1973: Yugoslavia of the legendary Vlaho Orlic

The National team of Yugoslavia, along with the legendary Coach Vlaho Bata Orlic (front row, in the middle) on the way to New Zeland tournament in 1973: Top R-L: Polic, Savinovic, Dabovic (turned back) Lozica, Bandzur (coach), Manojlovic, Mustur, Stamenic, Kacic, Frankovic, Rudic, Orlic, Vranes, Muskatirovic, Bonacic

Source: Ratko Rudic ; Maestro Water Polo by Damir Skarpa and Eduard Hemar

1975, Cali: The National team of Yugoslavia

The team of Yugoslavia that participated at the Cali (Colombia) 1975 World Championships. Back row: Lozica, Rudic, Kacic, Antunovic. Middle row: Manojlovic, Marovic, Dabovic. Front row: Savinovic, Belamaric, Markovic, Bonacic, Polic.

Source: Ratko Rudic ; Maestro Water Polo by Damir Skarpa and Eduard Hemar

1986, Madrid: The golden team of Yugoslavia

The team of Yugoslavia winner of Madrid 1986 World Championships. Standing L-R: Rudic (Head Coach), Paskvalin, Bebic, Popovic, Andric, Duho, Lusic, Sukno, Milanovic, Krivokapic. Squatting L-R: Vicevic, Roje, Vasovic, Afric, Bukic, Petrovic, Sostar, Simenc.

Source: Ratko Rudic ; Maestro Water Polo by Damir Skarpa and Eduard Hemar

1981, Split: The National team of Yugoslavia

The National team of Yugoslavia fourth at Split 1981 European Championship. Standing L-R: Petkovic (Head Coach), Trifunovic, Bebic, Markovic, Zlokovic, Popovic, Palic, Rudic, Bandur (ass. Coach). Squatting L-R: Sukno, Galijas, Krivokapic, Gopcevic, Mustur, Lozica.

Source: Ratko Rudic ; Maestro Water Polo by Damir Skarpa and Eduard Hemar

1980, Moscow: The silver team of Yugoslavia

The team of Yugoslavia winner of silver medal at Moscow 1980 Olympic Games. Standing L-R: Miro Circovic (Head Coach), Zoran Mustur, Zoran Roje, Slobodan Trifunovic, Predrag Manojlovic, Ratko Rudic, Damir Polic. Squatting L-R: Luka Vezilic, Milivoj Bebic, Bosko Lozica, Milorad Krivokapic, Zoran Gopcevic, Milivoj Petkovic (ass. Coach)

Source: Ratko Rudic ; Maestro Water Polo by Damir Skarpa and Eduard Hemar

1974, Vienna: The bronze team of Yugoslavia

The team of Yugoslavia winner of bronze medal at Vienna 1974 European Championships. Standing L-R: Vlaho Orlic (Head Coach), Duro Savinovic, Ozren Bonacic, Milos Markovic, Dusan Antunovic, Damir Polic, Luko Veziliz, Predrag Manojlovic Trifko Bandur (ass. Coach). Squatting L-R: Sinisa Belamaric, Uros Markovic, Bosko Lozica, Ratko Rudic, Nikola Stamenic.

Source: Ratko Rudic ; Maestro Water Polo by Damir Skarpa and Eduard Hemar

1958: The historical pool of Athens by A. Tassos

The historical pool of "Zappeion" by the side of the columns of the Olympian Zeus with backround the sublime Athens Acropolis in 1958, as seen by the great Greek engraver A.Tassos (1914-1985). 

1979: Les Enfants de Neptune de Tourcoing

The team of “Les Enfants de Neptune de Tourcoing" in 1979. The team: Alain Decanter, Serge Deportere, Pascal Mareel, Vandeplassche François, Francois Vandeplasche, Philippe Desmettre, Dominique Desmettre, Damien Piquette, Marcel Demulder, Bruno Vandecasteele, Jacques Mareel, Marc Brisfer.

Source: courtesy of Marc Brisfer 

1977 : “Les Enfants de Neptune de Tourcoing”

The team of “Les Enfants de Neptune de Tourcoing” in 1977. Standing L-R: Alain Decantere, Damien Piquette, Patrick Delesalle, Pascal Mareel, Alain Demettre, Serge Cuvelier, Marc Brisfer. Squatting L-R : Marcel Demulder, Jean luc Noens, Gilbert Rousseau, Jacques Mareel, , Dominique Desmettre.

