Kristijan Milaković

Kristijan Milaković (born April 21, 1992) is a Croatian professional water polo player who currently plays for Savona[1][2] of the Serie A1 (water polo). He also represents the Croatia men's national water polo team. Although his primary positions are left or right flat (driver), he is polivalent player and he can play as Hole D as well. He is 203 cm tall and 105 kg heavy but his main advantage and the fact with whom he is making difference among other water polo players in the pool is 220 cm long arm span (reach).[3]

Kristijan Milaković
Kristijan Milaković playing for Croatia in 2014
Personal information
Born (1992-04-21) April 21, 1992
Zagreb, Croatia
Nationality Croatian
Height 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in)
Weight 105 kg (231 lb)
Position Left driver
Number 8
Medal record
Men's water polo
Representing  Croatia
World Cup
Bronze medal – third place2014 AlmatyTeam
U18 World Championship
Gold medal – first place2009 ŠibenikTeam
U17 European Championship
Bronze medal – third place2008 BelgradeTeam

Personal life

Kristijan Milaković was born and raised in Zagreb. He started with swimming, but at the age of 8 he switched to water polo.

In 2011 Milaković passed the entrance exam at the Zagreb School of Business to become a part-time undergraduate student of Communications management.

Club career

VK Medveščak Zagreb

Milaković started to play water polo at the age of 8 in VK Medveščak Zagreb. From first appearance he was considered as a major talent, what he proved through following years where he won numerous medals in youth (18) and junior (6) competitions and also by winning 4 individual awards. Because of his great performances he was transferred to senior team when he was 15 years old. After the first year where he collected experience and successfully overcame all the traps of senior age, his talent and skills once again came to the fore. His good performances were not missed by Mladost scouts who wanted to bring him in the summer of 2010, but Medveščak did not want to get rid of his services so easily. Milaković did not sink after an unsuccessful transfer, but became a leading player of VK Medveščak.[4][5] Especially he proved himself in Cup match against Mladost which resulted with the first victory of VK Medveščak after more than 40 years,[6] where he was one of the most notable individuals. After the end of 2010/11 season two clubs made an agreement and Milaković finally became new player of Mladost.

HAVK Mladost Zagreb

After joining Mladost, Milaković started to adjust to new teammates and accordingly his performances varied.[7] His first notable performance with the new club was in the 2011 Croatian Cup finals, where he played under temperature. That fact did not stop him from helping his team by scoring 2 goals in a monstrous win over Jug[8][9] who entered the finals as a huge favorite. He continued with playing his first season in "warm-cold" style with occasional flashes.[10] The first season with Mladost ended magnificently since his performances helped the club to win its second bronze medal in a row in Champions League.

Accomplishments

Club competitions

Milaković won numerous medals in his youth (18) and junior (6) competitions while he was playing for VK Medveščak. As a part of the class of '92, who made great contribution to the club, he has a special place in club's showcase.

Milaković continued winning trophies while he was playing for HAVK Mladost and won 10 medals with his former club. The full table is listed below.

Year Competition Achievement Club
2014Euro Cup2nd place, silver medalist(s)HAVK Mladost
2014Croatian Championship2nd place, silver medalist(s)HAVK Mladost
2014Adriatic League3rd place, bronze medalist(s)HAVK Mladost
2013Croatian Cup3rd place, bronze medalist(s)HAVK Mladost
2013Adriatic League3rd place, bronze medalist(s)HAVK Mladost
2013Croatian Championship3rd place, bronze medalist(s)HAVK Mladost
2012Croatian Cup3rd place, bronze medalist(s)HAVK Mladost
2012Champions League3rd place, bronze medalist(s)HAVK Mladost
2012Croatian Championship3rd place, bronze medalist(s)HAVK Mladost
2011Croatian Cup1st place, gold medalist(s)HAVK Mladost

National team

In summer of 2007 Milaković joined the Croatian National Team and passed all youth and junior categories. In 2012 he passed to senior tem where he continued with conquering medals for home country.

