They are often neglected because their main focus is defense. But every water polo player appreciates a great centre back, who allows them to “rest” a bit more while defending. If they are also able to score some long-range shots, then they become an essential part of any team. These are the candidates for our Timeless Centre Back position:
Women
Evgeniia Soboleva
National team: Russia
Soboleva’s row of medals with Russia’s national team started in 2006, with the bronze in the World Cup. She won one Olympic bronze (2016), three consecutive bronze medals at the World Championships (2007, 2009, 2011), two titles of the European championships (2008 and 2010), and 2nd place at this year’s continental championship. VOTE
Evangelia Moraitidou
National team: Greece
In the early 2000s, Greece became one of the leading countries in women’s water polo. One of the Greek team’s key players at the beginning of the 21st century was Evangelia Moraitidou. She won the Olympic silver in 2004, the title of the World Champion in 2005, and the bronze in 2007. She was part of Vouliagmeni, which won the 2010 LEN Euro League and 2003 LEN Trophy. VOTE
Blanca Gil
National team: Spain
Blanca Gil Sorli didn’t win many medals at the major competitions for the national teams. She was the silver-medalist at the 2008 European Championship. Gil has several 4th, 5th, and 6th places at FINA and LEN tournaments. But, she left her mark in three strong national leagues, playing for Mediterrani, Sabadell (Spain), Orizzonte Catania, ASD Rome (Italy), Olympiacos (Greece), etc. She won two titles in the Euroleague with Orizzonte (2005, 2006), and the 2007 LEN Trophy (ASD Rome). She received several awards for the best scorer and MVP of the big competitions and the national leagues. VOTE
Lauren Wenger
National team: USA
Lauren Wenger helped Team USA win two Olympic medals (bronze in 2008 and silver in 2008). She climbed the podium at the World Championships (gold – 2007 and 2009, and silver – 2005). Wenger has two golds at the Pan American Games (2007 and 2011), and several gold medals won in the World League. VOTE
Melissa Seidemann
National team: USA
Mellissa Seidemann has been playing for the Team USA since 2010. She has collected 18 medals in the last ten years. Just one of these 18 isn’t gold. She is a two-time Olympic champion (2012 and 2016), has three gold medals at the World Championships (2015, 2017, 2019), three at the Pan American Games (2011, 2019), two in the FINA World Cup (2010 and 2014). Seidemann has captured and nine gold and one bronze medal in the World League. VOTE
Yasemin Smit
National team: Netherlands
Yasemin Smit was the captain of the Dutch team, which achieved the most significant success in the history of the Netherlands’ water polo by winning the gold medal at the 2008 Olympic Games. Besides the Olympic title, she captured the silver medal at the 2015 World Championships, three medals at the European Championships (silver – 2014 and 2016, bronze – 2010), and one bronze in the World League (2015). Smit was named the MVP of the 2016 European Championship. VOTE
Hannah Buckling
National team: Australia
Shortly after leaving the junior team, Hannah Buckling became a regular member of Australia’s senior national team. She has clinched two medals at the World Championships (silver – 2013, bronze – 2019), and has one Olympic appearance (Rio 2016) so far. VOTE
Rowena Webster
National team: Australia
Rowena “Rowie” Webster, the current Australian team captain, has played more than 300 games for the “Stringers”. She has won the bronze at the 2012 Olympics. Webster has two medals won at the World Championships (silver – 2013, bronze – 2019), two in the World League (silver-2010, bronze – 2009), and the bronze medal from the 2010 World Cup. VOTE
Men
Attila Vari
National team: Hungary
Attila Vari climbed the highest step of the Olympic podium twice. He won gold medals at the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games. Vari played for the national team of Hungary for more than ten years and has 16 medals at FINA, LEN, and IOC competitions. Besides two Olympic golds, he won the World title (2003), two gold medals at the European championships (1997 and 1999), two in the World League (2003 and 2004), and one in the FINA World Cup (1999). In 2004, he was part of the team of Honved, which won the Euro League (Champions League). VOTE
