New Leadership for French Water Polo
The French Swimming Federation (FFN) has announced the appointment of Vjekoslav Kobescak as the new head coach of the French men's national water polo team. The Croatian coach takes over from Florian Bruzzo, marking a significant change in leadership for the national squad. This appointment was reported on October 25, 2025, and October 7, 2025, by various sources.
Kobescak is not new to the French setup, having served as an assistant coach under Bruzzo from 2021 to 2024. His return to the helm is part of a broader initiative by the FFN to 'inscrire le water-polo français dans une nouvelle dynamique pour les années à venir' (integrate French water polo into a new dynamic for the coming years).
A Decorated Coaching and Playing Career
Vjekoslav Kobescak brings a wealth of experience to his new role. He has been the head coach of Croatian club VK Jug (Jug Dubrovnik) since 2015 and will continue in this position. During his tenure with Jug, he has achieved considerable success, including:
- Winning the LEN Champions League in 2016
- Securing the European Super Cup in 2016
- Claiming the Euro Cup in 2024
- Accumulating 13 trophies in total with Jug
Prior to his time with Jug, Kobescak also coached Mladost. His international coaching experience includes a stint as an assistant coach for the Croatian national team from 2009 to 2012, a period during which Croatia won an Olympic gold medal in 2012.
As a player, Kobescak was a prominent figure in Croatian water polo, earning an Olympic silver medal at the 1996 Atlanta Games. He also represented Croatia at the 2000 and 2004 Summer Olympics.
Immediate Challenges and Future Prospects
Kobescak's first major assignment as head coach will be to lead the French team at the upcoming European Championships, scheduled to take place in Belgrade from January 10 to 25. In the group phase, France is set to compete against Hungary, Montenegro, and Malta.
Following the European Championships, the French Swimming Federation and Kobescak are expected to negotiate a potential extension of his contract. The French men's national team has shown recent progress, achieving its best-ever finish of fourth place at the World Aquatics Championships in Doha earlier in 2024. They also participated in the Paris 2024 Olympics, finishing 10th.
In a related development, Lorene Derenty was simultaneously appointed as the new head coach of the French women's national water polo team.
5 Comments
Rotfront
Kobescak's impressive resume is clear, especially with Jug, but managing two high-level teams simultaneously could be a real challenge for him and the FFN. It's a gamble on his time management.
Matzomaster
Replacing Bruzzo after their best-ever finish at World Aquatics? Seems like a risky and unnecessary change.
Africa
His playing and coaching accolades are undeniable, yet the pressure of the European Championships right away means he has no grace period to implement his vision. Success will need to be immediate.
Bermudez
The FFN clearly wants a new direction, which is understandable given the Olympic performance, but the short initial contract period makes me wonder about the true long-term commitment and stability this appointment offers.
Matzomaster
Fantastic choice! His track record with Jug Dubrovnik speaks for itself. France is getting a winner.