One of the best Croatian players ever, Goran Sukno, the captain of the 1986 world champions, passed away today.
He was born in Cavtat in 1959. Sukno began playing water polo in his hometown. At 17, he joined Jug Dubrovnik, where he achieved his most significant results.
In 1980, Jug won its first national title after a 30-year drought. In the next season, Jug debuted in the Champions’ Cup and became the European champion. Playing for Jug, Goran Sukno won five national titles and two national cups.
Sukno made his debut for the national team of Yugoslavia in 1979. Four years later, he won the gold medal at the Mediterranean Games. In 1984, Sukno won the Olympic gold medals. He was the captain of the national team that clinched the gold medal at the World Championships. Besides, Sukno won silver at the 1985 European Championships.
In 1986, he left Jug and continued his playing career in the Italian club Salerno, where he spent four seasons (with a brief return to Jug in 1989)
In the summer of 1994, Goran Sukno was appointed as Jug’s sporting director.
He served as Jug’s sporting director for almost two decades (until 2012). In that period, the Dubrovnik-based club won several trophies, including two Champions Leagues (2001 and 2006). Goran Sukno was the Croatian Water Polo Federation vice-president.
His sons, Ivan and Sandro, have also been successful water polo players. Sandro Sukno has been coaching Pro Recco since 2021.
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