The 2017 best water polo player in the world and captain of the Croatia national team Sandro Sukno has announced that he is ending his professional career, announced HVS on May 19, 2019. 

You can read his address transmitted in its entirety below.

"Dear friends of sports,

My fellow teammates, coaches, water polo officials, and above all the fans, I feel obliged to inform the public that I had to make a challenging decision.

I decided to end my active playing career due to medical reasons. 

After my heart operation in the US at the beginning of last year, which successfully eliminated all of my troubles at that time, and the recovery that lasted for a year, in contact with several of the most prominent professionals from Croatia and abroad, and after thorough reviews and results of the check-ups, it turned out that my overall health condition is not optimal for continuing top sporting activities and that there is no 100% health security guarantee.

I decided to have surgery in Cleveland because of water polo, which has always been an integral part of my life. The same has been true during the recovery period, and I did indeed do everything I could to get more from the best and the most prominent doctors, the complete opinion and the purest picture of my health. Unfortunately, I will not be able to return to the pool with my team, but just like water polo is an integral part of me, I hope never to leave this wonderful and successful sport to which I am personally indebted.

I would especially like to thank all those who were part of my career as a player. My family, teammates, coaches, and officials. I thank the fans and the public for the love I received during my career, but also for the last couple of years. And a big thank you to the doctors who used all their strength to help me with the desired return to the pool.

I want to thank all the clubs I was a member of during my career, especially VK Jug CO, where I trained last season hoping to return.

Thanks to the Croatian Water Polo Federation for the attention, understanding, and full support I enjoyed throughout this time.

I will forever stay the biggest fan of our Croatian water polo team and Croatian sport.”

To an incredible career in water polo, we wish Sandro the best of luck! 

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

Sandro Sukno returns to his home club Jug CO! 

Will the world's best water polo player Sandro Sukno be able to continue his brilliant career? The 27-year-old captain of Croatia returned from the United States where he underwent open heart surgery. Though Croatia’s captain had to put water polo on hold for now, what are his plans for the future?

Sandro Sukno is the best water polo player according to the Total Player 2017 Awards!

This result secured 2nd place in Group B for the Croatian national Water polo team