Dusan Mandic, a three-time Olympic champion and the 2021 Total Player Award winner, has had a truly unforgettable year.
After revitalizing his career at Ferencvaros, Mandic played a pivotal role in leading the Hungarian powerhouse to the Champions League title this summer in Malta. His exceptional form didn’t stop there—he proved his immense value to the Serbian national team by securing his fourth Olympic medal (and third Olympic gold) in Paris.
2024 was a dream year for Mandic, and we are honored to have him once again as a part of the Total Player jury, casting his vote for the ideal seven of the season.
“It was a special year, one that featured three major competitions, with the Paris Olympics being the most important.
Vogel, Argyropoulos, Di Somma, Di Fulvio, Hallock, Buric, Radoslav Filipovic, and Granados are players who also deserve mention for their excellent performances last season. Unfortunately, there’s not enough room for everyone.”
MANDIC’S TOTAL 7
Goalkeeper: Marko Bijac (Croatia)
“The key figure behind his national team’s World Championship title in Doha. Three finals in three major competitions with the national team – a world-class goalkeeper.”
Central defender: Nikola Jaksic (Serbia)
“The captain of the “written-off” team 😉. He scored one of the most beautiful goals in the quarterfinal against Greece.”
Centre forward: Nemanja Vico (Serbia)
“He surpassed himself, delivering an incredible performance at the Paris tournament and playing a crucial role in winning the Olympic gold medal.”
Right side 1: Nikola Dedovic (Serbia) – MVP
“He played phenomenally in Paris. I believe he earned more penalties than any other player. The contribution and performances of a right-handed player on the difficult side were crucial at the Olympics.”
Right side 2: Viktor Rasovic (Serbia)
“Another right-handed player on the difficult side. He showed the best version of himself and made a huge contribution in very important moments in Paris.”
Left side 1: Milos Cuk (Serbia)
“His contribution to winning gold in Paris was enormous, both in and out of the pool. His experience was worth its weight in gold.”
Left side 2: Loren Fatovic (Croatia)
“If Bijac is the most important player in Croatia’s defense, Fatovic is the most important in their attack. Counterattacks, assists, goals, and more – an outstanding season for him.”
This year, jurors need to select the best player for each position. From that team, they must choose the one who stood out the most.
Players selected for the team receive 3 points, and the best player earns an additional 5 points.
Check out how did the other jurors voted – Total Player Award 2024
