View source for Dejan Savić

{{short description|Serbian water polo player (born 1975)}}
{{BLP sources|date=July 2018}}
{{Infobox water polo biography
| image = Dejan Savić crop.jpg
| image_size= 235px
| caption = {{small|Savić coaching [[Serbia men's national water polo team|Serbia]] at the [[Water polo at the 2015 World Aquatics Championships – Men's tournament|2015 World Championships]]}}
| fullname    = 
| nickname    = 
| nationality  = Serbian
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1975|4|24|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Belgrade]], [[Socialist Republic of Serbia|SR Serbia]], [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|SFR Yugoslavia]]
| hometown    = Belgrade 
| height     = {{convert|192|cm|ftin|0|abbr=on}}
| weight     = {{convert|135|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}
| L/R     = R
| college    = 
| position    = 
| currentclub  = [[Sliema A.S.C.|Sliema]]
| coachyears1    = 2012–2022
| coachclubs1    = [[Serbia men's national water polo team|Serbia]]
| coachyears2    = 2011–2015
| coachclubs2    = [[VK Crvena zvezda|Crvena zvezda]]
| coachyears3    = 2017–2018
| coachclubs3    = [[VK Crvena zvezda|Crvena zvezda]]
| coachyears4    = 2022–2023
| coachclubs4    = [[VK Crvena zvezda|Crvena zvezda]]
| coachyears5    = 2023–
| coachclubs5    = [[Sliema A.S.C.|Sliema]]
| years1         = 1989–1998
| clubs1         = [[VK Partizan|Partizan]]
| years2         = 1998–2000
| clubs2         = [[CN Barcelona|Barcelona]]
| years3         = 2000–2001
| clubs3         = [[CN Atlètic-Barceloneta|Atlètic-Barceloneta]]
| years4         = 2001–2003
| clubs4         = [[RN Florentia|Florentia]]
| years5         = 2003–2005
| clubs5         = [[Pro Recco]]
| years6         = 2005–2010
| clubs6         = [[Sintez Kazan|Sintez]]
| years7         = 2010–2011
| clubs7         = [[VK Crvena zvezda|Crvena zvezda]]
| medaltemplates = 
{{MedalCountry|{{FR-YUG}},<br />{{SCG}}<br />and {{SRB}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Water polo at the Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]}}
{{Medal|Silver|[[Water polo at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament|2004 Athens]]|}}
{{Medal|Bronze|[[Water polo at the 2000 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament|2000 Sydney]]|}}
{{Medal|Bronze|[[Water polo at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament|2008 Beijing]]|}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[FINA World Aquatics Championships|World Championships]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[Water polo at the 2005 World Aquatics Championships – Men's tournament|2005 Montreal]]|}}
{{Medal|Silver|[[Water polo at the 2001 World Aquatics Championships – Men's tournament|2001 Fukuoka]]|}}
{{Medal|Bronze|[[Water polo at the 1998 World Aquatics Championships – Men's tournament|1998 Perth]]|}}
{{Medal|Bronze|[[Water polo at the 2003 World Aquatics Championships – Men's tournament|2003 Barcelona]]|}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[European Water Polo Championship|European Championship]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2001 Men's European Water Polo Championship|2001 Budapest]]|}}
{{MedalGold|[[2003 Men's European Water Polo Championship|2003 Kranj]]|}}
{{MedalGold|[[2006 Men's European Water Polo Championship|2006 Belgrade]]|}}
{{MedalSilver|[[1997 Men's European Water Polo Championship|1997 Seville]]|}}
{{MedalSilver|[[2008 Men's European Water Polo Championship|2008 Málaga]]|}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[FINA Water Polo World League|FINA World League]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2005 FINA Men's Water Polo World League|2005 Belgrade]]|}}
{{MedalGold|[[2006 FINA Men's Water Polo World League|2006 Athens]]|}}
{{MedalGold|[[2007 FINA Men's Water Polo World League|2007 Berlin]]|}}
{{MedalGold|[[2008 FINA Men's Water Polo World League|2008 Genova]]|}}
{{MedalSilver|[[2004 FINA Men's Water Polo World League|2004 Long Beach]]|}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[FINA Water Polo World Cup|FINA World Cup]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2006 FINA Men's Water Polo World Cup|2006 Budapest]]|}}
{{MedalBronze|[[2002 FINA Men's Water Polo World Cup|2002 Belgrade]]|}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Mediterranean Games]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[Water polo at the 1997 Mediterranean Games|1997 Bari]]|}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Universiade]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[Water polo at the 1995 Summer Universiade|1995 Fukuoka]]|}}
{{MedalSport|Head Coach for {{SRB}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Water polo at the Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[Water polo at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament|2016 Rio de Janeiro]]|}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[Water polo at the 2020 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament|2020 Tokyo]]|}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[FINA World Aquatics Championships|World Championship]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[Water polo at the 2015 World Aquatics Championships – Men's tournament|2015 Kazan]]|}}
{{Medal|Bronze|[[Water polo at the 2017 World Aquatics Championships – Men's tournament|2017 Budapest]]|}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[European Water Polo Championship|European Championship]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2014 Men's European Water Polo Championship|2014 Budapest]]|}}
{{MedalGold|[[2016 Men's European Water Polo Championship|2016 Belgrade]]|}}
{{MedalGold|[[2018 Men's European Water Polo Championship|2018 Barcelona]]|}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[FINA Water Polo World Cup|FINA World Cup]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2014 FINA Men's Water Polo World Cup|2014 Almaty]] |}}
{{Medal|Bronze|[[2018 FINA Men's Water Polo World Cup|2018 Berlin]]|}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[FINA Water Polo World League|FINA World League]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2013 FINA Men's Water Polo World League|2013 Chelyabinsk]]|}}
{{MedalGold|[[2014 FINA Men's Water Polo World League|2014 Dubai]]|}}
{{MedalGold|[[2015 FINA Men's Water Polo World League|2015 Bergamo]]|}}
{{MedalGold|[[2016 FINA Men's Water Polo World League|2016 Huizhou]]|}}
{{MedalGold|[[2017 FINA Men's Water Polo World League|2017 Ruza]]|}}
{{MedalGold|[[2019 FINA Men's Water Polo World League|2019 Belgrade]]|}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Mediterranean Games]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[Water polo at the 2018 Mediterranean Games|2018 Tarragona]]|}}
| show-medals    = yes
| updated    = 
}}
'''Dejan Savić''' ({{lang-sr-cyr|Дејан Савић}}; born 24 April 1975) is a Serbian professional [[water polo]] coach and former player.

