Montenegrin representative Marko Vešović is again on the same, well-trodden path of winning trophies.
In his first season in Azerbaijan's Karabagh, he won the title and reached the final of the Cup. From the position of right back, Vešović contributed to the success with three goals, seven assists...
After the most difficult period in his career, a serious knee injury and a long recovery, Vešović managed to fully return to top football, good games and success.
"I managed to fully recover physically and mentally, I played 40 games this season, and it was a big and difficult fight. The injury came at the worst possible moment, at the peak of his career and with two incredible offers on the table from top French and Turkish football clubs. Not just any team, but a team fighting for titles. But I love football, this game and I give my best. That helped me, but I also acknowledge the incredible help and support of Karabagh, unlike Legia, in whose jersey I suffered an injury. From this perspective, it is clear to me that I made the right move by accepting Karabagh's offer", Vešović told "Vijesti".
Baku, as he points out, is a story for itself...
"A modern and magnificent metropolis with an 80.000-seat Olympic Stadium, but also with infrastructure and style that rightly calls it the 'New Dubai'. At the club, they are ready to meet you in every situation, politely and professionally".
Karabagh lost the title last season after losing the last derby to Nefci, this time they won it back four rounds before the end.
"We got the title back, it's time for the Cup, on May 27 against Zira and we are the favorites. The club has not won that trophy since 2017 and that is too long a period for a club of Qarabag's size. This season we passed the Conference League group and only had a loss in Basel, Marseille stopped us in the knockout phase. Karabag previously played in the Champions League, Europe is the goal of the club, and that's why we have a lot of hard work ahead of us this summer in qualifying for the Champions League. I like those ambitions, and I also have an excellent relationship with coach Gurban Gurbanov, whom I watched as a boy score two goals against Gorica for a 2:2 draw. That draw against Serbia and Montenegro was the biggest success of the Azerbaijan national team for a long time.
Vešović is 30 years old, already in his mature playing age and he is in no hurry to leave Azerbaijan...
"I have another year of contract, which is excellent, and the conditions for family and life are fantastic. We also have a "club" of players from the area of the former Yugoslavia, so we hang out and get together. We get along great, and there is also a great atmosphere in the club".
He successfully wore the jersey of numerous clubs, from Budućnosti and Crvena zvezda, through Torino and Rijeka, to Legija and Karabagh, but Vešović does not hide that one club and one city have a special place in his career.
"Rijeka - my daughter was born there, with that club I won the first Croatian championship title in history, I was adored by the fans, in all structures of the club. In addition, somehow that club and city are connected by fate with my family, since my late father Rade played for me for two years in Rijeka, my grandfather served in the army in that city".
Moving to Legija, after four years of playing in Rijeka's jersey, was still a step up...
"In Poland, for example, the league is of incomparably higher quality, stadiums, football infrastructure, marketing... everything is at a higher level than in Azerbaijan, but thanks to the successes of Karabagh and Nefchi in Europe, this league has a better rating than Poland", explained Vešović at the end.
To finally put the dice together
Marko Vešović is a standard Montenegrin and national team player who always gave his best in the national jersey. That's why he enrolled in the scorers in the youth, youth, and then A selection.
"I love football, I do my best in every game to win, whether in the club or the national team. I'm happy to be back in my old good form and I hope it will be the same in this June League of Nations cycle. We have to play our best, to earn as many victories as possible and to win the best possible position in the Fifa rating. Well, if only we are all healthy and ready, that there will finally be one cycle without problems and injuries, and then, I'm sure, there will be no missing that step that needs to be jumped in order to qualify for the big competition," says Vešović, who wore the jersey of the senior national team 38 times. and scored two goals.
Montenegro is in the B League of Nations in a group with Bosnia and Herzegovina, Finland and Romania.
"He is happy that Stevan Jovetić has started training, because his class makes a difference. It is much easier to play with him and Stefan Savić, not only because of their enormous class and knowledge, but also because of the self-confidence that is felt with them in the team. I'm sorry that the injury separated me from the selection for some time, because our gathering is a real holiday, the relations and atmosphere in the national team are fantastic", says Vešović, who played in various positions in his career.
Bonus video:
