A SUCCESSFUL COACH WHO LEFT A LASTING MARK THROUGH HIS WORK
Former handball player and one of the most successful handball coaches, Dragan Adžić, has been awarded the highest recognition of the Montenegrin Sports Academy for numerous world and European medals achieved in his roles as a national team selector and club coach.
At the 24th International Conference in Budva, the Montenegrin Sports Academy awarded the GOLDEN PLAQUE – Montenegrin Sports Academy Awards to Dragan Adžić, selector of the Slovenia women’s national handball team, with whom he secured qualification for the country’s first historic Olympic Games, making Slovenia the only women’s team from that sporting nation to achieve such a qualification.
The recognition was presented to him today in Podgorica by the President of the Montenegrin Sports Academy, Prof. Dr Duško Bjelica, who highlighted that the award was presented in recognition of:
- outstanding results at the international level;
- the promotion of sport;
- excellence in sporting work and coaching.
Results achieved as selector of the Montenegro women’s national handball team
- Silver medal at the London 2012 Olympic Games;
- Gold medal at the 2012 European Championship held in Serbia.
Results achieved as head coach of ŽRK Budućnost Podgorica
- EHF Champions League winners in 2012;
- EHF Champions League winners in 2015.
Dragan Adžić is also the recipient of a particularly prestigious distinction, Handball Person of the Year for 2012. The significance of this award lies in the fact that the selection included coaches from both men’s and women’s handball, presidents of national federations and clubs, as well as elite male and female handball players.
He also received the prestigious recognition of World’s Best Women’s Handball Coach in 2014 and 2015.
At the previous conference, held in Cavtat near the historic city of Dubrovnik, the same GOLDEN PLAQUE was presented to Zlatko Dalić, selector of the Croatian national football team. At the recently held conference in Budva, the recognition was also presented to Driton Kuka, selector of the Kosovo national judo team and one of the most successful judo coaches in the world.
Following this recognition, the same GOLDEN PLAQUE will be presented in Podgorica on 2 November to water polo expert Uroš Stevanović, who, as selector of the Serbian men’s national water polo team, has won numerous world, Olympic and European medals.
“We will continue to support the most successful professionals who promote sport and outstanding achievements in their work at the international level. We see this as a synergy of knowledge, experience and immense dedication, supported by scientific knowledge, with a clear goal of building an international bridge to excellence,” stated the President of the Montenegrin Sports Academy, Prof. Dr Duško Bjelica.
Expressing his gratitude for this highly valuable recognition, Dragan Adžić did not hide his satisfaction at being among the laureates who have brought international recognition to their countries through outstanding sporting achievements.
