First Water polo League
SportWater polo
Founded2006
No. of teams4
CountryMontenegro
ContinentLEN (Europe)
Most recent
champion(s)		Jadran
Most titlesJadran
(12 titles in independent Montenegro; 18 overall)
TV partner(s)RTCG
Level on pyramid1
Domestic cup(s)Montenegrin Water Polo Cup
Official websiteOfficial Website

The Montenegrin First League of Water Polo is the national professional water polo league in Montenegro. It was established in 2006. shortly after Montenegro declared its independence from Serbia and Montenegro. It is organized by the Water Polo and Swimming Federation of Montenegro.
Three clubs from Montenegrin League are playing in Adriatic Water Polo League.

History

Before independence

During their history, Montenegrin water polo clubs played in the top-tier competition of Kingdom of Yugoslavia, SFR Yugoslavia, FR Yugoslavia and Serbia and Montenegro, with important roles in Yugoslav Water Polo Championship. Among them are PVK Jadran, VK Primorac Kotor, VK Budva and VK Bijela, who played in top-tier.
The very first Montenegrin side which participated in official competitions was PVK Jadran, who finished second in 1935 Yugoslav Championship, played in Dubrovnik.[1] First Montenegrin team which played in Yugoslav Championship after the World War II was VK Primorac (season 1946).
Below is the list of all-time participants of Montenegrin clubs in Yugoslav Championship from 1935 to 1938.

Club 35 36 37
Jadran 2 4 3

Below is the list of all-time participants of Montenegrin clubs in Yugoslav First League from 1946 to 1970.

Club 46 51 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70
Primorac 5 - - - - - - - - - - 8 - - 7 7 8 6 4 4
Jadran - 7 7 6 6 3 3 1 1 2 2 3 4 4 3 4 4 5 7 9

Below is the list of all-time participants of Montenegrin clubs in Yugoslav First League from 1971 to 1991, including the placements in First 'B' League from 1989 to 1991.

Club 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91
Primorac 6 5 6 5 3 2 4 6 4 3 3 5 4 7 4 1 5 7 6 6 7
Jadran 5 6 9 4 7 8 8 4 6 4 4 4 6 4 8 9 10 9 7 9 12
Bijela - - - - - - 12 - - - - - - - - - - - 18 19 -
Budva - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 15 15 19

Below is the list of all-time participants of Montenegrin clubs in First League of FR Yugoslavia / Serbia and Montenegro from 1992 to 2006.

Club 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06
Primorac 4 3 4 7 8 6 5 5 4 4 3 2 3 3 3
Jadran 5 6 6 6 4 5 - 8 3 2 2 1 1 1 1
Budva - 5 1 2 2 3 4 4 6 7 5 6 6 5 4

In that competitions, Montenegrin clubs won 6 titles of national champion. First time, PVK Jadran became champion of Yugoslavia on season 1957-58. Next year, Jadran defended the trophy.[2] VK Primorac won their first champion title on 1985-86 season. On season 1993-94, champion of Yugoslavia became VK Budva.[3] After two trophies in 50's, PVK Jadran won four champion titles on 2002-03, 2003–04, 2004–05 and 2005-06. Below is the list of Montenegrin clubs' champion titles in the First League of Yugoslavia.

Club Winners Runners-up Winning Years
PVK Jadran Herceg Novi
6
4
 1957-58, 1958-59, 2002-03, 2003-04, 2004-05, 2005-06
VK Primorac Kotor
1
2
 1985-86
VK Budva
1
2
 1993-94

After independence

Soon after the Montenegrin independence referendum, Water polo Federation of Montenegro founded its own competitions, with the First League as a top-tier competition. Number of teams in the First League varied - from 4 to 8.
All the titles in Montenegrin League won three teams - Jadran, Primorac and Budva. Montenegrin clubs are participants of Adriatic Water polo League, too, from its first season.

Champions

From the inaugural season (2006-07), three different clubs won champion titles in Montenegrin First League of Water Polo.

