Erlić Welcomes Zadar's Golden Water Polo Players
Zadar Mayor Šime Erlić hosted four VK Zadar 1952 players in the Small Council Chamber who won world and European titles in junior national team categories this summer.
Zadar Mayor Šime Erlić hosted four VK Zadar 1952 players in the Small Council Chamber who won world and European titles in junior national team categories this summer.
Zadar Mayor Šime Erlić received young water polo players from VK Zadar 1952 on August 19, 2026, in the Small Council Chamber of the City of Zadar, who won world and European titles with Croatian national teams this summer. Present at the reception were Toni Galušić, Duje Srzić, and Ante Donđivić, while Šime Žilić, a native of Makarska, could not attend due to prior commitments.
Alongside Mayor Erlić, the reception was attended by longtime water polo coach Ivo Radetić and club president Goran Jovančević, as well as Snježana Jurinić, president of the Zadar Sports Association and deputy head of the City Department for Culture and Sport.
In just a few weeks, the Zadar club produced four players who earned titles of world or European champions in younger national team categories. The first major success came in early July in Rio Maior, Portugal, where the Croatian U18 national team became world champion after a dramatic final against the United States.
In that golden team was Toni Galušić, a young man from Vir and a member of Zadar 1952, who scored four goals in Croatia's group-stage victory over Serbia. A month later, in front of a home crowd in Zagreb, the Croatian U16 national team defeated Spain in the World Championship final to become world champions. In the final match, Duje Srzić stood out with two goals, one of which was crucial in securing the draw.
Recently, the Croatian U20 team celebrated at the European Championship in Varna, with Donđivić and Žilić bringing gold medals back to Zadar. In just 43 days, the young "Barakudas" swept through the water polo world, as coach Zoran Bajić emphasized, completing a hat-trick of gold medals. On the road to gold in Varna, the U20 team beat Serbia 14:13 in the quarterfinals and defeated Spain in the final.
Mayor Erlić congratulated the young water polo players on their achievements. "First of all, congratulations on these successes! You have proven that with effort and hard work, great results can be achieved, and thank you for bringing glory to Zadar and Croatia. This summer will certainly be written into Croatian and Zadar water polo history, and we believe it will be a special chapter for VK Zadar 1952," Erlić said, wishing them continued success on their sporting journey.
Club president Goran Jovančević thanked the City of Zadar and the Zadar Sports Association for their ongoing support. "Thank you to the City of Zadar and the Zadar Sports Association for continuously following our work. This is proof that there is still fuel in the tank and that Zadar water polo should be viewed with optimism," Jovančević said.
Coach Ivo Radetić emphasized that Zadar has a bright water polo future. "Zadar truly has much to be proud of, and this is proof that we have a bright water polo future. In Zadar, we are developing players who get the opportunity to wear the national team cap, play in the biggest matches, and learn how to win medals," Radetić said.
Snježana Jurinić, president of the Zadar Sports Association, said she is extremely proud of the water polo players' successes. "We are here whenever you need help, as you well know. I have been following the development of Zadar water polo for a long time, and this is just the icing on the cake of everything you do, as well as your investment in sports development and the upbringing of children and athletes," Jurinić concluded.
