Champions League Fan Team of 2024/25 season announced

Water polo fans from around the world have cast their votes on European Aquatics’ social media platforms to select the seven outstanding stars of last season’s Champions League. Interestingly, bronze medallists CNAB have three of their top class players among the magnificent seven, one more than FTC-Telekom, who claimed back-to-back titles.

It was time for the fans to step up and choose their favourite team by choosing a player from a shortlist of each position. Thousands had their say and it’s hard to argue with the choices, as seven world class stars form the Fans’ 2024/25 Team.

To honour those who also received a really high number of votes, two super subs are also named, as all teams need quality players to come in from the bench and who are also well-known for their ability to play in any position.

Goalie: Unai Aguirre (CNAB)

Aguirre’s contribution to send CNAB to the Final Four after missing the cut in the previous season is unquestionable. He came up big many, many times – above all in Savona, where he not only stopped a crucial penalty in the most-heated phase of the match, but he also scored a goal – a 30m pinpoint shot – and that was a key away win for Barceloneta.

The Spanish superstar, who was also a major part of Spain’s golden season – winning the World Championships and World Cup – played a leading role when CNAB downed title-holders Ferencvaros in the Quarter-Final Stage as well.

Aguirre made two crucial penalty stops in the shootout to hand the Hungarians their first loss of the season (and as it turned out, their only one).

Left wing: Krisztian Manhercz (FTC-Telekom)

Manhercz is another top product of the good old Hungarian water polo school. While he is clinical with his finishes, he still belongs to that class who stand above the modern gladiators of the game. Manhercz has special skills and is always ready to outsmart any opponent – choosing a fifth or sixth option when everyone else only sees four.

One of his brilliant moments came in a crucial moment in the Champions League final when Ferencvaros were struggling to find their usual rhythm and dismantle Novi Beograd’s defence – and it was Manhercz who sent the ball home from an impossible angle with a no-look shot.

That was a tremendous boost for Fradi, who really got going after that strike, just like Manhercz, who netted six in the evening and was named MVP of the Final Four.

His heroics in Malta alone were enough to make him a part of this ultimate team, but Manhercz had several moments of brilliance throughout the season.

Left Driver: Alvaro Granados (CNAB)

Who else? We ask, not expecting any arguing feedback… Alvaro Granados is one of the shiniest stars of today’s water polo and just played another exceptional season.

Granados was supposed to showcase his brilliance in Recco, but due to well-known reasons, he had to make a sudden jump back home to Barceloneta, so he returned to his beloved CNAB after spending two seasons with Novi Beograd.

To highlight his outstanding skills and his understanding of the game, he had no problems finding his place in CNAB’s set-up right away and never ceased to do what he is best at – scoring goals.

Grandados finished the season with 47 to become the top scorer for the third time in a row. He may not have delivered his absolute best in some crucial moments, like in the semis against Novi Beograd, but Granados still had a tremendous year, just like the Spanish champions, who lost only a single match in regular time in the entire season.

Centre Forward: Konstantinos Kakaris (Olympiacos)

Olympiacos may have had a disappointing run last season, as the Greek giants failed to return to Malta for the Final Four, but their star forward Konstantinos Kakaris enjoyed another brilliant season.

Kakaris constantly delivered man-up goals, penalties and scored plenty from the centre. Indeed, the power and abilities he possesses, it’s almost a mission impossible to mark him.

If Kakaris is in the pool, three out of four attacks will see some danger created – if not by a call in favour of him, then it’s a shot coming from 6m or closer, as Kakaris would never surrender his position on the 2m line, drawing the defenders closer, and that lets his team-mates take up the perimeter spots 5-6m from the goal.

Centre Back: Dimitrios Skoumpakis (VK Novi Beograd)

Centre Backs are no longer just the ones whose task is to guard the opponents’ centre-forward, or, let alone, to prevent them from breathing. Back in the past, they were called 2m defenders, whose main – sometime sole – responsibility was to deny the centres scoring action goals, at any cost.

Today, they need to offer a lot more. The basic requirements haven’t changed, but they are supposed to gain some advantage after a killed possession, to leave the centre behind and go for a quick finish while arriving unguarded in front. Or, to have a powerful shot to destroy the rival’s zone-defence – or, using their physicality, to play centre-forward if the situation arises.

