Vaterpolski klub Jug (English: Jug Water Polo Club) is a professional water polo club based in Dubrovnik, Croatia. The club was established in 1923 as part of sports society "JUG". As of the 2021–22 season, VK Jug competes in the Croatian League, Regional League A1 and LEN Champions League.

Vaterpolski klub Jug
Founded1923; 101 years ago (1923)
LeagueCroatian League
Regional League A1
LEN Champions League
Based inDubrovnik, Croatia
ArenaBazen u Gružu
(Capacity: 2,500)
ColoursRed and blue
   
PresidentTomislav Dumančić
Head coachVjekoslav Kobešćak
Championships4 Champions League
2 Euro Cup
2 LEN Super Cup
5 Regional Water Polo League
17 Croatian Championships
16 Croatian Cups
22 Yugoslav Championships
2 Yugoslav Cups
Websitejug.hr

History

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1923–1941

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Since establishment in 1923, Jug was one of the most successful water polo clubs in Yugoslavia. It won fourteen Yugoslav Water Polo Championship titles in Kingdom of Yugoslavia.

1945–1991

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During the existence of SFR Yugoslavia, Jug was among the elite Yugoslav water polo clubs, winning a total of eights Yugoslav Water Polo Championship titles; three in a row from 1949 to 1951, four in a row from 1980 to 1983, and their last one in 1985. Jug also won its first European title, the Champions Cup, in 1981. It also won the National Cup of Yugoslavia in 1981 and 1983.

1991–2008

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After the breakup of Yugoslavia in 1991, Jug won six Croatian First League of Water Polo championships and eight Croatian Water Polo Cup titles until the 2007–08 season. It cemented its dominance in Croatia by winning the top-tier continental 2000–01 LEN Champions League and 2005–06 LEN Euroleague titles.

Dubrovnik City Council honoured the club in 1997 with the City of Dubrovnik Award.[1]

2008–present

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In the 2008–09 season, Jug won the inaugural season of the Regional Water Polo League. From 2009–10 to 2014–15, Jug was five-time runner-up in the competition and finished in third place once. In Croatia, it won five consecutive championship titles from 2008–09 to 2012–13 and Croatian Cup in the 2008–09 season.

In the 2015–16 season, Jug set a record by winning all competitions it played in.[2] After taking the Croatian League championship and Croatian Cup title, Jug won the Regional Water Polo League for the second time in club's history and was crowned the 2015–16 LEN Champions League champion for fourth time in club's history.[2]

Starting the 2016–17 season, Jug won the 2016 LEN Super Cup. Jug defended the Regional Water Polo League title in 2016–17, but was stopped in the final of the 2016–17 LEN Champions League by Hungarian team Szolnoki. In the 2017–18 season, Jug won third Regional League title in a row and lost in third-place game of the 2017–18 LEN Champions League.

In the 2018–19 season, Jug failed to defend the Regional Water Polo League title for fourth season in a row, losing to HAVK Mladost. Also, in the 2018–19 LEN Champions League, it lost in the quarterfinals to Hungarian team Ferencvárosi with 10–9.[3]

Honours

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Competition # Winning Years
National Championships 39
National Championship of Croatia 17 2000, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022
National Championship of Communist Yugoslavia 8 1949, 1950, 1951, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1985
National Championship of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia 14 1925, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1940
National Cups 18
National Cup of Croatia 16 1994, 1996, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023
National Cup of Communist Yugoslavia 2 1981, 1983
Regional Championships 5
Regional Water Polo League 5 2009, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2023
European Cups 8
LEN Champions League 4 1981, 2001, 2006, 2016
LEN Super Cup 2 2006, 2016
LEN Cup 2 2000, 2024

Current squad

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Season 2021–22[4]