Andro Buslje
National team: Croatia
Buslje is the only water polo player who has won seven medals at the FINA World Championships (two golds in 2007 and 2017, one silver and four bronze medals). Buslje was the Olympic champion in 2012, and the runner-up in 2016. Besides mentioned nine, he has eight medals at major competitions, including the title of the European Champion (2010) and the World League gold (2012). He has been Croatia captain since 2017. At club level, Andro Buslje lifted two winning trophies in the Champions League – in 2006 with Jug, and in 2018 with Olympiacos. VOTE
Barnabas Steinmetz
National team: Hungary
Barnabas Steinmetz won two Olympic gold medals playing for Hungary (2000, 2004), the title at the 2003 World Championships, and two European golds (1997 and 1999). In total, he has nine medals with Hungary. He took two trophies in the Cup Winners’ Cup (with Ferencvaros in 1998 and Posillipo five years later). VOTE
Dejan Savic
National teams: Yugoslavia/Serbia and Montenegro/Serbia
Dejan Savic is the most capped player in the history of the national teams of Yugoslavia, Serbia and Montenegro and Serbia. He represented his countries in 444 matches. Savic won three Olympic medals (silver in 2004, and bronze medals in 2000 and 2008). He has 19 medals with the national team, nine of them gold (2005 World Championships, 2001, 2003 and 2006 European Championships, 2006 World Cup and three titles in World Leagues). Savic clinched two LEN Cup trophies (with Partizan and Sintez Kazan). VOTE
Maurizio Felugo
National team: Italy
Felugo is one of the most successful water polo players in the history of European cups. He clinched six trophies in the Champions League in 11 years, with two clubs: Posillipo (2004) and Pro Recco (2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2015). Playing for Italy, he took the gold medal at the 2011 World Championships and the Olympic silver a year later. Felugo has a total of nine trophies with the national team. VOTE
Vanja Udovicic
National teams: Serbia and Montenegro/Serbia
Udovicic’s most significant achievements are three Olympic medals (silver in 2004, bronzes in 2008 and 2012), two titles of the World champion (2005, 2009), three gold medals at the European Championships (2003, 2006, 2012), seven golds in World League and two winning trophies in the FINA World Cup (2006 and 2010). He won 24 medals at major competitions. Playing for Pro Recco, Udovicic won two Champions Leagues – 2008 and 2010. In 2010, he was the best water polo player in the world by FINA and the best in Europe by LEN. He was voted the MVP of several tournaments – 2009 World Championships, 2010 Champions League F4, 2010 European Championships, 2010 World Cup. VOTE
Vladimir Vujasinovic
National teams: Yugoslavia/Serbia and Montenegro/Serbia
Vladimir Vujasinovic captured 17 medals representing Yugoslavia, Serbia and Montenegro, and Serbia. He climbed the Olympic podium three times (silver in Athens 2004, and two bronze medals in 2000 and 2008). He has one title of the World Champion (2005) and three gold medals at the European Championships (2001, 2003, 2006). At club level, Vujasinovic won more than 40 trophies, including four Champions League trophies (Pro Recco 2003, 2007, 2008 and Partizan 2011), two LEN Cups, etc. He led Serbia and Montenegro/Serbia as a captain from 2003 to 2008. He was named the best athlete of Serbia and Montenegro in 2003 and the MVP of the 2001 European Championships. VOTE
Aleksandar Ivovic
National team: Montenegro
Playing for Montenegro, Aleksandar Ivovic has won seven trophies. The series started with the title of the European champion in 2008. After that, he won two more gold medals, both in the World League. He has three Olympic appearances. Ivovic has three Champions League trophies in his treasury (2010, 2012, 2015 with Pro Recco). The Swimming World Magazine elected him as the best water polo player in the world in 2015. He was the top scorer at the 2013 (along with Sandro Sukno) and 2019 World Championships. Ivovic was elected as the best athlete of Montenegro two times in a row (2015 and 2016). VOTE