During his playing career, he was part of two Olympic bronze medal squads, one for [[Yugoslavia at the 2000 Summer Olympics|FR Yugoslavia at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney]], the other for [[Serbia at the 2008 Summer Olympics|Serbia at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing]], and one Olympic silver medal squad for [[Serbia and Montenegro at the 2004 Summer Olympics|Serbia and Montenegro at the 2004 Olympics in Athens]].

Savić started training with the [[VK Partizan|Partizan]] water polo club at the age of five and he debuted for the first team (seniors) at the age of thirteen, while still a pupil in elementary school. His last club was [[VK Crvena zvezda]] where he was team captain. He retired from active playing at the end of the 2010/11 season. At international level, Savić represented [[FR Yugoslavia]], [[Serbia and Montenegro]] and [[Serbia]], in 444 matches and scored 405 goals. He is the most capped player in Serbian water polo.

He began coaching [[VK Crvena zvezda]] in 2011 and stayed there until 2015. He also became head coach of the [[Serbia men's national water polo team]] in autumn 2012 and stayed until 2023.

==Club career as coach==
===Crvena zvezda===
In 2011, after finishing his long playing career, Savić remained with his club Crvena zvezda in the position of head coach. In 2015, Savić left the position in Crvena zvezda. In February 2022, he returned to Crvena zvezda as head coach.<ref>{{cite news |title=TRANSFER BOMBA U CRVENOJ ZVEZDI: Dejan Savić se vraća na mesto uspeha! |url=https://mondo.rs/Sport/Ostali-sportovi/a1598306/Dejan-Savic-se-vratio-u-Crvenu-zvezdu.html |access-date=5 April 2022 |work=mondo.rs |date=18 February 2022 |language=Serbian}}</ref>

==National career==
Savić is one of a few sportspeople who won Olympic medals in water polo [[List of men's Olympic water polo tournament records and statistics#Medals as coach and player|as players and head coaches]].<ref name="Dejan Savić SR">{{cite web|title=Dejan Savić |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/sa/dejan-savic-1.html |website=sports-reference.com |publisher=Sports Reference |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417085305/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/sa/dejan-savic-1.html |archive-date=17 April 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Official Results Book – 2016 Olympic Games – Water Polo |url=https://library.olympic.org/Default/digitalCollection/DigitalCollectionAttachmentDownloadHandler.ashx?parentDocumentId=165312&documentId=165323 |website=olympic.org |publisher=[[IOC]] |format=PDF |pages=6, 132 |access-date=20 June 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181218145826/https://library.olympic.org/Default/digitalCollection/DigitalCollectionAttachmentDownloadHandler.ashx?parentDocumentId=165312&documentId=165323 |archive-date=18 December 2018 }}</ref>

