“Between the Posts: Branislav Mitrović on Coaching, Philosophy, and the True Value of Goalkeepers”
In Part Two of our conversation, legendary Serbian water polo goalkeeper and Olympic champion Branislav Mitrović shifts from player to mentor, revealing his philosophy and approach as a coach. He talks about how he prepares goalkeepers for the highest level, what skills and mindsets he prioritizes, and why the role of the goalie has become even more crucial under modern water polo rules.
Branislav shares valuable recommendations for young goalkeepers, explains the right and wrong ways to select future goalies, and challenges coaches to rethink how they assign this vital position early in a player’s career. In his words, “Without a good goalkeeper, you can’t win anything.”
We also explore why goalkeepers remain underrated, his thoughts on how talent identification should happen, and — in a fun moment — whether he remembers playing against anyone from Germany. Plus, we finish with five rapid-fire questions for Branislav, resulting in some surprising and insightful answers.