Ratko Rudić

Ratko Rudić (born 7 June 1948 in Belgrade, PR Serbia, FPR Yugoslavia[1]) is a retired Croatian water polo coach and a former water polo player. As of 2015, he has won 38 medals as a coach at major events, making him the most successful water polo coach in history,[2][3] and second most successful team sport coach of all time.[4][5] He won four gold medals, of which three consecutive, with three different national teams at the Summer Olympics, as well as three gold medals with three national teams at the World Championships, among many others.[6][7][8] In 2007 was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame,[9] described as "one of the best, if not the best, water polo coach to walk the deck of the pool".[10]

Ratko Rudić
Rudić in 2012
Personal information
Born 7 June 1948 (1948-06-07) (age 75)
Belgrade, PR Serbia, FPR Yugoslavia
Nationality Croatia / Yugoslavia
Height 188 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight 87 kg (192 lb)
National team
Years Team
1968–1980
 Yugoslavia
Medal record
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place1980 Moscow
World Championship
Bronze medal – third place1973 Belgrade
European Championship
Silver medal – second place1977 Jönköping
Bronze medal – third place1970 Barcelona
Bronze medal – third place1974 Vienna
Last updated: 7 May 2020

In 1989 received AVNOJ award, the highest Yugoslav award.[4] In 2007 received Franjo Bučar State Award for Sport as Yearly Award,[11] while in 2012 Award for Life Achievement.[12] In 2012 was the recipient of Order of Duke Branimir in Croatia,[13][14] while in 2018 of Palma al Merito Tecnico by the Italian National Olympic Committee.[15]

In 2012 he retired from coaching and became sports director of the Croatian Water Polo Federation until late 2013 when he became the coach of the Brazil men's national team to lead them through the 2016 Summer Olympics.[6] From 2018 to 2020 he was the coach of Italian water polo club Pro Recco.

On 6 May 2020, Rudić announced his retirement from water polo.[16][17][18][19][20][21][22]

Early life

He was born on 7 June 1948 in Belgrade, SFR Yugoslavia, to father Jakov and mother Zorica. As his father was a military officer he lived two years in Belgrade, four years in Rijeka, Zadar and Split, and six years in Zagreb. He started playing water polo in 1958 as a child in club Jedinstvo from Zadar.[4] His debut in a first league game was in 1963 (as 15 years old), for VK Jadran Split against HAVK Mladost.[1][14]

Although his desire was to study at the Academy of Fine Arts (and continued to paint), he initially studied architecture in Zagreb, but as professional player moved to Belgrade in 1971, and there finished studies at the Faculty of Physical Education. He lived in Belgrade until 1990, when lived and worked in Rome until 2000, and from then until 2004 in Los Angeles.[1][14]

He has a daughter Martina who is a cellist in Milan.[14]

Playing career

He played for club VK Jadran Split from 1963 till 1971, when moved to VK Partizan.[4][14] He decided for the club because it was the only alongside HAVK Mladost from Zagreb which had full year training, and several other Croatian players were brought in the same year, as well the coach from Dubrovnik.[1] With the team won eight Yugoslavian championships, six Yugoslavian cups, and two European Champions League in 1974 and 1975.[4][10]

Rudić played 297 games for the Yugoslavian water polo team, winning gold medals in 1971 and 1979, and silver medal at the 1975 Mediterranean Games; bronze medals in 1970 and 1974, and silver medal at the 1977 European Championship; bronze medal at the 1973 World Championship; and silver medal at the 1980 Summer Olympics.[4][6][10][23]

At the 1968 Olympics he was injured before the tournament and was unable to play with his team which went on to win the gold medal.[14] At the World Championship in 1975, he was falsely accused of doping, and so the entire Yugoslav national team was disqualified. Only after a subsequent investigation by Manfred Donike proved that Rudić did not take any banned substances, he and his team were exonerated.[14] His case was included in professional literature as an example of the wrong analysis.[1] At the 1976 Olympics was a reserve due to injury, but helped tactically and soon became assistant coach in VK Partizan.[14]

