Ratko rudic biography samples

Croatian water polo player and coach

Ratko Rudić
Rudić in
Born	7 June &#;() (age&#;76) Belgrade, PR Serbia, FPR Yugoslavia
Nationality	Croatia / Yugoslavia
Height	&#;cm (6&#;ft 2&#;in)
Weight	87&#;kg (&#;lb)
Years	Team
–	Yugoslavia
Last updated: 7 May

Ratko Rudić (born 7 June in Belgrade, PR Serbia, FPR Yugoslavia^[1]) is a retired Croatian water polo coach and a former water polo player.

As of ^[update], he has won 38 medals as a coach at major events, making him the most successful fluid 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 Nature Championships, among many others.^[6][7][8] In was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame,^[9] described as "one of the top, if not the best, moisture polo coach to walk the deck of the pool".^[10]

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

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

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

Early life

He was born on 7 June 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 fluid polo in as a youngster in club Jedinstvo from Zadar.^[4] His debut in a first league game was in (as 15 years old), for VK Jadran Split against HAVK Mladost.^[1][14]

Although his desire was to review at the Academy of Satisfactory Arts (and continued to paint), he initially studied architecture in Zagreb, but as professional player moved to Belgrade in , and there finished studies at the Faculty of Physical Learning.

He lived in Belgrade until , when lived and worked in Rome until , and from then until 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 till , 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 and ^[4][10]

Rudić played games for the Yugoslavian water polo team, winning gold medals in and , and silver medal at the Mediterranean Games; bronze medals in and , and silver medal at the European Championship; bronze medal at the World Championship; and silver medal at the Summer Olympics.^{[4][6][10][23]}

At the Olympics he was injured before the tournament and was unable to engage with his team which went on to win the gold medal.^[14] At the World Championship in , 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 Olympics was a reserve due to injury, but helped tactically and soon became assistant coach in VK Partizan.^[14]

Coaching career

During his career Rudić coached five national teams: Yugoslavia (–), Italy (–), USA (–), Croatia (–), and Brazil (–).

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 fluid 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 and , and between and of the Yugoslavian junior national team,^[4] which won silver medals at the Society () and European Championship (, ).^[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 liquid polo team between and ,^[4] and won two consecutive gold medals at the and Summer Olympics;^[6] gold medal at the World Championship; two consecutive silver medals at the and European Water Polo Championship; and gold medal at the World Cup.^[10]

Italy

After the coach position at VK Partizan between and (COMEN Cup), in 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 functional 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 , after the gold medal at the World Championship, changed almost the whole team with younger players which was received with severe criticism by the sport correspondent in Italy, but nevertheless won gold medal at the 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 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 ,^[6] and bronze at the Summer Olympics; gold medal at the World Championship; gold medals at the and , and bronze at the European Championship; gold medal at , and silver medals at the and World Cup.^[10]

United States

Rudić lived and worked as the coach in the United States from January until ^[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 petty 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 active 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 Pan American Games; and bronze medal at the World League.

Although there was a strategic programme by Rudić titled Project Gold to seize the team through the Summer Olympics, and signed four-year agree before the Olympics, in the late on the behalf of the President of CroatiaStjepan 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 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 destitute 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 ,^[31] and ^[32]

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

Brazil

Rudić became the coach of Brazil men's national water polo team in November ^[6] He led the team to the bronze medal at the World League; and silver medal at the 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 , who were unbeaten more than two years.^[34]

Pro Recco

Rudić returned once again from retirement in June , 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 –19 LEN Champions League.^[16]

On 6 May , Rudić announced that he had officially retired from water polo aged 71&#;years, &#;days.^{[16][17][18][19][20][21][22]}

Coaching style

It is considered that Rudić is the most responsible for the contemporary liquid 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 organism 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 date 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, meters, while under Rudić initially 5, and later up to 18, 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, entity 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 product of his game knowledge, training 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

External links