Kristijan Milaković Explained

Kristijan Milaković
Position:Left driver
Height:2.03 m
Weight:105 kg
Currentnumber:8
Birth Date:21 April 1992
Birth Place:Zagreb, Croatia
Nationality:Croatian

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]

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.

YearCompetitionAchievementClub
2014 HAVK Mladost
2014 HAVK Mladost
2014 HAVK Mladost
2013 HAVK Mladost
2013 HAVK Mladost
2013 HAVK Mladost
2012 HAVK Mladost
2012 HAVK Mladost
2012 HAVK Mladost
2011 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.

YearEventHostPlacementCountry
2014 World Cup Almaty3rd Croatia
2014 Samartzidis Cup [11] Athens1st Croatia
2014 Bnet Cup [12] Zagreb1st Croatia
2011 U20 World Championship Volos6th Croatia
2009 U18 World Championship[13] Šibenik1st Croatia
2008 U17 European Championship3rd Croatia
2007 U16 International Tournament 1st Croatia

Career statistics

Club

Club statistics
ClubSeasonLeagueChampionshipNational CupEuropeTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals%
HAVK Mladost2011–12Adriatic League16195933161240431,1
2012–131841432424482,0
2013–1423545725123342992,3
Total57114141971228451061901,8
Como Nuoto2014–15Serie A122343525391,6
Total22343525391,6
Savona2015–16Serie A11017--10171,7
Total1017--10171,7
Trieste–21
Szolnok2021– OB I
Career total891651419101728451412461,7

International

National teamYearAppsGoals
Croatia201213
201321
20141615
Total1919

Individual awards

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Kristijan Milaković announced in Italian media . waterpolo24.com . August 3, 2014 . it . https://web.archive.org/web/20140808052526/http://www.waterpolo24.com/posts/colpo-del-como-preso-kristijan-milakovic-dal-mladost . August 8, 2014 . dead .
  2. News: Kristijan Milaković announced in Italian media . calendariodellosportivo.it . August 3, 2014 . it . https://web.archive.org/web/20140903152839/http://calendariodellosportivo.it/ufficializzato-laccordo-tra-como-nuoto-e-kristijan-milakovic/ . September 3, 2014 . dead .
  3. News: Kristijan Milaković performance in LEN Champions League qualifying round . vecernji.hr. June 20, 2014. hr.
  4. News: Milaković turned off POŠK. vk-medvescak.hr. August 5, 2014. hr. https://web.archive.org/web/20110218013817/http://www.vk-medvescak.hr/nx/i/683. February 18, 2011. dead.
  5. News: Milaković huge performance vs. Jadran. vk-medvescak.hr. August 5, 2014. hr. https://web.archive.org/web/20100417231611/http://vk-medvescak.hr/nx/i/480. April 17, 2010. dead.
  6. News: Sensational win of Medveščak against Mladost. vk-medvescak.hr. August 5, 2014. hr. https://web.archive.org/web/20101218045002/http://www.vk-medvescak.hr/nx/i/581. December 18, 2010. dead.
  7. News: Kristijan Milaković performance in LEN Champions League qualifying round . vecernji.hr. June 20, 2014. hr.
  8. News: Mladost swept Jug. 24sata.hr. August 10, 2014. hr.
  9. News: Cup is again ours. havk-mladost.hr.hr. August 10, 2014. hr.
  10. News: Milaković and Udovičić resolve Budva. havk-mladost.hr.hr. August 10, 2014. hr.
  11. News: Croatia building confidence with winning Samartzidis Cup . waterpoloworld.com. August 7, 2014.
  12. News: Croatia won four-nation tournament. waterpoloworld.com. August 7, 2014.
  13. News: Croatia U18 World Champion . waterpoloplanet.com. July 23, 2014.
  14. News: Mladost-the best male team in Zagreb in 2011 . havk-mladost.hr . August 3, 2014 . hr . https://web.archive.org/web/20140812201648/http://www.havk-mladost.hr/vijesti/mladost-najbolja-muska-ekipa-u-zagrebu-2011-godine/ . August 12, 2014 . dead .
  15. News: Elected All star team of U18 World Champions . waterpoloplanet.com. July 23, 2014.
  16. News: 2009 Zagreb Water polo Association Awards. zagrebancija.hr. August 7, 2014. hr. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304033817/http://www.zagrebancija.com/hr-sport/nagradjeni-najbolji-zagrebacki-sportasi-u-2009_291055/. March 4, 2016. dead.