Football has given him a lot - a long-term contract with Lokomotiv Moscow, all representative selections and debut in the strongest national team of Montenegro, the double crown won with Red Star last season, but... Marko Rakonjac wants more and better.
After the big centers, Belgrade and Moscow, he now sees a closer perspective in a small town like Bačka Topola, but...
For the 23-year-old, 191-centimeter-tall striker from Bijelo Polje, joining the TSC team, the vice-captain of Serbia, was a clear stepping stone and an opportunity for further progress in his career.
Rakonjac does not hide that after two training sessions, he made the best possible decision, and his half-hour debut in a draw with Partizan (3:3), in the 1st round of the Serbian Super League.
- TSC has a fantastic stadium, swimming pool, training grounds, gym, saunas, and even a canteen for football players, and it offers everything that the biggest clubs do, with the fact that the team plays the way I like it, and I didn't think for a moment that I would come from Lokomotiv in the team of Žarko Lazetić, whose work I got to know as a cadet. On August 8, TSC will play the qualifiers for the Champions League against Braga, and even in case of failure, it will not be the end of the world because we are guaranteed participation in the extremely strong and prestigious group stage of the Europa League. No matter how strange it sounds, after playing in trophy clubs, the arrival is a step forward in my career, as well as a wind at my back to my desire to establish myself as a standard representative of Montenegro. Without strong competition and enough minutes, there is no call from the coach, the 23-year-old from Bjelopolja is clear.
Enormous talent and performance in the Super League of Serbia in Čukarički, brought him a generous contract in Moscow, which lasts for another three years, but not everything was a fairy tale, as in any business.
- The first time abroad, alone and without knowledge of the language and some habits of the new competition... Everything gathered a little bit and the "railway workers" are looking for everything and immediately. There was no patience to wait, and in 12 appearances I only managed to record an assist in the Russian Premier League. A half-year loan to Red Star followed, where I regained my confidence with five goals and two assists in 13 appearances in the championship season, but the compensation was too high for me to stay at the 'Maracana'. There were coaching changes at Lokomotiva, I went through preparation with them, but I gave the 'green light' to TSC in an attempt to bring me on loan with the right to buy, and Lokomotiva agreed," says Rakonjac and adds:
"I have been well received, there are many players here with whom I played, or against whom I played during my performance in Serbia, so in a great atmosphere I am trying to fit in as soon as possible. Apart from the reinforcements from Hungary, I am the only one who is not a local player, and all of them have passed joint preparations. But, slowly, there is time. Fortunately, the papers arrived and the coach included me in the 22 for the derby against Partizan. That, as well as the match of the 2nd round with Radnički from Niš, are our main tests before the game of the season with Braga - story for "Vijesti" Rakonjac.
TSC has big plans for the coming season, for the coming years.
- We have a good team, mostly local players, and the club has a clear strategy for progress. My advantage is that I have long since passed the preparations with Lokomotiv, there the championship started earlier, but there is also a disadvantage because I did not have any preparatory matches due to my plans to leave. But I'm healthy, I've never had any problems with injuries and I can't wait for new challenges. I am on loan to TSC for a year, my contract with Lokomotiv only expires in three, but the new club has the right to purchase. It's good for me that I used my stay in Russia to master the basics of the Russian language, so the eventual return would be easier - concluded Rakonjac.
Through TSC until returning to the national team
From his native Bijelo Polje and Jedinstvo, Marko Rakonjac gained real affirmation through the younger selections of Montenegro, and last year he made his debut in a friendly match and victory over Greece (1:0).
- That is actually the real reason for my return, I need minutes on the field, but also the challenge of big European matches in order to return to the best 11 in our national team. I am glad that coach Lazetić shows great trust in me, I hope I will use it.
Rakonjac follows the results of Jedinstva, which did not play in Europe this summer only because of the lack of a license.
- Of course I haven't forgotten where I'm from, I follow Jedinstvo and I'm happy that they are on the way to becoming a standard first league team. Last season they played very well and had a good ranking - says Rakonjac.
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