Titles by season

Montenegrin First League of Water Polo
Season Champion Second Third
2006–07 Primorac Budva Jadran
2007–08 Primorac (2) Budva Jadran
2008–09 Jadran Primorac VA Cattaro
2009–10 Jadran (2) Primorac VA Cattaro
2010–11 Budva Jadran Primorac
2011–12 Jadran (3) Budva Primorac
2012–13 Budva (2) Primorac Jadran
2013–14 Jadran (4) Budva Primorac
2014–15 Jadran (5) Budva Primorac
2015–16 Jadran (6) Budva Primorac
2016–17 Jadran (7) Budva Primorac
2017–18 Jadran (8) Budva Primorac
2018–19 Jadran (9) Budva Primorac
2019–20 Interrupted due to the coronavirus pandemic
2020–21 Jadran (10) Primorac Budva
2021–22 Jadran (11) Primorac Budva
2022–23 Jadran (12) Primorac Budva

Titles by Club

Montenegrin League

Below is a list of clubs with titles won in Montenegrin First League of Water Polo.

Club Titles Runners-up Years Won
Jadran Herceg Novi 12 1 2008-09, 2009–10, 2011–12, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19, 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23
Budva 2 9 2010-11, 2012–13
Primorac Kotor 2 6 2006-07, 2007–08

Overall

Below is an overall list, with titles won in both leagues - Montenegrin League and SFR Yugoslavia / Serbia and Montenegro Championship.

Club Titles Runners-up Years Won
Jadran Herceg Novi 18 5 1957-58, 1958–59, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2011–12, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19, 2020-21, 2021-22, 2023
Budva 3 11 1993-94, 2010–11, 2012–13
Primorac Kotor 3 7 1985-86, 2006–07, 2007–08

Montenegrin water polo clubs in Adriatic League

Clubs from Montenegro were among the founders of Adriatic Water Polo League, which is established at 2008. Since its first season, Montenegrin sides were among the most successful participants of regional competition, and PVK Jadran Herceg Novi won two titles on seasons 2010-11 and 2011-12.
Other clubs from Montenegro which participated in Adriatic League are VK Primorac Kotor, VK Budva and VA Cattaro Kotor.
Below is list of participation of Montenegrin clubs by every season of Adriatic League.

A1 League

Club 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
Jadran 2 1 1 5 8 4 5 3 2 2 2 3 6 5 8
Primorac 3 3 5 6 9 7 13 - - 8 8 7 8 8 12
Budva 5 5 6 10 4 6 11 - 7 9 - 6 12 13 -
Cattaro - 6 11 - - - - - - - - - - - -

A2 League

Club 16 17 18 19 20 22 23
Primorac 4 1 - - - - -
Budva 2 - - 1 - - 5
Cattaro 6 5 8 9 11 5 10

Montenegrin water polo clubs in European competitions

Main article: Montenegrin water polo clubs in European competitions

Montenegrin water polo clubs are participating in the LEN competitions since the season 1986-97.
First team which ever competed at the European cups was VK Primorac Kotor. Except them, in LEN competitions played also PVK Jadran Herceg Novi, VK Budva, VA Cattaro Kotor and PVK Val Prčanj.
Biggest success in the history of Montenegrin waterpolo made VK Primorac, who won the title in LEN Champions League 2009. Except them, another Montenegrin holder of European trophy is VA Cattaro.
Among the titles which Montenegrin teams won in LEN competitions are:

During the overall history, five different Montenegrin clubs played in LEN competitions.

Team Seasons G W D L
PVK Jadran Herceg Novi
16
156
74
23
59
VK Primorac Kotor
15
141
84
7
50
VK Budva
14
124
66
9
49
VA Cattaro Kotor
3
32
22
1
9
PVK Val Prčanj
4
26
8
2
16

As of the end of LEN competitions 2015–16 season.

See also

References

  1. ^ http://dalmatica.svkst.hr/document_viewer/izbornik.php?viewer=6&docid=1005&page=3&fid=&c=org&ext=pdf&doctype=5
  2. ^ "Istorija kluba". www.pvkjadran.com. Retrieved 22 August 2016.
  3. ^ "Vaterpolo klub Budva". www.vkbudva.com. Retrieved 22 August 2016.

External links

Sport in Montenegro
Top level water polo leagues of Europe (LEN)
Categories