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. 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. VK Primorac won their first champion title on 1985-86 season. On season 1993-94, champion of Yugoslavia became VK Budva. 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 1957-58, 1958-59, 2002-03, 2003-04, 2004-05, 2005-06 VK Primorac Kotor 1985-86 VK Budva 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 SeasonChampionSecondThird2006–07 Primorac Budva Jadran2007–08 Primorac (2) Budva Jadran2008–09 Jadran Primorac VA Cattaro2009–10 Jadran (2) Primorac VA Cattaro2010–11 Budva Jadran Primorac2011–12 Jadran (3) Budva Primorac2012–13 Budva (2) Primorac Jadran2013–14 Jadran (4) Budva Primorac2014–15 Jadran (5) Budva Primorac2015–16 Jadran (6) Budva Primorac2016–17 Jadran (7) Budva Primorac2017–18 Jadran (8) Budva Primorac2018–19 Jadran (9) Budva Primorac2019–20 Interrupted due to the coronavirus pandemic2020–21 Jadran (10) Primorac Budva2021–22 Jadran (11) Primorac Budva2022–23 Jadran (12) Primorac Budva2023–24 Primorac (3) Jadran VA Cattaro2024–25 Jadran (13) Primorac Budućnost
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 13 2 2008-09, 2009–10, 2011–12, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19, 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23, 2024-25 Primorac Kotor 3 6 2006-07, 2007–08, 2023-24 Budva 2 9 2010-11, 2012–13
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 19 6 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, 2022-2023, 2024-2025 Primorac Kotor 4 7 1985-86, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2023-24 Budva 3 11 1993-94, 2010–11, 2012–13
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. Premier League Club 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Jadran 2 1 1 5 8 4 5 3 2 2 2 3 6 5 8 4 3 Primorac 3 3 5 6 9 7 13 - - 8 8 7 8 8 12 - 7 Budva 5 5 6 10 4 6 11 - 7 9 - 6 12 13 - - - Cattaro - 6 11 - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
A1 League Club 16 17 18 19 20 22 23 24 Primorac 4 1 - - - - - 1 Budva 2 - - 1 - - 5 11 Cattaro 6 5 8 9 11 5 10 9
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: LEN Champions League: VK Primorac Kotor: 2009 LEN Cup: VA Cattaro Kotor: 2010 During the overall history, five different Montenegrin clubs played in LEN competitions. Team Seasons G W D L PVK Jadran Herceg Novi VK Primorac Kotor VK Budva VA Cattaro Kotor PVK Val Prčanj As of the end of LEN competitions 2015–16 season.
See also Adriatic Water polo League Montenegrin Second League of Water Polo Montenegrin Water Polo Cup
References
External links Water Polo and Swimming Federation of Montenegro