With David Martín’s team already qualified for the quarter-finals of the Fukuoka World Cup (Tuesday 25, 1.30 p.m.), Spanish water polo can rest easy: in addition to having reached its full competitive maturity, being the reigning champions and having one of the most solid defenses, it also has the best goalkeeper in the world. Unai Aguirre (Barcelona, ??July 14, 2002) is: named best goalkeeper of the 2022 World Cup and best European water polo player of 2022 according to the LEN.
And there Unai continues undeterred, starting in Spain and Atlético Barceloneta after officially filling in for a prop like Dani López Pinedo. Irreverent at the age of 21, Aguirre is called to make history. With his saves, his shouts, his bar and a genius and charisma that seem inspired by the legendary Jesús Rollán, he is already one of the leaders of the national team. The Barcelona native spoke to La Vanguardia before traveling to Japan.
He debuted as a starter at the Tokyo Games (4th), and in three tournaments as the owner of the goal he added a world gold, a European bronze and the gold in the recent World Cup (defunct World League). How does it bring so many successes?
Titles are always sold alone; if you work and sacrifice, and you train 100% every day, you will surely improve and success will come. My goal has never been to win titles, my philosophy of watching sport has been to live in the present. Looking into the future is foolish because a thousand things can happen. If you’re winning, that’s fine, but you always lose more than you win.
Well, you are one of those early champions, with Barceloneta and with the national team…
It’s true that I got there very young, the result of my sacrifice and my effort, I’ve always felt crazy about this sport, I’ve been a water polo geek since I was very young…
Why does he say that?
Because I’m the kind of person who only thinks about water polo. It’s not healthy either… But it’s what got me to where I am now: the day to day, the effort, the sacrifice and my mentality. And nothing else.
And that he started as a football goalkeeper at Can Vidalet de l’Hospitalet. But it was more his forte in the water, first in the Mediterranean, then at CN Barcelona – with which he made his League debut at just 16 years old – and from there, in 2021, at At. Barceloneta
How did you get into water polo?
I started as a soccer goalkeeper like guys who play two or three sports. I used to swim, water polo and football, and at the age of 10 it was clear to me that water polo was my forte.
He didn’t lack goal references, starting at home.
Yes, my father [Roberto Aguirre] was a soccer goalkeeper, he played for Espanyol, in the lower categories… you don’t have to look for him. In water polo I had two references, Dani [López Pinedo] and Iñaki [Aguilar], but I’ve always been a geek for focusing on goalkeepers to improve every day. And I continue to focus on it: I observe the movements of the current goalkeepers, I try to adopt the best of each one. It’s what makes me better, you have to be humble enough not to believe the best. There are goalkeepers who do many things better than me. Dani and Iñaki have always been by my side; when things were not going well they never pushed me, they were with me, they always stood by me. I will always be grateful to them and show them my respect.
Speaking of respect, his overflowing expressiveness, his screams when he stops a rival’s shot, has become very well known. Has it caused you any problems?
There are always opponents who get upset, but it’s something I’ve improved a lot. When I was younger, until junior, I was more like Viktor Nagy [Hungary goalkeeper]: every time I stopped I would laugh in the opponent’s face and do this trash talk [tickling a player]. Now I’ve polished it: I usually shout, but I shout at my teammates, at my audience, at the bench. Still, there are people who still don’t get it and never will.
Why does he do it?
I don’t force it. It is a style that characterizes me; that mentality and that rage to be a winner is what got me to where I am, and I won’t change it. Nor will they change me. I hate being called disrespectful, because I know I’m not. There are players who do it to me too and I don’t get angry.
Who has had it worse?
Generally, the rivals take it well. If anyone feels attacked I apologize because I do not intend to offend. It’s my game: if I see a player prone to lose focus, then I’ll do it, just as there are rivals who do it to me. I have all the trump cards because I know how to stay focused: I’m ready, I’m going to the psychologist.
How does he see himself being compared to Jesús Rollán (who also shouted at rivals)?
It doesn’t bother me, but I don’t believe in comparisons. What does make me angry is that comments are made, especially on public television, that are not normal. In the NBA and other sports, trash talk makes a show and is taken to the extreme, further than I am. It’s a game I like to get into.
Did you see videos of Jesús Rollán?
I haven’t seen much of Jesús, but I know it was a show. The way of stopping in the past, however, is not like that of today. I focus more on Pavic or Bijac (Croatia), De Lungo (Italy) or Tesanovic (Montenegro). You have to be humble to learn from the best.
And in the World Cup, is only gold worth it?
We only have to worry about ourselves. If we play our game we have many options. We know how to defend, go out on the counterattack, play as a team… I only sign to reach the final and win it.
