Vladimir Perišić, goal-scoring exit from his teenage years: Double crown as a gift to the club for its centenary

Budućnosti striker Vladimir Perišić turned 20 years old yesterday. His exit from the teenage years is marked by good games and goals, possible and definite maturation - transition from the period in which he was considered a talented player to the "zone" of an already established footballer, on whom the coach can always rely.

He was among the most prominent footballers of the Podgorica team in the European matches, the qualifiers for the Conference League, scoring two out of a total of four goals for Budućnost. The goal-scoring rhythm continued at the start of the new CFL season, he entered the scorers' list twice, he won against Bokelj in the premiere, two days ago he confirmed an important triumph against Sailors in Bar.

The "Blues" have already distinguished themselves at the top - they have 13 points, five more than Petrovac and Dečić, who admittedly have a game less. Ivan Brnović's team makes the difference, and Perišić is an important screw.

- The season started well, as far as I'm concerned, I would say great - my job is goals, I scored two in Europe, two in the domestic championship. I opened the season in the best possible way - says Perišić.

And the introduction to the European matches, the preparations in Slovenia, at least as far as he was concerned, was characterized by uncertainty. He returned from his loan from Koma, where he was the top scorer of the Second League with 22 goals, to try to fight for his place under the sun in the biggest Montenegrin club.

- It's all normal, you have to fight for playing time, I got a chance and I believe I used it. The season in Koma meant a lot to me, I came back full of confidence. I did expect that I would show what I know in the future, but possibly not to this extent, and not this early. However, his efforts and work during the season spent in Komo clearly paid off. I saw how important it is to have matches, that can be my message to all young footballers, and players my age. It is very important that you have a place to "vent" for all the hard work during the week in training, you gain experience and a routine. It's much more difficult without matches - Perišić points out.

He scored a great goal in the second leg of the 1st qualifying round for the Champions League against Mališeva of Kosovo (3:0, with which Buducnost overturned the 1:0 loss from the first match) and drew the attention of the crowd, while the "blues" could still play in the stadium under Gorica.

- It was in that match that it "clicked" - I came out of good preparation, scored that goal, built up my already high confidence. I also played well in the first match against CSKA 1948 in Sofia, when I came on at half-time, I scored a goal in the second leg, it's a shame we didn't go through, but we were close. One mistake ruled.

Bubućnost was stopped one step away from the 3rd round of qualification for the Conference League, where Dečić and Mornar found themselves. Last European summer, at least as far as Montenegrin clubs are concerned, showed that the differences are small - and that a lot can be done when you believe...

All that it learned (and missed) this European season, Buducnost will try to make up for the next one.

- Our first goal is a double crown, which would be the most beautiful gift to the club for its centenary. I think we are on the right track. We are off to a great start, we have a good, talented, but experienced team. I believe that next summer we could crown it all in Europe. Group stage? Why not, it is our dream and we will try to make it come true, recent experience, both ours and that of our other teams, has shown that it is absolutely not impossible.

Perišić expects to debut in the young national team of Montenegro, and his contract with Budućnost is tied to him until next summer.

- I hope that I will get an invitation for the September matches with Romania and Switzerland, I believe that I deserved the invitation and it would be the crown of this period of my career. As for the future, I am tied up until next summer, what and how I will see the future with the club. In any case, until something is definitive or known, I am 100 percent focused on the future, on goals, victories and trophies - concluded Parisic.

I am a striker - from whichever side I look at the goal

The maturing of Vladimir Perišić was also marked by "wandering" with positions - he played more...

- I tried my hand at every position in the offensive part - striker, behind the striker, left and even right wing, I was not unfamiliar with the position of offensive midfielder either.

And his father Goran Perišić, a former soccer player of Budućnosti, now the selector of the youth national team of Montenegro, had a similar, even more "drastic" path - he was a midfielder, a striker, he ended up in the position of stopper...

- I am a striker, whichever way I look at the goal - Vladimir points out.

- I don't choose positions, but I think it suits me best to be the second point guard in a formation with two attackers.

We absorb Jovetić's every move, it's a magic rarely seen

The legend of Montenegrin football, Stevan Jovetić, was at the training sessions of Budućnosti.

While waiting for a new appointment, the 34-year-old master of football is training with the Blues, to the great satisfaction and benefit of Vladimir Perišić and the other players of Budućnost, especially the younger ones.

"We all know who Joveta is and what kind of class he is. Surely his presence at training sessions gives additional motivation to work. We closely follow and absorb his moves and decisions on the field, because that is magic that is rarely seen. I am honored and it's a pleasure to have the opportunity to train with such a player," says Perišić.