Andrija Prlainović ( sr-Cyrl, Андрија Прлаиновић; born 28 April 1987) is a Serbian professional

water polo Water polo is a competitive sport, competitive team sport played in water between two teams of seven players each. The game consists of four quarters in which the teams attempt to score goals by throwing the water polo ball, ball into the oppo ...

player widely regarded as one of the greatest players ever. He was a member of the Serbia men's national water polo teams that won bronze medals at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics and gold medals in 2016 and 2020. He also held the world title in 2009 and 2015 and the European title in 2006, 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2018. In 2011, he won the LEN Euroleague with VK Partizan and in 2013 with

Red Star Belgrade Fudbalski klub Crvena zvezda ( sr-cyrl, Фудбалски клуб Црвена звезда, lit=Red Star Football Club), commonly referred to as Crvena zvezda () and colloquially referred to as Red Star Belgrade in anglophone media, is a ...

, where he was one of the best scorers.

Early life

Prlainović was born in

Dubrovnik Dubrovnik, historically known as Ragusa, is a city in southern Dalmatia, Croatia, by the Adriatic Sea. It is one of the most prominent tourist destinations in the Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean, a Port, seaport and the centre of the Dubrovni ...

Croatia Croatia, officially the Republic of Croatia, is a country in Central Europe, Central and Southeast Europe, on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. It borders Slovenia to the northwest, Hungary to the northeast, Serbia to the east, Bosnia and Herze ...

and raised in Herceg Novi,

Montenegro , image_flag = Flag of Montenegro.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Montenegro.svg , coa_size = 80 , national_motto = , national_anthem = () , image_map = Europe-Mont ...

, where he came up through the PVK Jadran youth system.

Club career

Montenegro, Serbia, Italy

He started his career in Jadran (2003–2006), and then moved to Partizan Raiffeisen for five seasons (2006–2011). In 2011, he moved to the Italian Pro Recco but he spent only one season there as the club went bankrupt. He was then invited to return to Partizan but he decided to sign a contract with another

Belgrade Belgrade is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Serbia, largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers and at the crossroads of the Pannonian Basin, Pannonian Plain and the Balkan Peninsula. T ...

water polo club: Crvena Zvezda. Upon his arrival at Crvena zvezda he was made captain.

PA Fluminense

In June 2010, Fluminense triumphed in the Brazilian championship (in which a record number of foreign players (15) played that year), winning their fifth title. In the finals the team overcame Pinheiros, 13–7. Prlainović scored two goals in the final.

Pro Recco

On 17 September 2011, in the first round of the Adriatic League, Prlaionović scored a goal in an easy 14–6 home win against PVK Jadran. In the second round on 24 September, he scored his second goal against in a 16–4 home win. On 1 October Prlainović scored his second Adriatic goal in a 10–7 away win against VK Jug CO. On 8 October in the Adriatic League fourth round, Prlainović and his team-mate and fellow countryman Pijetlović were the top scorers with each scoring three times in a 14–8 away win against . Prlainović scored two goals in the fifth round on 15 October, in a 15–8 home win against Primorje EB. On 22 October Prlainović scored two goals in the first round of the Euroleague Group in an easy 13–5 win over Spartak Volgograd. On 26 October Prlainović scored another two goals in an easy 15–5 away win against VK Jadran Split, but this time in the sixth round of the Adriatic League. On 29 October he scored a goal in the Adriatic League seventh round 13–9 home win against Mladost. On 9 November Prlainović scored three goals in the second round of the Euroleague, in a 13–4 away victory against CN Marseille. On 26 November Prlainović scored two goals in the Euroleague third round, in a 10–8 win against VK Jadran Herceg Novi. On 30 November he scored another two goals, but in the eleventh round Adriatic League 16–1 away win over VK Primorac. Prlainović managed to score just one goal on 3 December in a humiliating 21–0 defeat over POŠK in the twelfth round of the Adriatic League. In the thirteenth round on 10 December, Prlainović scored three goals against VK Mornar Split in a 20–8 away win. Prlainović scored three goals on 14 December in the fourth round of the Euroleague, in a 14–9 away win against VK Jadran HN. The third goal was his 10th of the tournament. On 8 February 2012. in the fifth round of the Euroleague, Prlainović scored a goal in a 15–7 win against CN Marseille. 3 days later he scored two goals in Adriatic League fifteenth round 9–8 home win against Jug CO. On 25 February, in the last round of the Euroleague group stage, Prlainović scored three goals in the 18–7 away win against Spartak Volgograd. Four days later, Prlainović scored another three goals but in the Adriatic League fourteenth-round game behind, in a 21–5 easy home win over Mornar BS. On 3 March Prlainović scored a goal in a 12–7 Adriatic League away win against Mladost.

International career

Prlainović scored his first two goals at the European Championship on 17 January against

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in a second game which the

Serbs The Serbs ( sr-Cyr, Срби, Srbi, ) are a South Slavs, South Slavic ethnic group native to Southeastern Europe who share a common Serbian Cultural heritage, ancestry, Culture of Serbia, culture, History of Serbia, history, and Serbian lan ...

won by 13–12. He also scored a goal in a third game on 19 January, in a great 15–12 victory for his country against the defending European champions

. On 21 January in the fourth match, Prlainović scored three goals for his national team in a routine victory against

Romania Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary to the west, Serbia to the southwest, Bulgaria to the south, Moldova to ...