Year Event Host Placement Country
2014World CupKazakhstan Almaty3rdCroatia Croatia
2014Samartzidis Cup [11]Greece Athens1stCroatia Croatia
2014Bnet Cup [12]Croatia Zagreb1stCroatia Croatia
2011U20 World ChampionshipGreece Volos6thCroatia Croatia
2009U18 World Championship[13]Croatia Šibenik1stCroatia Croatia
2008U17 European ChampionshipSerbia Belgrade3rdCroatia Croatia
2007U16 International TournamentSerbia Obrenovac1stCroatia Croatia

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 28 November 2015
Club statistics
Club Season League Championship National Cup Europe Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals%
Croatia HAVK Mladost 2011–12 Adriatic League 16195933161240431,1
2012–13 18414324—24482,0
2013–14 23545725123342992,3
Total 57114141971228451061901,8
Italy Como Nuoto 2014–15 Serie A1 2234—35—25391,6
Total 2234—35—25391,6
Italy Savona 2015–16 Serie A1 1017—--—10171,7
Total 1017—--—10171,7
Italy Trieste –21
Hungary Szolnok 2021–OB I
Career total 891651419101728451412461,7

International
As of match played 24 August 2014
National teamYearAppsGoals
Croatia Croatia 201213
201321
20141615
Total1919

Individual awards
  • (2014) Top scorer of LEN Euro Cup
  • (2011) Zagreb's best male sports team [14] - HAVK Mladost (common award for all players)
  • (2009) All-star team[15] of U18 World Championship in Šibenik
  • (2009) Annual award from Zagreb Water polo Association [16] for extraordinary contribution in conquering of gold medal on U18 World Championship in Šibenik
  • (2009) Annual award for best U17 water polo player from Zagreb Water polo Association
  • (2008) MVP of U17 Croatian Championship
  • (2008) MVP of U17 Croatian Cup
  • (2007) MVP of U16 Christmas International Tournament in Kamnik, Slovenia
  • (2007) MVP of U16 “Trophy of Belgrade” Tournament in Belgrade, Serbia

See also

References
  1. "Kristijan Milaković announced in Italian media" (in Italian). waterpolo24.com. Archived from the original on August 8, 2014. Retrieved August 3, 2014.
  2. "Kristijan Milaković announced in Italian media" (in Italian). calendariodellosportivo.it. Archived from the original on September 3, 2014. Retrieved August 3, 2014.
  3. "Kristijan Milaković performance in LEN Champions League qualifying round" (in Croatian). vecernji.hr. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
  4. "Milaković turned off POŠK" (in Croatian). vk-medvescak.hr. Archived from the original on February 18, 2011. Retrieved August 5, 2014.
  5. "Milaković huge performance vs. Jadran" (in Croatian). vk-medvescak.hr. Archived from the original on April 17, 2010. Retrieved August 5, 2014.
  6. "Sensational win of Medveščak against Mladost" (in Croatian). vk-medvescak.hr. Archived from the original on December 18, 2010. Retrieved August 5, 2014.
  7. "Kristijan Milaković performance in LEN Champions League qualifying round" (in Croatian). vecernji.hr. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
  8. "Mladost swept Jug" (in Croatian). 24sata.hr. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
  9. "Cup is again ours" (in Croatian). havk-mladost.hr.hr. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
  10. "Milaković and Udovičić resolve Budva" (in Croatian). havk-mladost.hr.hr. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
  11. "Croatia building confidence with winning Samartzidis Cup". waterpoloworld.com. Retrieved August 7, 2014.
  12. "Croatia won four-nation tournament". waterpoloworld.com. Retrieved August 7, 2014.
  13. "Croatia U18 World Champion". waterpoloplanet.com. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
  14. "Mladost-the best male team in Zagreb in 2011" (in Croatian). havk-mladost.hr. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 3, 2014.
  15. "Elected All star team of U18 World Champions". waterpoloplanet.com. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
  16. "2009 Zagreb Water polo Association Awards" (in Croatian). zagrebancija.hr. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved August 7, 2014.
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