup finals in the 2018/2019 season and won 2nd place.
Gojković and Radanović
Unfortunately, the General Sponsorship Agreement with the Carine company that was in force from 2015 through 2019 hasn’t been extended.
In this period, the Club’s Trophy Hall was completed and now houses all documents, statistic data, competitors’ identification cards, a photo library with over 3.200 pictures, cups, plaque awards, medals, diplomas, charters, thank-you notes, and many other things, all properly archived and digitalized.
Who else has it?
All of them who are attached to Jadran in any way – both the old and young ones feel great respect and pride in the Jadran’s Trophy Hall where each exhibit has its own story.
Jadran HN, Montenegrin champion 2020/21
The events confirmed it once again – Jadran is the strongest during its toughest times. The roof of the Institute Igalo’s swimming pool collapsed, leaving Jadran unable to organize training during winter. The Club Management reacted quickly and knowledgeably. As a result, a huge project was completed in a record time of several months only – a pneumatic balloon was installed at the Škver, and the training could continue in December 2021. The swimming pool cover hasn’t impaired the recognizable ambiance of our Škver, at all. So the project has deserved all the praise it got.
Being proud of everything that was done, achieved, and won, we are waiting for the Jubilee!
In the year of Jubilee, Jadran added another trophy. It recently won the Montenegrin Championships – the 8th consecutive title in the national league.
Jadran’s Top 10
Players with the most seasons spent at Jadran
Predrag Stanišić
1.Stanišić Predrag – Bato 23
2.Stanišić Božidar – Cikota 17
3.Šćepanović Miloš 17
4. Marić Zoran – Zoro 16
5. Pejović Bojica 16
6. Lazarević Boris – Boro 16
7.Pečurica Mihailo – Pećo 15
8.Gojković Vladimir – Vlado 15
9. Mračević Boro 14
10. Andrić Željko – Trle 14
Players with the most games played for Jadran
1.Stanišić Predrag – Bato 536 matches
2.Šćepanović Miloš 529 matches
3.Gojković Vladimir – Vlado 431 matches
4.Andrić Željko – Trle 361 matches
5.Krivokapić Veselin – Vesko 357 matches
6.Mračević Boro 347 matches
7.Sekulić Luka 345 matches
8.Pejović Bojica 331 matches
9.Kandić Slaven 315 matches
10.Lazarević Boris – Boro 309 matches
The best scorers in the club’s history
Boris Lazarević
1. Lazarević Boris – Boro 669 goals
2.Zloković Stanko 646 goals
3.Gojković Vladimir – Vlado 583 goals
4.Mustur Zoran – Zoz 559 goals
5.Ivović Aleksandar – Leka 511 goals
6. Mračević Boro 446 goals
7.Pečurica Mihailo – Pećo 357 goals
8.Jokić Predrag – Peđa 345 goals
9.Stanišić Božidar – Cikota 344 goals
10. Nikčević Zoran 322 goals
Jadran’s Olympians
Dejan Dabović was the first athlete who started a career in Jadran to win Olympic gold (Mexico City, 1968)
Olympians who started swimming or playing water polo at Jadran: 1. Boris Čukvas (water polo, Rome 1960 – 4th place), 2. Đuro Radan (water polo, Rome 1960 – 4th place), 3. Božidar – Cikota Stanišić (water polo, Rome 1960 – 4th place and Tokyo 1964 – 2nd place), 4. Dejan Dabović (water polo, Mexico City 1968 – 1st place and Montreal 1976. – 5th place), 5. Zoran Mustur (water polo, Moscow 1980. – 2nd place), 6. Vaso Subotić (water polo, Atlanta 1996. – 8th place), 7. Duška Radan,(swimming, Atlanta 1996.- 50 and 100m free, Sidney 2000. – 50m free), 8. Vladimir Gojković (water polo, Athens 2004 – 2nd place, Beijing 2008 – 4th place, London 2012. – 4th place), 9. Predrag Jokić (water polo, Athens 2004 – 2nd place, Beijing 2008 – 4th place, London 2012 – 4th place and Rio 2016 – 4th place), 10. Miloš Šćepanović (water polo, Beijing 2008 – 4th place, London 2012. – 4th place, Rio 2016 – 4th place),
11. Boris Zloković (water polo, Beijing 2008 – 4th place, London 2012. – 4th place), 12. Nikola Vukčević (water polo, Beijing 2008 – 4th place), 13. Aleksandar Ivović (water polo, Beijing 2008 – 4th place, London 2012. – 4th place, Rio 2016 4th place, Tokyo 2021 – 8th place), 14. Andrija Prlainović (water polo, Beijing 2008 – 3rd place, London 2012 – 3rd place, Rio 2016 – 1st place, and Tokyo 2021 – 1st place), 15. Aleksandar Radović (water polo, London 2012. – 4th place, Rio 2016 – 4th place), 16. Saša Mišić (water polo, Rio 2016 – 4th place), 17. Jovana Terzić (swimming,Rio 2016 – 100m free), 18. Slaven Kandić (water polo, Tokyo 2021 – 8th place), 19. Stefan Vidović (water polo, Tokyo 2021 – 8th place), 20. Popadić Vlado (water polo, Tokyo 2021 – 8th place),
21. Vladan Spaić (water polo, Tokyo 2021 – 8th place), 22. Aleksa Ukropina (water polo, Tokyo 2021 – 8th place), 23. Dušan Banićević (water polo, Tokyo 2021 – 8th place), 24. Petar Tešanović (water polo ,Tokyo 2021 – 8th place), 25. Anđela Antunović (swimming,Tokyo 2021 – 100m free)
Olympians who competed in Jadran, but didn’t start their careers at this club: 1. Boško Vuksanović (water polo, Helsinki 1952 – 2nd place and Melbourne 1956. – 2nd place), 2. Dragoslav Šiljak (water polo, Helsinki 1952 – 2nd place), 3. Milan Muškatirović (water polo, Rome 1960 – 4th place, Tokyo 1964. – 2nd place), 4. Slobodan Bobo Kićović (swimming, Rome 1960 – 1500m free), 5. Denis Šefik (water polo, Athens 2004 – 2nd place, Beijing 2008 – 3rd place, London 2012.- 4th place), 6. Vanja Udovičić (water polo, Athens 2004 – 2nd place, Beijing 2008 – 3rd place, London 2012.-3rd place), 7. Slobodan Nikić (water polo, Athens 2004 – 2nd place, Beijing 2008 – 3rd place, London 2012. – 3rd place, Rio 2016 – 1st place), 8. Nikola Janović (water polo, Beijing 2008 – 4th place, London 2012. – 4th place), 9. Slobodan Soro (water polo, Beijing 2008 – 3rd place, London 2012. – 3rd place, Rio 2016 – 8th place), 10. Dragan Drašković (water polo, London 2012. – 4th place), 11. Danijel Premuš (water polo, London 2012. – 2nd place), 12. Filip Klikovac (water polo, Rio 2016 – 4th place), 13. Marko Petković (water polo, Tokyo 2021 – 8th place)
Articles about Jadran’s history