===As player===
Savić made his debut for the national team in 1994, during a time of [[International sanctions|sanctions]] for [[Serbia and Montenegro|Yugoslavia]], following All-Star selections in a tournament in [[Italy]]. He became the standard no. five (wing) player for the team almost without a break over the whole of his national career. Holding the record for the highest number of matches played (444), and also being a highly successful scorer (405 goals), he is considered to be among the true legends of Serbian sports. During his career, {{clarify|text=from a player in charge of sifting the opposing networks,|date=July 2018}} he developed into the strongest pillar of Serbia's defense in front of the goal. With his power and imagination, he was a prominent member of the team. From 1997, Savić was part of the Yugoslav/Serbian water polo team in every competition in which they won a medal. In a duel with [[Montenegro men's national water polo team|Montenegro]] at the 2008 Olympic Games, he was one of the players most responsible for Serbia's triumph when they won the bronze medal that year. Savić played his last match with the national team in [[China]] in 2011.

===As coach===
Savić was named as head coach of the [[Serbia men's national water polo team|Serbia national team]] after [[Dejan Udovičić]] left the position in 2012. Under Savić's leadership, the national team won the [[Water polo at the 2020 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament|2020]] and [[Water polo at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament|2016 Olympic Games]], the [[Water polo at the 2015 World Aquatics Championships – Men's tournament|2015 World Championship]], three European Championships ([[2014 Men's European Water Polo Championship|2014]], [[2016 Men's European Water Polo Championship|2016]] and [[2018 Men's European Water Polo Championship|2018]]), and six [[FINA Water Polo World League|World League]] titles ([[2013 FINA Men's Water Polo World League|2013]], [[2014 FINA Men's Water Polo World League|2014]], [[2015 FINA Men's Water Polo World League|2015]], [[2016 FINA Men's Water Polo World League|2016]], [[2017 FINA Men's Water Polo World League|2017]] and [[2019 FINA Men's Water Polo World League|2019]]). In little over twelve months, between August 2015 and August 2016, the Serbian national team won consecutively all four of the biggest titles in Water Polo – the 2015 World Championship, the 2016 European Championship, the 2016 World League, and the 2016 and 2020 Olympic Games – an unprecedented achievement.

==Honours==
===As coach===
====Crvena zvezda====
* [[LEN Champions League]]: 2012–13
* Serbian Championship: 2012–13, 2013–14
* Serbian Cup: 2012–13,  2013–14
* Regional A2 League: 2017–18
* [[Ligue Européenne de Natation|LEN Super Cup]]: 2014

===As player===
====Partizan====
* Yugoslavian Championship: 1994–95
* Yugoslavia Cup: 1989–90, 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95
* [[LEN Trophy|LEN Cup]]:  1997–98
* [[Ligue Européenne de Natation|LEN Super Cup]]: 1991
* [[LEN Cup Winners' Cup]]: 1990
* Mediterranean Championship: 1989

====CN Barcelona====
* [[:es:Copa del Rey de waterpolo masculino|Copa del Rey]]: 1998–9

====CN Atlètic-Barceloneta====
* [[División de Honor de Waterpolo|Spanish Championship]]: 2000–01
* [[:es:Copa del Rey de waterpolo masculino|Copa del Rey]]: 2000–01
* [[:es:Supercopa de España de waterpolo masculino|Supercopa de España]]: 2001

====Rari Nantes Florentia====
* [[LEN Cup Winners' Cup]]: 2001

====Pro Recco====
* [[Ligue Européenne de Natation|LEN Super Cup]]: 2004

====Sintez Kazan====
* Russian Championship: 2006–07
*Russian Cup: 2004–05, 2009–10
* [[LEN Trophy|LEN Euro Cup]]: 2006–07

