The Croatian, national coach between 1990 and 1993, was the architect of the silver medal won at the 1992 Olympics. His demanding methods were reflected in the film ’42 seconds’.
Nostalgia comes over us at certain times, because it is inevitable to remember characters as transcendental as they are controversial. This is the case of Dragan Matutinovic (Split, Croatia, 1954), whose relationship with success is total. Although he now dedicates himself to enjoying his family, especially his grandchildren , he was hard on his players, whom he considered his children, in their search for the top of water polo.
“I arrived in Barcelona in 1987 and it was a surprise. I didn’t know anything about Spain at the time ,” Matutinovic recalls in conversation with El Confidencial. “I didn’t know a word of Spanish, I spoke English. But they didn’t and it was very difficult to start.”
The man who knew nothing about the country took it upon himself to raise national water polo to another level thanks to the three years he spent as coach (1990-93). During that period, the Balkan War began. “It was a very complicated situation. I have always gone to places with my family, with my wife and my children. Otherwise, I would not sign for the teams. But at that time, more than sport, my goal was to get the rest of the family out of the country.
” Dragan was always known for his demanding and effective methods of achieving results. “I was a demanding coach, but also fair . That’s how it is. There was a lot of talk about this aspect and my working methods were exaggerated.”
His experience as a coach led the team to undergo tough preparations in Andorra, during which there was some extravagance. “I pushed the team to the limit, but it was necessary. Before I arrived, Spain was 11th in the world and I was not satisfied . I wanted to fight for medals and I saw that the team had the class and quality to fight for it. That team was the best team in the history of Spanish water polo.”
Manel Estiarte, Jesús Rollán, Miki Oca and Pedro García Aguado were some of the members of the team that won a historic Olympic gold medal in Atlanta 1996. Four years earlier, in Barcelona, under the direction of Matutinovic, they won a silver medal that was not enough. It was in a final against Italy that will go down in history because it went to three extra times.
To reach the final in Barcelona , there were long days in Andorra. “There were many hours of work, six or seven a day. We did swimming, water polo and even football . Yes, as you can see: football. We played matches because I like it a lot and I divided them into those for Madrid and those for Barcelona.”