14–5. On 23 January, Prlainović scored a goal in the last round of group A, in which Serbia lost to

Montenegro , image_flag = Flag of Montenegro.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Montenegro.svg , coa_size = 80 , national_motto = , national_anthem = () , image_map = Europe-Mont ...

with 11–7. On 27 January Prlainović scored a goal in a semifinal 12–8 victory over

Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...

. Andrija Prlainović won the 2012 European Championship on 29 January. He scored a goal in the final against Montenegro which his national team won by 9–8. This was his second gold medal at the European Championships. He was part of the Serbian 2008, 2012, 2016 and 2020 Summer Olympic teams which won two gold and two bronze medals. He was the top goalscorer at the 2012 Olympics, with 22 goals.

Honours

Club

;PVK Jadran * Championship os Serbia & Montenegro: 2003–04 * Cup of Serbia & Montenegro: 2004–05 ;VK Partizan * Serbian Championship: 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11 *

Serbian Cup The Serbian Cup ( Serbian: Куп Србије / Kup Srbije), also known as Mozzart Serbian Cup for sponsorship reasons, is the national football cup of Serbia. The winner of the competition gets a spot in the UEFA Europa League qualifying round. ...

: 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11 * LEN Champions League: 2010–11 * Eurointer League: 2010, 2011 ;PA Fluminense * Brazilian Championship: 2009–10 ;Pro Recco * Serie A1: 2010–11, 2014–15, 2015–16 * Coppa Italia: 2014–15, 2015–16 * LEN Champions League: 2011–12, 2014–15 * Adriatic League: 2011–12 * LEN Super Cup: 2012,

2015 2015 was designated by the United Nations as: * International Year of Light * International Year of Soil __TOC__ Events January * January 1 – Lithuania officially adopts the euro as its currency, replacing the litas, and becomes ...

;VK Crvena Zvezda * Serbian Championship: 2012–13, 2013–14 *

: 2012–13, 2013–14 * LEN Champions League: 2012–13 * LEN Super Cup: 2013 ;Szolnok * Hungarian Championship: 2016–17 * Hungarian Cup:

2017 2017 was designated as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development by the United Nations General Assembly. Events January * January 1 – Istanbul nightclub shooting: A gunman dressed as Santa Claus opens fire at the ...

* LEN Champions League: 2016–17 * LEN Super Cup:

;CN Marseille *France Championship: 2020–21, 2021–22

National team

*National team European junior championship 2004, 2006 *World junior championship 2005 *Olympic games gold 2016, 2020 bronze 2008, 2012 *World championship gold 2009,2015 silver 2011 bronze 2017 *European championship gold 2006, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018 silver 2008 bronze 2010 *World cup gold 2006, 2010, 2014 bronze 2018 *World league gold 2005–2008, 2010, 2011, 2014–2017, 2019 bronze 2009 *Mediterranean games gold 2009 bronze 2005

Awards

* Young Sportsman of the Year by MOC: 2005 * Top scorer at Summer Olympics:

2012 2012 was designated as: *International Year of Cooperatives *International Year of Sustainable Energy for All Events January *January 4 – The Cicada 3301 internet hunt begins. * January 12 – Peaceful protests begin in the R ...

* 2012 Olympic Games Team of the Tournament * Sportsman of The Year by the Serbian Olympic Committee: 2012 * Best Sportsman of SD Crvena Zvezda: 2013 * LEN Champions League Final Four MVP (1):

2013 2013 was the first year since 1987 to contain four unique digits (a span of 26 years). 2013 was designated as: *International Year of Water Cooperation *International Year of Quinoa Events January * January 5 – 2013 Craig, Alask ...

with Crvena Zvezda * All-Tournament Team of the 2017 World Championship *

World Championship A world championship is generally an international competition open to elite competitors from around the world, representing their nations, and winning such an event will be considered the highest or near highest achievement in the sport, game ...

MVP (1): 2015 Kazan * European Championship MVP (1): 2016 Belgrade * LEN Champions League Final Six MVP (1):

with Szolnok *Third Top European Player in the World by LEN: 2016 *Member of the World Team: 2018 by ''total-waterpolo'' * LEN Champions League Left Winger of the Year: 2016–17, 2023–24

Personal life

Prlainović is married to Ivana Culjkovic and has a daughter Djurdja.Andrija Prlainović
. nbcolympics.com

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Prlainovic, Andrija 1987 births Living people Sportspeople from Herceg Novi Serbs of Montenegro Serbian male water polo players Water polo drivers Water polo players at the 2008 Summer Olympics Water polo players at the 2012 Summer Olympics Water polo players at the 2016 Summer Olympics Water polo players at the 2020 Summer Olympics Medalists at the 2008 Summer Olympics Medalists at the 2012 Summer Olympics Medalists at the 2016 Summer Olympics Medalists at the 2020 Summer Olympics Olympic gold medalists for Serbia in water polo Olympic bronze medalists for Serbia in water polo World Aquatics Championships medalists in water polo European champions for Serbia Water polo players at the 2005 Mediterranean Games Water polo players at the 2009 Mediterranean Games Mediterranean Games medalists in water polo Mediterranean Games gold medalists for Serbia Mediterranean Games bronze medalists for Serbia and Montenegro Serbian expatriate sportspeople in Hungary Serbian expatriate sportspeople in Italy Water polo players from Dubrovnik Serbian expatriate water polo players Serbian expatriate sportspeople in Brazil Serbian expatriate sportspeople in France European Water Polo Championship medalists