Jadran Split has appointed a new coach.
Jure Marelja will succeed Mile Smodlaka, who left the first team several days ago.
Marelja arrives in Split from Sibenik. He coached Solaris in the previous two and a half seasons. Before that he was Solaris’ assistant coach.
Marelja (42) started his playing career in Solaris. He was a center-forward. Jadran Split was one of the clubs Marelja played for . Immediately after his retirement as a player (in 2019), he became Solaris’ assistant coach.
He has been working on the coaching staff of the Croatian national team for a while. Marelja was Ivica Tucak’s assistant coach at the European Championships in Split, where the Croats won the gold medal.
Jure Marelja after gold in Split Photo: Total Waterpolo
Coaching Solaris, Marelja guided the club in the LEN Euro Cup. This season, the SIbenik-based club reached the second qualification round of the second-tier LEN competition for clubs.
Solaris, currently in 5th place in the Croatian League, has to find a new head coach.
“It wasn’t easy to leave the club where I started my playing and coaching career. All the time spent together with the team, colleagues, administration, and employees strengthened the relations with the club and the hometown even more. We shared everything, victories, defeats, sadness, joy, and togetherness were born along the way. I am proud of the period that is behind us, it will be impossible to forget everything we went through together. However, new challenges could not wait. I wish Solaris all the best in the future.”, Marelja said for Solaris’ official Facebook page.
Marelja will debut on Jadran’s bench on Friday in the match against Medvescak.
