Ratko Rudic has reached an agreement with the Brazilian Federation and will be the men's national team's new head coach through the 2016 Olympic Games to be held in Rio de Janeiro. Rudic was previously linked to the possible new head coaching job and travelled to Brazil this weekend to discuss terms and check out the situation before Monday night, local Central European Time, the first report of an agreement was issued by Croatian news agency Sportske Novosti stating contact with Rudic learned that he'll sign a three-year contract on Thursday.
The 65-year old Croat, who won four Olympic gold medals with three different teams, has to lead the Brazilians to good results at their 'home' Olympics in 2016; the first time since 1984 that Brazil's men's team will be present on the Olympic stage. Rudic comes off leading Croatia to Olympic triumph at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, Great Britain, then announced to retire from coaching and became sports director of the Croatian Water Polo Federation.
He had previously led the national teams of Yugoslavia ('84 and '88) and Italy ('92) to Olympic gold medals. As a player Ratko Rudic won the silver medal at the 1980 Olympics in Moscow. Brazil meanwhile participated in the 2012 Olympic Games qualification tournament in Edmonton, Canada finishing in a dissapointing 8th place. Led by fellow Croatian coach Goran Sablic the Brazilians finished 14th at the 2011 World Championships in Shanghai, China.