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Serbia men's national water polo team

This article is about the Serbian men's national water polo team. For the women's team, see Serbia women's national water polo team. For the national team that played under the flag of Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, see Yugoslavia national water polo team.

Serbia
FINA codeSRB
Nickname(s)Делфини / Delfini
(The Dolphins)
AssociationWater Polo Association of Serbia
ConfederationLEN (Europe)
Head coachUroš Stevanović
Asst coachMiloš Ćirić
Stefan Ćirić
CaptainNikola Jakšić
Most capsDejan Savić (444)
Top scorer(s)Aleksandar Šapić (981)
FINA ranking (since 2008)
Current7 (as of 9 August 2021)
Highest1 (2009–2011, 2014–2019)
Lowest7 (2025)
First international
Belgium  7–1  Yugoslavia
(Bologna, Italy; 31 August 1927)
as Serbia
Serbia  13–6  Russia
(Belgrade, Serbia; 1 September 2006)
Biggest win
Yugoslavia  62–0  Guatemala
(Kobe, Japan; 24 August 1985)[1]
as Serbia
Serbia  31–0  Egypt
(Genoa, Italy; 18 June 2008)[2]
Biggest defeat
Belgium  7–1  Yugoslavia
(Bologna, Italy; 31 August 1927)
as Serbia
Hungary  16–7  Serbia
(Split, Croatia; 31 August 2022)
Greece  16–7  Serbia
(Kalang, Singapore; 24 July 2025)
Olympic Games (team statistics)
Appearances20 (first in 1936)
Best resultGold (1968 (YUG), 1984 (YUG), 1988 (YUG), 2016, 2020, 2024)
4-time Olympian(s)Vladimir Vujasinović (1996–2008)
Dejan Savić (1996–2008) Aleksandar Šapić (1996–2008) Duško Pijetlović (2008–2020) Andrija Prlainović (2008–2020) Filip Filipović (2008–2020) Dušan Mandić (2012–2024)
Most medals4-time
Duško Pijetlović (2008–2020)
Andrija Prlainović (2008–2020) Filip Filipović (2008–2020) Dušan Mandić (2012–2024)
Most titles3-time
Dušan Mandić (2012–2024)
Top scorer(s)Aleksandar Šapić
(64 goals, 1996–2008)
Most savesBranislav Mitrović
(130 saves, 2016–2020)
Top sprinter(s)Aleksandar Ćirić
(40 sprints won, 2000–2008)
Flag bearer(s)Mirko Sandić (1972)
Filip Filipović (2020)
World Championship
Appearances20 (first in 1973)
Best resultGold medal – World (1986 (YUG), 1991 (YUG), 2005 (SCG), 2009, 2015)
World Cup
Appearances9 (first in 1997)
Best result1st place, gold medalist(s) (2006, 2010, 2014)
World League
Appearances18 (first in 2003)
Best result1st place, gold medalist(s) (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019)
European Championship
Appearances32 (first in 1927)
Best resultGold (1991 (YUG), 2001 (YUG), 2003 (SCG), 2006, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2026)
Media
Websitewaterpoloserbia.org
Medal record
Event 1st 2nd 3rd
Olympic Games 6 5 3
World Championship 5 2 5
World Cup 5 2 3
World League 12 1 1
European Championship 9 9 5
Europa Cup 0 0 0
Mediterranean Games 4 0 1
Summer Universiade 4 1 2
Total 45 20 20
Men's water polo
Representing FR Yugoslavia /  Serbia and Montenegro /  Serbia
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2016 Rio de Janeiro Team
Gold medal – first place 2020 Tokyo Team
Gold medal – first place 2024 Paris Team
Silver medal – second place 2004 Athens Team
Bronze medal – third place 2000 Sydney Team
Bronze medal – third place 2008 Beijing Team
Bronze medal – third place 2012 London Team
World Championship
Gold medal – first place 2005 Montreal Team
Gold medal – first place 2009 Rome Team
Gold medal – first place 2015 Kazan Team
Silver medal – second place 2001 Fukuoka Team
Silver medal – second place 2011 Shanghai Team
Bronze medal – third place 1998 Perth Team
Bronze medal – third place 2003 Barcelona Team
Bronze medal – third place 2017 Budapest Team
FINA World Cup
Gold medal – first place 2006 Budapest
Gold medal – first place 2010 Oradea
Gold medal – first place 2014 Almaty
Bronze medal – third place 2002 Belgrade
Bronze medal – third place 2018 Berlin
FINA World League
Gold medal – first place 2005 Belgrade
Gold medal – first place 2006 Athens
Gold medal – first place 2007 Berlin
Gold medal – first place 2008 Genova
Gold medal – first place 2010 Niš
Gold medal – first place 2011 Firenze
Gold medal – first place 2013 Chelyabinsk
Gold medal – first place 2014 Dubai
Gold medal – first place 2015 Bergamo
Gold medal – first place 2016 Huizhou
Gold medal – first place 2017 Ruza
Gold medal – first place 2019 Belgrade
Silver medal – second place 2004 Long Beach
Bronze medal – third place 2009 Podgorica
European Championship
Gold medal – first place 2001 Budapest
Gold medal – first place 2003 Kranj
Gold medal – first place 2006 Belgrade
Gold medal – first place 2012 Eindhoven
Gold medal – first place 2014 Budapest
Gold medal – first place 2016 Belgrade
Gold medal – first place 2018 Barcelona
Gold medal – first place 2026 Belgrade
Silver medal – second place 1997 Seville
Silver medal – second place 2008 Málaga
Bronze medal – third place 2010 Zagreb
European Games
Gold medal – first place 2015 Baku
Mediterranean Games
Gold medal – first place 1997 Bari Team
Gold medal – first place 2009 Pescara Team
Gold medal – first place 2018 Tarragona Team
Gold medal – first place 2022 Oran Team
Bronze medal – third place 2005 Almeria Team
Summer Universiade
Gold medal – first place 1995 Fukuoka Team
Gold medal – first place 2005 Izmir Team
Gold medal – first place 2011 Shenzhen Team
Gold medal – first place 2017 Taipei Team
Silver medal – second place 2003 Daegu Team
Bronze medal – third place 2009 Belgrade Team
Bronze medal – third place 2013 Kazan Team
The 2015 world championship team on a Serbian postage stamp

