Sliema ASC appoint Serbian Dejan Savic as head coach

Sliema ASC have appointed Dejan Savic as their new head coach, the waterpolo club said in a statement on Tuesday.

Savic will replace Spanish coach Beto Fernandez and will take charge of the team with immediate effect.

Fernandez was forced to relinquish his job last week due to personal reasons and the club had announced that he would return back to Spain for an extended period of leave.

“Sliema ASC are delighted to announce that Dejan Savic has been appointed as the club’s Head Coach with immediate effect,” the club said in a statement.

“Dejan Savic needs no introduction, being arguably one of the finest waterpolo coaches in the world at the moment.

“Following a great playing career, where he is still the most capped Serbian National Team player,

“Coach Savic guided the Serbian National team to a golden era, winning two Olympic Gold medals, three European Championships, six World Leagues as well as one World Cup.

“This has made him one of the most successful coaches in the history of modern waterpolo.”

The arrival of Savic is the latest high-profile arrival at the club as the Blues have already agreed deals to bring in two star players to the club for the national championship.

In fact, Sliema have already brought Serbian forward Andrija Prlainović and Russian goalscorer Dmitri Kholod.

Prlainovic is one of the most decorated players in the game who has worked for several years under the charge of Savic, particularly as he formed an integral part of the 2008, 2012, 2016 and 2020 Serbian Olympic teams, winning two gold and two bronze medals in the process.

In 2012 Prlainovic was Olympic top scorer with 22 goals. At international level, Andrija has also helped the Serbian national team win two World Championships and five European Championships. 

On the other hand, Kholod, is on the books of German side Spandau, where he has been in impressive goal-scoring form in the Champions League, aside from the German Championship.

The 1.98cm powerhouse, who can play on both attacking sides as well as a defender, has in recent years been a consistently solid performer in Europe where he has scored 113 goals in 59 Champions League matches.