Coaching career
Ratko Rudić
Ratko Rudić in 2010 with Croatia
Club information
Current team Retired
Teams coached
Years Team
1984–1988
 Yugoslavia
1990–2000
 Italy
2001–2004
 United States
2005–2012
 Croatia
2013–2016
 Brazil
2018–2020
 Pro Recco
Medal record
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place1984 Los Angeles
Gold medal – first place1988 Seoul
Gold medal – first place1992 Barcelona
Gold medal – first place2012 London
Bronze medal – third place1996 Atlanta
World Championship
Gold medal – first place1986 Madrid
Gold medal – first place1994 Rome
Gold medal – first place2007 Melbourne
Bronze medal – third place2009 Rome
Bronze medal – third place2011 Shanghai
FINA World Cup
Gold medal – first place1987 Thessaloniki
Gold medal – first place1993 Athens
Silver medal – second place1995 Atlanta
Silver medal – second place1999 Sydney
Silver medal – second place2010 Oradea
FINA World League
Gold medal – first place2012 Almaty
Silver medal – second place2009 Podgorica
Bronze medal – third place2003 New York
Bronze medal – third place2010 Niš
Bronze medal – third place2011 Florence
Bronze medal – third place2015 Bergamo
European Championship
Gold medal – first place1993 Sheffield
Gold medal – first place1995 Vienna
Gold medal – first place2010 Zagreb
Silver medal – second place1985 Sofia
Silver medal – second place1987 Strasbourg
Bronze medal – third place1999 Florence
Pan American Games
Gold medal – first place2003 Santo Domingo
Silver medal – second place2015 Toronto
Last updated: 7 May 2020

During his career Rudić coached five national teams: Yugoslavia (1984–1988), Italy (1990–2000), USA (2001–2004), Croatia (2005–2012), and Brazil (2013–2016). As a coach he works with much preparation, including control training, testing, tactics, and technique.[24] He is one of the first coaches who had a multidisciplinary coaching staff, with specific emphasis on cooperation with psychologists.[8] He especially works on the long-term programmes which leave behind long-term positive consequences in the national teams.[24]

Rudić is the most successful water polo coach in Olympic history. He led three different men's national teams to win four gold medals and one bronze medal at the Summer Olympics.[10][7] He is one of a few sportspeople who won Olympic medals in water polo as players and head coaches.[10]

Yugoslavia

Rudić started his coaching career as the coach of juniors in VK Partizan between 1980 and 1983, and between 1983 and 1984 of the Yugoslavian junior national team,[4] which won silver medals at the World (1983) and European Championship (1983, 1984).[4] Several players like Dubravko Šimenc, Perica Bukić, and Igor Milanović formed the core in the following Yugoslavian golden period.[1][10] He received the nickname Tiranin (Tyrant) because he demanded a considerable amount of work and discipline.[1]

He was the coach of the Yugoslavia men's national water polo team between 1984 and 1988,[4] and won two consecutive gold medals at the 1984 and 1988 Summer Olympics;[6] gold medal at the 1986 World Championship; two consecutive silver medals at the 1985 and 1987 European Water Polo Championship; and gold medal at the 1987 World Cup.[10]

Italy

After the coach position at VK Partizan between 1988 and 1990 (COMEN Cup), in 1990 he became the coach of Italy.[4] His work in Italy initially was in the conflict with the players who had tactical and technical skills but lack of physical working philosophy. As the very strenuous trainings were accepted they eventually became the best national team at the time.[8] They were the first national team to win all titles in one Olympic cycle. In 1994, after the gold medal at the 1994 World Championship, changed almost the whole team with younger players which was received with harsh criticism by the sport journalist in Italy, but nevertheless won gold medal at the 1995 European Championship.[24] The period as the coach of the Italy national team, however, ended in controversy: at the end of the quarterfinals of the 2000 Summer Olympics in which Italy lost against Hungary 5–8, Rudić reportedly accused the officials for a planned conspiracy against the Italian team (due to referee decisions), which cost him a yearly suspension from all competitions by FINA.[25][26][27][28][29]

As the coach of Italy men's national water polo team he won gold medal at the 1992,[6] and bronze at the 1996 Summer Olympics; gold medal at the 1994 World Championship; gold medals at the 1993 and 1995, and bronze at the 1999 European Championship; gold medal at 1993, and silver medals at the 1995 and 1999 World Cup.[10]

United States

Rudić lived and worked as the coach in the United States from January 2001 until 2004.[3] As water polo in USA was mostly a Southern California college level sport,[3] Rudić recalls that the initial organization and competition system was in bad condition, with small number of players, and the first years were the hardest part of his career.[1] He praised the work ethic in USA compared to other teams which helped his stay,[24] and several players like Wolf Wigo and Tony Azevedo acknowledged his method of work.[30] He organized the entire professional work in their association, which included working with youth categories, the selection and training of trainers, selection of players, and their preparation.[24]

As the coach of United States men's national water polo team he won a gold medal at the 2003 Pan American Games; and bronze medal at the 2003 World League. Although there was a strategic programme by Rudić titled Project Gold to take the team through the 2008 Summer Olympics, and signed four-year contract before the 2004 Olympics, in the late 2004 on the behalf of the President of Croatia Stjepan Mesić accepted the new coaching mission.[10] However, in the USA they continued to work by his programme and won the silver medal at the 2008 Olympics.[24]

Croatia

According to Rudić surprisingly the most motivational work on cohesion inside and outside the national team had to do in Croatia.[8] He was critical of the poor funding considering the results achieved by the team in comparison with football.[24] By the Croatian Olympic Committee was awarded for the most successful Croatian coach in 2007,[31] and 2012.[32]