The Serbia men's national water polo team represents Serbia in international men's water polo. It is considered to be one of the most successful men's water polo teams in the world, winning medals in all Olympic tournaments it has entered since 2000.

Serbia has inherited the continuity of results and medals from all former state unions (Yugoslavia, Serbia and Montenegro).[3][4]

Including the results of the former Yugoslav team, Serbia has won three consecutive gold medals in the Olympic water polo tournament (from 2016 to 2024), five World Championships, eight European Championships, three World Cups, record 14FINA World Leagues, four gold medals at Mediterranean Games, four gold medals at Summer Universiades and a gold medal at the first and so far only water polo tournament at the European Games. They won nine straight major competitions: the 2014 World League, 2014 Europeans, 2014 World Cup, 2015 World League, 2015 World Championships, 2016 Europeans, 2016 World League, 2016 Olympics, and 2017 World League. Their golden streak came to an end at the 2017 Worlds when Croatia beat them in the semis, and they had to settle for the bronze medal.[4][5]

In 2016, Serbia became the first national water polo team to simultaneously hold titles in all five existing major championships—European Championship, World Championship, World Cup, World League and Olympic Games.[6] The team holds the record for the most consecutive World League titles, winning five consecutive titles from 2013 to 2017. They are Serbia's most successful national sports team, having won more titles than all other Serbian national teams combined.[7]

Competitive record

Medals

Includes matches of Yugoslavia, Serbia and Montenegro and Serbia[8].