==Individual honours==
It was announced on 1 June 2010 that Dejan Savić won the national sports award, which includes lifetime monthly fees. Savić was honored for winning a silver medal at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nadlanu.com/pocetna/info/sport/Bivsi-vaterpolista-Dejan-Savic-dobio-nacionalno-priznanje.a-76635.140.html|title=Savić dobio nacionalno priznanje|date=16 June 2010|publisher=na dlanu}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Serbia men's Olympic water polo team records and statistics]]
* [[Serbia and Montenegro men's Olympic water polo team records and statistics]]
* [[List of Olympic champions in men's water polo]]
* [[List of Olympic medalists in water polo (men)]]
* [[List of players who have appeared in multiple men's Olympic water polo tournaments]]
* [[List of world champions in men's water polo]]
* [[List of World Aquatics Championships medalists in water polo]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
* [http://www.novosti.rs/vesti/sport.72.html:332071-Savic-Igram-i-dok-spavam.htm Interview] {{in lang|sr}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Dejan Savić}}
* {{Sports links}}

{{Navboxes
|title = FR Yugoslavia / Serbia and Montenegro squads
|bg = #003893
|fg = #FFFFFF
|bordercolor = #DD0000
|list1 = 
{{FR Yugoslavia men's water polo squad 1996 Summer Olympics}}
{{FR Yugoslavia men's water polo squad 2000 Summer Olympics}}
{{FR Yugoslavia squad 2001 Men's European Water Polo Championship}}
{{FR Yugoslavia Squad 2001 FINA Water Polo World Championship}}
{{Serbia and Montenegro squad 2003 Men's European Water Polo Championship}}
{{Serbia and Montenegro Squad 2003 FINA Water Polo World Championship}}
{{Serbia and Montenegro men's water polo squad 2004 Summer Olympics}}
{{Serbia and Montenegro Squad 2005 FINA Water Polo World Championship}}
}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Serbia squads
|bg = #0C4076
|fg = #FFFFFF
|bordercolor = #C6363C
|list1 = 
{{Serbia squad 2006 Men's European Water Polo Championship}}
{{Serbia men's water polo squad 2007 World Aquatics Championships}}
{{Serbia squad 2008 Men's European Water Polo Championship}}
{{Serbia men's water polo squad 2008 Summer Olympics}}
{{Serbia men's water polo squad 2013 World Aquatics Championships}}
{{Serbia squad 2014 Men's European Water Polo Championship}}
{{Serbia men's water polo squad 2015 World Aquatics Championships}}
{{Serbia squad 2016 Men's European Water Polo Championship}}
{{Serbia men's water polo squad 2016 Summer Olympics}}
{{Serbia men's water polo squad 2017 World Aquatics Championships}}
{{Serbia squad 2018 Men's European Water Polo Championship}}
{{Serbia men's water polo squad 2019 World Aquatics Championships}}
{{Serbia squad 2020 Men's European Water Polo Championship}}
{{Serbia men's water polo squad 2020 Summer Olympics}}
}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Club squads
|list1 = 
{{1997–98 LEN Trophy champions roster}}
{{2006–07 LEN Trophy champions roster}}
{{2012–13 LEN Champions League champions roster}}
}}
{{Awards of Olympic Committee of Serbia}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Savic, Dejan}}
[[Category:1975 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Water polo players from Belgrade]]
[[Category:Yugoslav male water polo players]]
[[Category:Serbia and Montenegro male water polo players]]
[[Category:Serbian male water polo players]]
[[Category:Water polo centre backs]]
[[Category:Water polo players at the 1996 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Water polo players at the 2000 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Water polo players at the 2004 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Water polo players at the 2008 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:European champions for Serbia and Montenegro]]
[[Category:Olympic water polo players for Serbia and Montenegro]]
[[Category:Olympic bronze medalists for Serbia and Montenegro]]
[[Category:Olympic silver medalists for Serbia and Montenegro]]
[[Category:Olympic bronze medalists for Serbia in water polo]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2000 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2004 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2008 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:World Aquatics Championships medalists in water polo]]
[[Category:European champions for Serbia]]
[[Category:Water polo players at the 1997 Mediterranean Games]]
[[Category:Mediterranean Games medalists in water polo]]
[[Category:Mediterranean Games gold medalists for Serbia and Montenegro]]
[[Category:Summer World University Games medalists in water polo]]
[[Category:FISU World University Games gold medalists for Serbia and Montenegro]]
[[Category:Serbian water polo coaches]]
[[Category:Serbia men's national water polo team coaches]]
[[Category:Water polo coaches at the 2016 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Water polo coaches at the 2020 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Serbia and Montenegro expatriate sportspeople in Italy]]
[[Category:Serbian expatriate sportspeople in Russia]]
[[Category:Serbia and Montenegro expatriate sportspeople in Spain]]
[[Category:Serbia and Montenegro expatriate sportspeople in Russia]]
[[Category:21st-century Serbian sportsmen]]