Source: courtesy of José innocenzi

Tribute to Andres “Bandy” Zolyomy

Tribute to Andres “Bandy” Zolyomy, who has been inducted to the International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF) on September 2010:  "Bandy" was a man of vision and passion for water polo, setting the foundations for both Italy and Spain to excel in the sport and to win Olympic gold medals. Hungarian by birth, he coached in each country on two separate occasions from 1934 to 1973 and in seven Olympic Games – four for Spain (’48, ’52, ’68, ’72) and three for Italy (’56, ’60, ’64). With young players, his 1960 Italian team won the Olympic gold medal. He returned to Spain in 1968 becoming Spain’s first full-time national team coach, enlarging the water polo base and putting emphasis on a young generation of players. Deceased in 1992, it was his efforts and influence that helped lead Italy and Spain to Olympic gold medals in 1992 and 1996 respectively. Source: http://www.ishof.org/

1915: The team of C.N.Athlètic, Barcelona

The pioneers team of “ Club Natació Athlètic" of Barcelona in 1915.

Source: courtesy of Juan Antonio Sierra

1985: Dettamante coaching Stanford University

The legendary coach of Stanford University Dante Dettamante while coaching his team to winning the 1985 NCCA Championship. Among his players we note the Olympians  Craig Klass and Erich Fischer. Over a period of three years, 1985, 86 and 87, Standford won 53 games without losing establishing a record for NCAA College Water Polo in the United States.

Source: private collection 

1990: VK Partizan vs HAVK Mladost

Igor Milanovic as player of VK Partizan Belgrade scores against HAVK Mladost, Zagreb in 1990. In 1991 Milanovic moves to Mladost and wins the European Championship. In 2011 as coach of Partizan Igor Milanovic wins the Euro League, 35 years after the last European Championship won by Partizan (of Vlaho Orlic) in 1976.  

Source: personal archive

1973: The Champions of Canottieri Napoli

The team of Canottieri Napoli, Champion of Italy in 1973. Standing L-R: Notarangelo, Forte, Paolo De Crescenzo, D'Urso, Criscuolo, D'Angelo. Squatting L-R: Pirone, Scotti Galletta, Parisio (cap.), Lignano ,Massimo De Crescenzo.

Source: courtesy of Massimo De Crescenzo

1970: The team of Canottieri Napoli

The team of Canottieri Napoli in 1970. Standing L-R: Simonetti, Paolo De Crescenzo, Vivace, Scotti Galletta, Notarangelo, Sorrentino. Squatting L-R: Monizio (captain), Forte, Parisio, Massimo De Crescenzo, Lignano.
Source: courtesy of Massimo De Crescenzo

1968: The Juniors of Canottieri Napoli

The Juniors team of CanottieriNapoli in 1968. Standing L-R: Luongo (official), Simonetti, Mezzadri, Betti (official), Forte, Lignano, Ferrazzani, Dennerlein (Coach). Squatting L-R: Massimo De Crescenzo, Renato  Notarangelo, Scotti Galletta, Paolo De Crescenzo, Sorrentino, Giampiero, Notarangelo.

Source: courtesy of Massimo De Crescenzo

1977: The Champions of VK Partizan Belgrade

The team of VK Partizan of Belgrade winner of the 1977 Cup of Yugoslavia. Standing L-R: Markovic, Vukovic, Orlic (coach), Stamenic, Rudic, Sofijevic, Vranes. Squatting L-R: Bratusa, Avramovic, Nenad Manojlovic, Belamaric, Predrag Manojlovic.

Source:  Maestro Vaterpolo Ratko Rudic by Damir Skarpa ands Eduard Hemar 

1975: The winners of VK Partizan Belgrade

The team of VK Partizan of Belgrade winner of the 1975 European Cup of National Champions. Standing L-R: Antunovic, Stamenic, Marovic, Vranes, Sofijanic, Pericic. Squatting L-R: Rudic, Bratusa, Markovic, Belamaric. Coach of the team: Vlaho Orlic. Partizan won seven times the European Cup for National Champions: 1964, 1965, 1967, 1971, 1975, 1976 and 2011.

Source:  Maestro Vaterpolo Ratko Rudic by Damir Skarpa ands Eduard Hemar