Updated after the 2026 European Championship

Competition 1st place, gold medalist(s) 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Total
Olympic Games 6 5 3 14
World Championship 5 2 5 12
European Championship 9 9 5 23
World Cup 5 2 3 10
World League 12 1 1 14
Europa Cup 0 0 0 0
Mediterranean Games 4 0 1 5
Summer Universiade 4 1 2 7
Total 45 20 20 85

Olympic Games

Main article: Serbia men's Olympic water polo team records and statistics
Year[9] Position
1936 to 1988 part of SFR Yugoslavia
as FR Yugoslavia
Spain 1992 Barcelona suspended
United States 1996 Atlanta 8th
Australia 2000 Sydney
as Serbia and Montenegro
Greece 2004 Athens
as Serbia
China 2008 Beijing
United Kingdom 2012 London
Brazil 2016 Rio de Janeiro
Japan 2020 Tokyo
France 2024 Paris
United States 2028 Los Angeles future events
Australia 2032 Brisbane

World Championship

Year[9] Position
1973 to 1991 part of SFR Yugoslavia
as FR Yugoslavia
Italy 1994 Rome suspended
Australia 1998 Perth
Japan 2001 Fukuoka
as Serbia and Montenegro
Spain 2003 Barcelona
Canada 2005 Montreal
as Serbia
Australia 2007 Melbourne 4th
Italy 2009 Rome
China 2011 Shanghai
Spain 2013 Barcelona 7th
Russia 2015 Kazan
Hungary 2017 Budapest
South Korea 2019 Gwangju 5th
Hungary 2022 Budapest 5th
Japan 2023 Fukuoka 4th
Qatar 2024 Doha 6th
Singapore 2025 Singapore 4th
Hungary 2027 Budapest future events
China 2029 Beijing

European Championship

Year Position
1950 to 1991 part of SFR Yugoslavia
as FR Yugoslavia
United Kingdom 1993 Sheffield suspended
Austria 1995 Vienna did not participate
Spain 1997 Seville
Italy 1999 Florence 7th
Hungary 2001 Budapest
as Serbia and Montenegro
Slovenia 2003 Kranj
as Serbia
Serbia 2006 Belgrade
Spain 2008 Malaga
Croatia 2010 Zagreb
Netherlands 2012 Eindhoven
Hungary 2014 Budapest
Serbia 2016 Belgrade
Spain 2018 Barcelona
Hungary 2020 Budapest 5th
Croatia 2022 Split 9th
Croatia 2024 Dubrovnik and Zagreb 7th
Serbia 2026 Belgrade

World Cup

Year[9] Position
1979 to 1991 part of SFR Yugoslavia
as FR Yugoslavia
Greece 1993 Athens suspended
United States 1995 Atlanta did not participate
Greece 1997 Athens 7th
Australia 1999 Sydney 5th
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia 2002 Belgrade
as Serbia and Montenegro
Hungary 2006 Budapest
as Serbia
Romania 2010 Oradea
Kazakhstan 2014 Almaty
Germany 2018 Berlin
United States 2023 Los Angeles 7th
Romania 2025 Bucharest 9th

World League

Year[9] Position
as FR Yugoslavia
Greece 2002 Patras did not participate
as Serbia and Montenegro
United States 2003 New York 4th
United States 2004 Long Beach
Serbia and Montenegro 2005 Belgrade
Greece 2006 Athens
as Serbia
Germany 2007 Berlin
Italy 2008 Genoa
Montenegro 2009 Podgorica
Serbia 2010 Niš
Italy 2011 Florence
Kazakhstan 2012 Almaty did not participate
Russia 2013 Chelyabinsk
United Arab Emirates 2014 Dubai
Italy 2015 Bergamo
China 2016 Huizhou
Russia 2017 Ruza
Hungary 2018 Budapest preliminary round
Serbia 2019 Belgrade
Georgia (country) 2020 Tbilisi preliminary round
France 2022 Strasbourg 5th