No. Nat. Player Birth Date Position L/R
1   Toni Popadić (1994-11-05) November 5, 1994 (age 30) Goalkeeper
2   Hrvoje Zvono (2003-01-31) January 31, 2003 (age 21) Wing
3   Loren Fatović (1996-11-16) November 16, 1996 (age 28) Wing
4   Luka Stahor (2002-04-21) April 21, 2002 (age 22) Center R
5   Maro Joković (1987-10-01) October 1, 1987 (age 37) Wing L
6   Alexandros Papanastasiou (1999-02-12) February 12, 1999 (age 25) Wing
7   Marin Tomasović (2001-01-26) January 26, 2001 (age 23) Wing
8   Stylianos Argyropoulos (1996-08-02) August 2, 1996 (age 28) Wing
9   Filip Kržić (2000-08-28) August 28, 2000 (age 24) Wing
10   Konstantinos Kakaris (1999-07-02) July 2, 1999 (age 25) Center R
11   Hrvoje Benić (1992-04-26) April 26, 1992 (age 32) Guard R
12   Marko Žuvela (2001-12-22) December 22, 2001 (age 22) Guard R
13   Ivan Jurišić (2003-08-28) August 28, 2003 (age 21) Goalkeeper R
14   Ivuša Burđelez (2005-07-11) July 11, 2005 (age 19) Guard R

Staff

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Technical Staff
Chairman   Tomislav Dumančić
Vice-chairman   Željan Konsuo
Vice-chairman   Pero Kulaš
Vice-chairman   Lukša Jakobušić
Club director   Ognjen Kržić
Head coach   Vjekoslav Kobešćak
Assistant coach   Đani Pecotić
Assistant coach   Miho Bobić
Goalkeeping coach   Maro Balić

Recent seasons

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As of 18 May 2024.
Season Tier League Pos. Domestic cup Regional League European competitions
1992 1 1. HVL 3rd not held
1992–93 1 1. HVL 3rd Runner-up
1993–94 1 1. HVL 5th Runner-up
1994–95 1 1. HVL 2nd Champion
1995–96 1 1. HVL 2nd Runner-up
1996–97 1 1. HVL 3rd Champion 3 LEN Cup SF
1997–98 1 1. HVL 4th Quarterfinalist
1998–99 1 1. HVL 2nd Quarterfinalist 3 LEN Cup SF
1999–00 1 1. HVL 1st Runner-up 3 LEN Cup C
2000–01 1 1. HVL 1st Champion 1 Champions League C
2001–02 1 1. HVL 2nd Runner-up 1 Champions League 4th
2002–03 1 1. HVL 2nd Champion 2 Cup Winners' Cup QF
2003–04 1 1. HVL 1st Champion 1 Euroleague PR
2004–05 1 1. HVL 1st Champion 1 Euroleague 4th
2005–06 1 1. HVL 1st Runner-up 1 Euroleague C
2006–07 1 1. HVL 1st Champion LEN Super Cup C
1 Euroleague F
2007–08 1 1. HVL 2nd Champion 1 Euroleague F
2008–09 1 1. HVL 1st Champion Champion 1 Euroleague 3rd
2009–10 1 1. HVL 1st Champion Runner-up 1 Euroleague 4th
2010–11 1 1. HVL 1st Semifinalist Runner-up 1 Euroleague SGR
2011–12 1 1. HVL 1st Runner-up Semifinalist 1 Champions League QF
2012–13 1 1. HVL 1st Runner-up Runner-up 1 Champions League F
2013–14 1 1. HVL 3rd Runner-up Runner-up 1 Champions League PR
2014–15 1 1. HVL 2nd Semifinalist Runner-up 1 Champions League 4th
2015–16 1 1. HVL 1st Champion Champion 1 Champions League C
2016–17 1 1. HVL 1st Champion Champion LEN Super Cup C
1 Champions League F
2017–18 1 1. HVL 1st Champion Champion 1 Champions League 4th
2018–19 1 1. HVL 1st Champion Runner-up 1 Champions League 5th
2019–20 1 1. HVL 1st Runner-up Runner-up 1 Champions League 1
2020–21 1 1. HVL 2nd Runner-up Runner-up 1 Champions League 5th
2021–22 1 1. HVL 1st Runner-up Semifinalist 1 Champions League 8th
2022–23 1 1. HVL 2nd Champion Champion 1 Champions League QF
2023–24 1 1. HVL Champion 3rd 2 Euro Cup C
^1 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

References

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  1. ^ Dobitnici Nagrade Grada Dubrovnika dubrovnik.hr. City of Dubrovnik official website. Access date April 6, 2023.
  2. ^ a b V., A. (5 June 2016). "Evo zašto je ovo najuspješnija godina u Jugovoj povijesti". index.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 19 September 2019.
  3. ^ "Veliki Jugov kiks! Ništa od borbe za Ligu prvaka". sportklub.hr (in Croatian). 6 June 2019. Retrieved 19 September 2019.
  4. ^ "Seniori". jug.hr.
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