Miki Oca steps aside after bathing in the Paris pool, a privilege of the Olympic champion’s coach. The man who was the coach of the Spanish women’s water polo team in the last Games, the man who placed Spain alongside the United States on the exclusive podium of the greatest dynasties in the history of water polo, will not renew the contract that united him to the federation. from 2010 to the end of 2024. His long reflection was interrupted with sad consequences for Rafa Aguilar, the federation water polo director, former teammate and mentor of Oca since he joined the national team. as a player on his way to silver in Barcelona 92 and gold in Atlanta 96. The federation confirmed the news of the separation this Wednesday.
They say in the federation that Oca is leaving alone. Without his technical team, who will provisionally continue to lead the team until a successor is decided. The World Cup in Greece is weeks away and next summer there will be the World Cup in Singapore. Now Rafa Aguilar has before him the enormous task of filling the void left by a giant. Because with all his shyness, his introspections, his air of a second-in-command who steps aside and gives up the spotlight, Miki Oca, 54, did a colossal job. When he was appointed, the summit of Spanish women’s water polo had been a second place in the European Championship in Malaga, in 2008. Since his appointment, the team has not stopped growing and regenerating in up to three waves. From his hand emerged players who are already legendary such as Jennifer Pareja, Laura Ester, Maica García or Anni Espar, the basis of a formidable group that would be a school for other equally good groups.
“I haven’t done anything, they have achieved everything,” the technician repeated, unwavering, every time he was asked about his magic recipe. Oca made the difficult seem bearable. He managed to incorporate young people and relieve veterans without ever stopping to compete for the podium in a constructive atmosphere. Spain was world champion in 2013, three-time world runner-up in 2017, 2019 and 2023, four-time European champion, two-time Olympic silver medalist and champion at the Paris Games. A brilliant era that only the United States could overshadow.
Miki Oca considers whether or not to accept the offers he has on the table. Probably, as indicated Reliefthe most tempting one invites him to elevate China to the last step. Chinese players have been the best in Asia in the last decade, but they have never been able to get higher than fifth place in a Games.
