Mladjan Janovic (born in 1984), a famous Montenegrin water polo player, announced retirement!
Janovic started to play water polo in his hometown Kotor, in the local club Primorac 19 years ago. He also played for Marseille (France), Savona (Italy), Pro Recco (Italy), Galatasaray (Turkey), Olympiacos (Greece), while his last club was Brescia (Italy). He moved to Brescia in 2017 and left the club this summer.
As a member of the national team of Montenegro, Janovic won three medals at the European championships (gold in 2008 and silvers in 2012 and 2016), a silver at the World Championships in Barcelona 2013 and four medals in the FINA World League (gold in 2009 and 2018, silver in 2010 and bronze in 2014). He was a part of the teams of Montenegro which clinched three 4th places at the Olympic Games (2008, 2012, 2016).
Playing for the national team of Serbia And Montenegro, Janovic clinched the bronze medal in the 2002 World League and at the 2013 World Championships.
At club level, he won a lot of trophies in the national competitions and two LEN Trophies with Savona.
A career full of successes
-I realized that the moment to say goodbye has come. I could endure one more year, but I feel saturated and decided it was over. When I look back, I have a rich career behind me. I am privileged for all that I have gone through, and I am honoured to have been part of the Montenegrin national team – Janovic said at the press conference held in the Water Polo Federation of Montenegro in Podgorica.
He said that he hadn’t suddenly decided to end his career.
–Last year, I thought about retirement, but I realized that now was the moment. I am proud of gold from Malaga. I didn’t win a medal at the Olympics, but I would not change an Olympic medal for any I have won. That Olympic medal is something I certainly regret, but there were many good results.
Mladjan’s elder brother Nikola, who also played for the Montenegrin national team, retired a few years ago. Today, he is the minister of sport and youth In the Government of Montenegro.
–I am also proud to have played with my brother Nikola often throughout my career. Playing for the national team and representing your country, listening to the anthem in major competitions is a pride in itself. It cannot be compared to anything, medals come afterwards.
I want to stay in water polo
Mladjan said that he wanted to stay in water polo. But, he still doesn’t know what he will do in future.
-Kotor is my city. I am ready to help Primorac if they need me.
Janovic thinks that Montenegro will qualify for the 2020 Olympic Games.
–Montenegro has a good team, but it lacks experience because the squad is younger and younger from year to year. Still, I think that we could reach the Games in Tokyo.
Dejan Bajic, the president of the Water Polo Federation of Montenegro, said that the Federation would negotiate with Janovic. Bajic hopes that Janovic will be involved in the work of the Federation.