As the coach of Croatia men's national water polo team he won gold medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics;[6] gold medal at 2007, and bronze medals at the 2009 and 2011 World Championship; gold medal at the 2010 European Championship; silver medal at the 2010 World Cup; silver medal at 2009, bronze at 2010 and 2011, and gold at the 2012 World League.[10]

Brazil

Rudić became the coach of Brazil men's national water polo team in November 2013.[6] He led the team to the bronze medal at the 2015 World League; and silver medal at the 2015 Pan American Games.[7] He was awarded for the best coach of the Olympic Committee of the host country of the Olympic Games.[33] Brazil have been drawn into Group A of the Olympic competition, alongside Australia, Greece, Hungary, Japan, and Serbia.[7] They won against Serbia 6-5, who were unbeaten more than two years.[34]

Pro Recco

Rudić returned once again from retirement in June 2018, as 70 years old, when became the coach of Italian water polo club Pro Recco.[35] With the club he won one Serie A1 and Coppa Italia as well bronze medal at the 2018–19 LEN Champions League.[16]

On 6 May 2020, Rudić announced that he had officially retired from water polo aged 71 years, 334 days.[16][17][18][19][20][21][22]

Coaching style

It is considered that Rudić is the most responsible for the contemporary water polo playing style, although did not invent it. Rudić is an heir of the Yugoslavian system and style, and due to his success many coaches tried to adopt his methods and style. However, Dante Dettamanti criticized the style for being too static and vertical, which is best suited for the physically big sized players. The style favors size aspect rather than speed.[3]

Another product of the system is the long and torturous training sessions, for which Rudić is also famous. It includes 8 hours a day of swimming in the pool, heavy style weight lifting sessions, leg work, and skill and tactical sessions.[22][21] United States player Layne Beaubien recalls that in the American colleges a daily norm was 3,000 meters, while under Rudić initially 5,000 and later up to 18,000 meters, noting "it's all mental. That's all it is. That's why he makes us do it. Being able to push yourself when you're so tired, being able to push yourself to the next level". As Ricardo Azevedo noted, "if a player quits in practice, he will eventually quit in a game". Dettamanti considered that such methods are unnecessary for the international water polo, and that Rudić's success is rather the result of his game knowledge, teaching of skills and tactics.[3]

Quotes

The team has to 'feel' that the attention of the entire organizational structure are addressed to them. The work environment is the first motivational factor. The motivation is the decisive factor in the victory of a team.

— Ratko Rudić, [36]