Europa Cup

Year Position
Croatia 2018 Rijeka 4th
Croatia 2019 Zagreb 6th

Mediterranean Games

Year Position
1959 to 1991 part of SFR Yugoslavia
as FR Yugoslavia
France 1993 Languedoc-Roussillon suspended
Italy 1997 Bari
Tunisia 2001 Tunis 4th
as Serbia and Montenegro
Spain 2005 Almeria
as Serbia
Italy 2009 Pescara
Turkey 2013 Tunis 6th
Spain 2018 Tarragona
Algeria 2022 Oran
Italy 2026 Taranto future event

Team

Current squad

Roster for the 2026 European Championships.[10][11]

Head coach: Uroš Stevanović

Coaches

Most appearances and goals

Main article: Serbia men's national water polo team statistics

Professional friendly and competitive matches only where Yugoslavia, Serbia and Montenegro and now Serbia were represented.

Name Years Matches Goals
1 Dejan Savić 1994–2008 444 405
2 Aleksandar Šapić 1997–2008 385 981
3 Filip Filipović 2003–2021 381 677
4 Živko Gocić 2003–2016 362 207
5 Slobodan Nikić 2003–2016 355 354
6 Igor Milanović 1984–1996 349 540
7 Aleksandar Ćirić 1997–2008 346 201
8 Vladimir Vujasinović 1990–2008 341 391
9 Duško Pijetlović 2005–2021 340 472
10 Andrija Prlainović 2005–2021 336 541

Statistics accurate as of matches played 6 August 2021

Attendance

At the final of the European Championship held in Belgrade in 2016, a record attendance was set at a water polo match. The final between Serbia and Montenegro was watched by 18,473 fans.[12][13]

Philanthropy

On 25 December 2011, Serbia's water polo team was included in a humanitarian action "Bitka za Bebe" ("the Battle for the Babies") playing an exhibition match with the team of the Faculty of Organizational Sciences (FON), in Belgrade. Before the Serbian water polo team had joined the action, many other athletes were included. Among them was the world number one in tennis at that time, Novak Đoković, football and basketball players of Red Star Belgrade, and many others. Proceeds from the ticket sales went to fund "Bitka za Bebe" and enough money was successfully raised to purchase one hundred incubator.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Sportske novosti - VEĆ PRVOG DANA SVJETSKOG PRVENSTVA U VATERPOLU PAO SVJETSKI REKORD! Neviđena blamaža domaćina natjecanja, Jugoslavija više nije na vrhu". www.jutarnji.hr. 14 July 2019.
  2. ^ "VATERPOLO (SL): Srbija - Egipat 31:0!". mondo.rs. 18 July 2006.
  3. ^ "Water Polo, Men's Final - And finally: it's Serbia!". World Aquatics. 19 August 2016.
  4. ^ a b Rolle, Andy (25 January 2026). "Belgrade 2026: European Water Polo Championships final preview".
  5. ^ Curcic, Ivan (8 January 2026). "Belgrade 2026, Groups A and C: Stronger half of the field".
  6. ^ "Rulers of all competitions". b92.net. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
  7. ^ "Početna". Vaterpolo savez Srbije.
  8. ^ "EWPC 2026". belgrade2026.rs.
  9. ^ a b c d "HistoFINA – Water polo medalists and statistics" (PDF). fina.org. FINA. September 2019. pp. 4, 14, 25, 40, 48. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 August 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  10. ^ "Uroš Stevanović odredio spisak igrača za Evropsko prvenstvo". waterpoloserbia.org. 5 January 2026.
  11. ^ "Team Roster: Serbia" (PDF). ea.microplustimingservices.com. 9 January 2026. p. 14.
  12. ^ "About EWPC". belgrade2026.rs.
  13. ^ "Prvo zlato, a onda i rekord!". РТС.
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