“It is essential for us that players play in Europe” – Dejan Udovičić on development pathways & Olympics (Part 2)

In the second part of his in-depth conversation on the Waterpolo Expert Talk, legendary coach Dejan Udovičić explains one of the most decisive strategic choices he made as head coach of the United States men’s national team: sending his top players to Europe to accelerate their development. Udovičić openly describes the structural limitations of the American system. Despite the enormous participation numbers created by high school, college and youth programs, the United States cannot offer a professional domestic league comparable to Europe. Conflicts between the NCAA season and national team preparation, limited international exposure and calendar overlaps made it impossible to develop elite players exclusively at home. Faced with these realities, Udovičić made a bold decision: export the national team. Instead of waiting for structural changes in the US, he actively encouraged players to move abroad. What started with a handful of athletes quickly became a cornerstone of the program. Before COVID-19, seven or eight American players competed in Europe. During and after the pandemic, that number rose to nearly twenty. Udovičić explains why this step was non-negotiable. Playing in Europe exposes athletes to daily competition against world-class opponents, tactical complexity, physical intensity and pressure situations that simply cannot be replicated elsewhere. Step by step, American players integrated into top leagues in Italy, Greece, Spain, France and Croatia, learning how to survive and succeed at the highest level. He highlights examples such as Ben Hallock, Champions League winner and national team captain, Alex Bowen, World Championship top scorer, and a new generation of younger players who are now establishing themselves across Europe. Over time, the culture shifted: players no longer needed convincing. Those already abroad became the strongest advocates, motivating the next generation to follow. Udovičić also addresses the challenges this approach creates for a national coach. With players spread across multiple countries, training camps become harder to organize and direct daily supervision is impossible. Still, from his perspective, the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks. Europe provides something the US system cannot: continuous elite pressure. Beyond player development, the conversation expands to broader themes: long-term planning for Paris 2024 and Los Angeles 2028, the importance of early calendar clarity from World Aquatics and LEN, financial realities of international travel, and why federations must fully support coaches during system rebuilds. Udovičić draws parallels to the situation in Germany under Petar Porobić, emphasizing that successful rebuilds require patience, trust and a shared language between federation, coaches and players. Resetting a system is painful, but unavoidable if long-term success is the goal. The episode closes with Udovičić’s trademark realism and optimism: critical situations always start long before they become visible, but with courage, structure and belief in the process, medals will eventually follow. 🎧 More about the podcast: https://www.schulzekopp.de