Dimitrios Skoumpakis epitomises the ideal centre back – he is exceptional in all the elements listed above and he was vital to Novi Beograd’s surprise surge to the Champions League final.

Right Driver: Felipe Perrone (CNAB)

Felipe Perrone’s last dance was as memorable as his entire career. Before the curtain fell, he amassed four titles, two with CNAB at home and two with the national team – the only one that eluded him was the Champions League crown. But he still got a bronze with CNAB, and once more, he played a pivotal role in the Spaniards’ great run.

Like a never-ending story, Perrone did Perrone things last season, just as did throughout the past two decades. Age is just a number, he never seemed 39 years old while launching counters, his sixth sense and still amazing swimming speed secured him enough advantage over players 10-15 years younger, and he also showed up in the centre-forward position to force exclusions.

Perrone’s smart shots did the damage many times and his brilliant passing contributed towards a series of CNAB’s goals. Without him, this team would never have been the same – and without him, the future seasons will never be the same.

Right Wing: Dusan Mandic (FTC Telekom)

If only one lesson was learnt in 2024 by the rivals of Fradi and Serbia, it was to double team Dusan Mandic, and you must press him out of the pool preferably, otherwise the lethal leftie will continually hurt you.

Last year was the best of his life, as he helped rocket FTC to the Champions League throne, and a couple of months later, Serbia became Olympic champions for the third time in a row.

Expecting him to repeat those miracles last season would have been too much perhaps – but Mandic is still in a class of his own. He truly belongs in the narrow circle of those greats who are in line with the famous saying – above a certain level, you won’t go below a certain level.

The Serbian giant maybe didn’t make as many headlines as he may have liked, but his presence was still felt throughout last season. Double-teaming him was imminent, but that only created more space for his appreciative team-mates, and he fed them with unmissable assists.

When FTC really needed him, he always stepped up, as he usually does, and sent one of his trademark blasts to the net. One of his memorable hits came in the semi-final against Marseille, at a time when the French were on the comeback trail.

Marseille had just equalised for 10-10 after being three goals down, and Fradi’s offence had stopped working. It was a dying man-up, and Mandic could barely grab the ball, as he was not even above the water, but he still managed to launch a rocket from the perimeter to kill Marseille’s momentum and set his team back on track. This is what his game was all about in the past season.

Super Subs

Thomas Vernoux (CN Marseille) and Adam Nagy (FTC-Telekom)

Many would argue these two stars deserve to be among the magnificent seven, however, there are a lot of outstanding players for each position and only one can be named for the Fans’ Team.

Still, Thomas Vernoux and Adam Nagy received a really high number of votes – and both did a tremendous job in the last season.

Vernoux was the engine in Marseille’s best European run so far. Reaching the Final Four should be placed above their 2019 Euro Cup win – that was a trophy in the second-tier competition, now they entered the top flight and appeared among the best four sides on the grandest of stages.

Vernoux has the most powerful shot in the field, arguably, and he used that weapon many times to push his team ahead. Also, when he showed up in the centre-forward position, defenders found it almost impossible to mark him.

Similarly to Vernoux, Adam Nagy is one of the world’s most versatile players, whose skills and intelligence – plus his physical presence – ensure he could play in any position and his team would not weaken.

Nagy might never be picked for MVP awards – but without the tireless work he is doing for four periods, none of his team-mates would have a chance to become MVP. He’s simply every coach’s and team-mate’s dream.

Champions League – The Fans Team

Goalie: Unai Aguirre (CNAB)

Left Wing: Krisztián Manhercz (FTC Telekom)

Left Driver: Alvaro Granados (CNAB)

Centre Forward: Konstantinos Kakaris (Olympiacos)

Centre Back: Dimitrios Skoumpakis (VK Novi Beograd)

Right Driver: Felipe Perrone (CNAB)

Right Wing: Dusan Mandic (FTC Telekom)

Super Substitutes:

Thomas Vernoux (CN Marseille), Adam Nagy (FTC Telekom) 

Gergely Csurka for European Aquatics

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