Serbian water polo sensation Dusan Mandic has been crowned Europe’s Best Male Water Polo Player of 2024, adding another prestigious title to his illustrious career. The FTC-Telekom Budapest star becomes the fourth Serbian player to achieve this honour, following in the footsteps of legends Filip Filipovic, Vanja Udovicic, and Dusko Pijetlovic.
Mandic’s recognition comes after a remarkable year, highlighted by his third consecutive Olympic gold medal and a Champions League triumph. His stellar performances throughout 2024 earned him 32.7% of the votes in the European Aquatics Athlete of the Year Awards, placing him ahead of Spain’s Alvaro Granados, Hungary’s Soma Vogel, and Croatian stars Marko Bijac and Loren Fatovic.
At the Paris Olympics, Mandic showcased his dominance with a tournament-high 26 goals, including a jaw-dropping seven-goal haul in Serbia’s opening 16-15 victory over Japan. His decisive performances continued, with five goals in the thrilling 12-11 quarterfinal win against Greece, cementing his reputation as a clutch performer.
Mandic’s precision from free throws was particularly outstanding, scoring 10 goals from 14 attempts—far ahead of his competitors in this category. His heroics not only secured Serbia’s gold medal but also etched his name into Olympic history as one of the sport’s greats.
The summer of 2024 also saw Mandic lift the Champions League trophy with FTC-Telekom Budapest, where he was named MVP of the Final Four tournament in Malta. His performances for both club and country have elevated him to national hero status in Serbia and earned him the title of World Aquatics’ Male Water Polo Player of the Year.
Second place in the European Aquatics voting went to Spain’s Alvaro Granados, who garnered 22.7% of the votes, with his standout moment being a buzzer-beating backhand goal that clinched gold for Spain at the European Championships in Zagreb. Hungary’s Soma Vogel, instrumental in FTC-Telekom’s Champions League success, finished third with 21.8%, while Croatian world champions Marko Bijac and Loren Fatovic rounded out the top five.
Mandic’s extraordinary achievements in 2024 have further solidified his position as one of the greatest players in the history of water polo, and his legacy continues to grow on both domestic and international stages.