See also

References
  1. Ratko Rudić, kraj dobrovoljnog egzila vaterpolskog Tiranina [Ratko Rudić, the end of voluntary exile of a water polo tyrant] (in Croatian), Nacional, 21 December 2004, retrieved 12 August 2016
  2. Kenneth Zahensky; Tracie Egan (2014). An Insider's Guide to Water Polo. The Rosen Publishing Group. p. 37. ISBN 9781477780886.
  3. Dante Dettamanti (1 June 2015), The Ratko Rudic Paradox, vol. 3, Water Polo Planet, retrieved 12 August 2016
  4. Jurica Gizdić (2014). Kovači Hrvatskih Olimpijskih Odličja [Smiths of Croatian Olympic Medals] (in Croatian). Zagreb: Croatian Olympic Committee. p. 73. ISBN 978-953-7912-01-7.
  5. Anton Filić (31 July 2011). "S medaljom iz Šangaja Ratko Rudić drugi najuspješniji svih vremena" [With the medal from Shanghai Ratko Rudić second most successful of all time]. Večernji list (in Croatian). Retrieved 31 July 2011.
  6. Diane Bekhazi (13 November 2016). "Ratko Rudic Brazil's new head coach". Waterpoloworld. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
  7. "Legendary coach and naturalised players take Brazilian men's water polo team into medal contention". rio2016.com. Rio 2016. 8 June 2016. Archived from the original on 10 June 2016.
  8. Mladen Pleše (27 February 2016). "Ispovijest legendarnog vaterpolskog trenera Ratka Rudića za Telegram: 'Najteže mi je bilo raditi u Hrvatskoj'" [Confessions of legendary water polo coach Ratko Rudić for Telegram: 'The hardest part was working in Croatia'] (in Croatian). Telegram. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  9. Miljenko Franić; Alan Ivković; Ratko Rudić (June 2007). "Injuries in Water Polo". Croatian Medical Journal. Medicinska naklada. 48 (3): 281–288. PMC 2080536. PMID 17589969.
  10. "Ratko Rudic (YUG/ITA/USA/CRO): 2007 Honor Water Polo Coach". ISHOF.org. International Swimming Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 19 August 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
  11. "Dodijeljene državne nagrade za šport "Franjo Bučar"" [Awarded National Award for Sport "Franjo Bučar"] (in Croatian). Croatian Olympic Committee. 23 November 2007. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  12. "Dodijeljene državne nagrade "Franjo Bučar"" [Awarded National Award "Franjo Bučar"] (in Croatian). Croatian Olympic Committee. 30 November 2012. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  13. "Predsjednik Josipović odlikovao osvajače medalja" [President Josipovic awarded medal winners] (in Croatian). Croatian Olympic Committee. 8 October 2012. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  14. VL Biografije: Ratko Rudić [VL Biographies: Ratko Rudić] (in Croatian), Večernji list, retrieved 11 August 2016
  15. Consegnati i Collari d'Oro 2018. Malagò: orgoglioso dei risultati e di una storia di successo (in Italian), Italian National Olympic Committee, 19 December 2018, retrieved 22 January 2019
  16. "Il comunicato" [The press release]. prorecco.it (in Italian). Pro Recco. 6 May 2020. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  17. Randazzo, Michael (6 May 2020). "Statement from Pro Recco on Ratko Rudic's Retirement From Water Polo". swimmingworldmagazine.com. Swimming World. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  18. Randazzo, Michael (6 May 2020). "Departing from Pro Recco, Ratko Rudic, Legendary Water Polo Coach, Concludes His Career". swimmingworldmagazine.com. Swimming World. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  19. "Thanks to the legendary coach Ratko Rudić for everything he has done for Croatian and world water polo". hoo.hr. Croatian Olympic Committee. 8 May 2020. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  20. Curcic, Ivan (8 May 2020). "Ratko Rudic: After 40 years, I lacked motivation for the first time". total-waterpolo.com. Total Waterpolo. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  21. Keith, Braden (11 May 2020). "Ratko Rudic, Who Coached 3 Nations to 4 Olympic Gold Medals, Retires". swimswam.com. Swim Swam. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  22. Robinson, Joshua; Cohen, Ben (19 May 2020). "The World's Greatest Coach Is Not Who You Think". wsj.com. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  23. Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Ratko Rudić". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 4 December 2016.
  24. Tomislav Čadež (11 September 2010). "Rudić: Hrvatski vaterpolo stoji koliko i manji nogometni prvoligaš" [Rudić: Croatian water polo stands as the minor first league football club] (in Croatian). Jutarnji list. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  25. "Stangata su Ratko Rudic un anno di squalifica" [Sting of Ratko Rudic a year disqualification]. la Repubblica (in Italian). 30 September 2000. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  26. "E adesso traballa la panchina di Rudic" [And now wobbles the bench of Rudic]. la Repubblica (in Italian). 30 September 2000. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  27. "Water Polo Taekwondo Sailing Pentathlon". The Age. 1 October 2000. p. 18. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  28. "Italian coach Rudic suspended after row". New Straits Times. 1 October 2000. p. 45. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  29. "Armenian Lifter Is Stripped Of Bronze". The Washington Post. 1 October 2000. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  30. Tyler Kepner (23 August 2004). "Summer 2004 Games: Men's Water Polo; Taskmaster Coach Brings 'Suffering' (And Medicine Ball)". The New York Times. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  31. "Najuspješniji 2007" [Most Successful 2007.] (in Croatian). Croatian Olympic Committee. 27 December 2007. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  32. "Najuspješniji 2012" [Most Successful 2012.] (in Croatian). Croatian Olympic Committee. 27 December 2012. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  33. Tonči Vlašić (4 January 2016). "Ratko Rudić, Najbolji Brazilski Trener u 2015. Godini: 'Hrvatska je odigrala dobru utakmicu'" [Ratko Rudić, best Brazilian coach in 2015: 'Croatia played a good match'] (in Croatian). Dubrovački vjesnik. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  34. Tonči Vlašić (10 August 2016). "Brasil Faz História, Vence A Poderosa Sérvia - Invicta a 45 Jogos - E Sonha Alto" [Brazil makes history, wins the powerful Serbia - unbeaten in 45 games - and big dreams] (in Portuguese). Confederação Brasileira de Desportos Aquáticos. Retrieved 13 August 2016.
  35. Curcic, Ivan (15 June 2018). "Ratko Rudic comes out of retirement and comes to Pro Recco!". WaterPology.com. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  36. Stefano Greco (2007). La formazione come palestra della professionalità. Guida pratica all'utilizzo delle attività formative per le persone e le organizzazioni (in Italian). FrancoAngeli. p. 84. ISBN 9788846480910. La squadra deve 'sentire' che le attenzioni di tutta la struttura organizzativa sono rivolte a lei. L'ambiente in cui si lavora è il primo fattore motivazionale. E la motivazione è l'elemento determinante per la vittoria di un team.
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