Barracuda Championship Anniversaries

Two consecutive days of September, the 10th and 11th of this month, have a special place in the history of Croatian water polo. These are the days when we remember some of the greatest successes of Croatian water polo. Anniversary days. True, the anniversaries in question are not 'round' this year, we are not talking about a jubilee, but that does not mean that we forget them and that we are not proud of them.

11. September 2010 – Croatia's first European Championship title
On that date, in the final of the European Championship, which we organized in Zagreb, in an open swimming pool along the Sava, Croatia defeated Italy convincingly and overwhelmingly 7:3 (2 :2,1:0, 2:0, 2:1).
That first European gold for the Barracuda was won by – Josip Pavić, Damir Burić, Miho Bošković, Nikša Dobud, Maro Joković, Petar Muslim, Frano Karač, Andro Bušlje, Sandro Sukno, Samir Barač, Igor Hinić, Paulo Obradović and Ivan Buljubasic. The team was led from the bench by coach Ratko Rudić, and his assistants were Vjekoslav Kobešćak and Elvis Fatović.

10. September 2022 – Croatia's second European Championship title
Twelve years later, the Barracudas are golden again. However, Lijepa naša is once again the host of the continental competition of the best national teams. In the spectacular setting of the Spaladium Arena in Split, in front of 9,000 spectators at all matches, a completely new national team amazed the nation, "captured" the hearts of the fans. Croatia beat Hungary 10:9 (3:3, 1:0, 4:4, 2:2).
The second European gold for the Barracudas was won by – Marko Bijač, Toni Popadić, Luka Lončar, Josip Vrlić, Rino Burić , Matias Biljaka, Marko Žuvela, Filip Kržić. Konstantin Harkov, Franko Lazić, Zvonimir Butić, Ante Vukičević, Luka Bukić, Loren Fatović and Jerko Marinić Kragić.
The professional staff of the national team is the same as today, coach Ivica Tucak and assistant coach Jure Marelja.