Former SFR Yugoslavia national team competitor and one of the most successful judo coaches in the world, Driton Kuka, has been awarded the highest recognition by the Montenegrin Sports Academy for more than 30 world and European medals achieved as a head coach.
At the 24th International Conference held in Budva, the Montenegrin Sports Academy presented the GOLDEN PLAQUE – Montenegrin Sports Academy Awards to Driton Kuka, Head Coach of the Kosovo National Judo Team.
The award was given for:
- outstanding international results
- promotion of sport
- excellence in coaching and sports development
🇽🇰 Achievements Under His Leadership (Head Coach)
Under Driton Kuka’s coaching leadership, Kosovo has achieved:
- 🥇 3 Olympic gold medals
- 🥈 1 Olympic silver medal
- 🥉 1 Olympic bronze medal
- 🌍 1 World Championship gold medal
- 🌍 multiple World Championship silver and bronze medals
- 🇪🇺 more than 10 European Championship medals, including gold titles
🥋 Competitive Career of Driton Kuka
As a competitor representing SFR Yugoslavia, he achieved:
- 🥉 bronze medal at the European Championships (1990)
- 🏆 medal at the World Cup in Hungary (1991)
- multiple medals at international club-level competitions
Driton Kuka built one of the most successful judo systems in Europe through his coaching career, while also having a notable international competitive career. His greatest contribution to sport is reflected in the achievements of his athletes at the Olympic Games, World Championships, and European Championships.
🏆 Zlatko Dalić – Previous Award Recipient
At the previous conference held in Cavtat, near historic Dubrovnik, the same GOLDEN PLAQUE was awarded to Zlatko Dalić, head coach of the Croatia national football team.
With the national team, he achieved:
- 🥈 silver medal at the FIFA World Cup (2018)
- 🥉 bronze medal at the FIFA World Cup (2022)
- 🥈 silver medal in the UEFA Nations League A (2023)
“Considering that during the Budva conference Coach Kuka was officially engaged at the European Judo Championships, where his athletes also won a gold medal, this award will be presented to him at a later date, most likely at the upcoming conference in Podgorica,” said Duško Bjelica, President of the Montenegrin Sports Academy.
