Serbia men's national water polo team

The Serbia men's national water polo team represents Serbia in international men's water polo. It is considered to be one of the most successful men's water polo teams in the world, winning medals in all Olympic tournaments since 2000, including record three consecutive gold medals, and winning multiple European and World Championships.

FINA codeSRB

Nickname(s)Делфини / Delfini
(The Dolphins)

AssociationWater Polo Association of Serbia ^[sr]

ConfederationLEN (Europe)

Quick facts FINA code, Nickname(s) ...

Serbia

FINA code	SRB
Nickname(s)	Делфини / Delfini (The Dolphins)
Association	Water Polo Association of Serbia [sr]
Confederation	LEN (Europe)
Head coach	Vladimir Vujasinović
Captain	Nikola Jakšić
Most caps	Dejan Savić (444)
Top scorer(s)	Aleksandar Šapić (981)
FINA ranking (since 2008)
Current	7 (as of 9 August 2021)
Highest	1 (2009–2011, 2014–2019)
Lowest	7 (2025)
First international
Belgium  7–1  Yugoslavia (Bologna, Italy; 31 August 1927) as Serbia Serbia  13–6  Russia (Belgrade, Serbia; 1 September 2006)
Biggest win
Yugoslavia  62–0  Guatemala (Kobe, Japan; 24 August 1985)[1] as Serbia Serbia  31–0  Egypt (Genoa, Italy; 18 June 2008)[2]
Biggest defeat
Belgium  7–1  Yugoslavia (Bologna, Italy; 31 August 1927) as Serbia Hungary  16–7  Serbia (Split, Croatia; 31 August 2022) Greece  16–7  Serbia (Kalang, Singapore; 24 July 2025)
Olympic Games (team statistics)
Appearances	20 (first in 1936)
Best result	(1968 (YUG), 1984 (YUG), 1988 (YUG), 2016, 2020, 2024)
4-time Olympian(s)	Vladimir Vujasinović (1996–2008) Dejan Savić (1996–2008) Aleksandar Šapić (1996–2008) Duško Pijetlović (2008–2020) Andrija Prlainović (2008–2020) Filip Filipović (2008–2020) Dušan Mandić (2012–2024)
Most medals	4-time Duško Pijetlović (2008–2020) Andrija Prlainović (2008–2020) Filip Filipović (2008–2020) Dušan Mandić (2012–2024)
Most titles	3-time Dušan Mandić (2012–2024)
Top scorer(s)	Aleksandar Šapić (64 goals, 1996–2008)
Most saves	Branislav Mitrović (130 saves, 2016–2020)
Top sprinter(s)	Aleksandar Ćirić (40 sprints won, 2000–2008)
Flag bearer(s)	Mirko Sandić (1972) Filip Filipović (2020) Dušan Mandić (2024)
World Championship
Appearances	20 (first in 1973)
Best result	(1986 (YUG), 1991 (YUG), 2005 (SCG), 2009, 2015)
World Cup
Appearances	9 (first in 1997)
Best result	(2006, 2010, 2014)
World League
Appearances	18 (first in 2003)
Best result	(2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019)
European Championship
Appearances	32 (first in 1927)
Best result	(1991 (YUG), 2001 (YUG), 2003 (SCG), 2006, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2026)
Media
Website	waterpoloserbia.org
Medal record Event 1st 2nd 3rd Olympic Games 6 5 3 World Championship 5 2 5 World Cup 5 2 3 World League 12 1 1 European Championship 9 9 5 Europa Cup 0 0 0 Mediterranean Games 4 0 1 Summer Universiade 4 1 2 Total 45 20 20 Men's water polo Representing FR Yugoslavia /  Serbia and Montenegro /  Serbia Olympic Games 2016 Rio de Janeiro Team 2020 Tokyo Team 2024 Paris Team 2004 Athens Team 2000 Sydney Team 2008 Beijing Team 2012 London Team World Championship 2005 Montreal Team 2009 Rome Team 2015 Kazan Team 2001 Fukuoka Team 2011 Shanghai Team 1998 Perth Team 2003 Barcelona Team 2017 Budapest Team FINA World Cup 2006 Budapest 2010 Oradea 2014 Almaty 2002 Belgrade 2018 Berlin FINA World League 2005 Belgrade 2006 Athens 2007 Berlin 2008 Genova 2010 Niš 2011 Firenze 2013 Chelyabinsk 2014 Dubai 2015 Bergamo 2016 Huizhou 2017 Ruza 2019 Belgrade 2004 Long Beach 2009 Podgorica European Championship 2001 Budapest 2003 Kranj 2006 Belgrade 2012 Eindhoven 2014 Budapest 2016 Belgrade 2018 Barcelona 2026 Belgrade 1997 Seville 2008 Málaga 2010 Zagreb European Games 2015 Baku Mediterranean Games 1997 Bari Team 2009 Pescara Team 2018 Tarragona Team 2022 Oran Team 2005 Almeria Team Summer Universiade 1995 Fukuoka Team 2005 Izmir Team 2011 Shenzhen Team 2017 Taipei Team 2003 Daegu Team 2009 Belgrade Team 2013 Kazan Team

Close

Serbia has inherited the continuity of results and medals from all former state unions (Yugoslavia, Serbia and Montenegro).^[3][4]

Including the results of the former Yugoslav team, Serbia has won three consecutive gold medals in the Olympic water polo tournament (from 2016 to 2024), five World Championships, eight European Championships, three World Cups, record 14 FINA World Leagues, four gold medals at Mediterranean Games, four gold medals at Summer Universiades and a gold medal at the first and so far only water polo tournament at the European Games. They won nine straight major competitions: the 2014 World League, 2014 Europeans, 2014 World Cup, 2015 World League, 2015 World Championships, 2016 Europeans, 2016 World League, 2016 Olympics, and 2017 World League. Their golden streak came to an end at the 2017 Worlds when Croatia beat them in the semis, and they had to settle for the bronze medal.^[4][5]

In 2016, Serbia became the first national water polo team to simultaneously hold titles in all five existing major championships—European Championship, World Championship, World Cup, World League and Olympic Games.^[6] The team holds the record for the most consecutive World League titles, winning five consecutive titles from 2013 to 2017. They are Serbia's most successful national sports team, having won more titles than all other Serbian national teams combined.^[7]