Marko Šćepanović has returned to a place of success - he is back on the bench of Mladost DG, with whom he has the ambition to form a flexible and tactically diverse team in the First League next season, with the help of familiar faces from the playing staff.
Šćepanović's return to familiar surroundings happened suddenly, but, as he says, everything coincided - from personal plans to circumstances within the club.
- When I was leaving Igalo, the call from Mladost came a bit unexpectedly, because I had other plans. The club already had a coach who had brought them into the First League, but some unforeseen situations happened. Then a new opportunity opened up for me - says Šćepanović about how he succeeded Neđeljko Vlahović at the DG Arena.
His previous experience on the Mladost bench, with whom he was part of the elite two seasons ago, gave him an advantage over other candidates, and his good knowledge of the club and most of the players made the decision to return easier. However, what further strengthens his new mandate is the support of his former teammates with whom he previously shared the locker room at Budućnost - Gustavo Lopes and Bogdan Milić.
The Argentine will be his assistant on the coaching staff.
- Gustavo and I played together at Buducnost and won the first title for the blue and whites 17 years ago. Today, in new roles, our plan was to work together at a club. With Bogdan Milić, the new sports director of Mladost, and another former teammate from that period, we have a solid basis for cooperation. We all see football in a similar way, and that is extremely important - emphasizes Šćepanović.
When it comes to the playing staff, the team that won promotion to the 1st CFL will experience significant changes. Only a few names will remain from the previous season...
- The right and left backs will remain, and I am also waiting for a decision on Radul Živković. Unfortunately, we are without Ljubo Pejović, who left for Sarajevo. Željko Krstović, Nikola Radusinović and Japanese Nobiraki will remain in the midfield. We have also hired Davor Kontić and Augusto Kordoba - says Šćepanović.
The attacking line has been strengthened with Rodrigo Fausto from Petrovac, Dušan Vuković who returned from Bulgaria and Nikola Pavlićević from Podgorica. However, the transfer window is not over yet.
- At a minimum, we need another defender, a right back and a right winger. My goal is for the team to be flexible, for us to have more options in the game and to adapt to our opponents - Šćepanović is clear.
Preparations for the next season begin on June 23. Plans have not yet been defined, but three options are being considered: Zlatar, Zlatibor and Slovenia.
- If the trip to Slovenia from July 10th to 23rd is confirmed, we could play matches against first-league teams from Hungary, Slovenia and Austria, and possibly against Al Dafra, led by Željko Petrović. They will also be in Slovenia for preparations at that time - reveals Šćepanović.
The main goal for next season, the Mladost coach points out, will be to survive in the elite without a playoff.
- Anything over that would be a historic success for the young club from Donja Gorica. We can hardly threaten most teams, but we will certainly try to make a breakthrough and surprise in the Cup and the championship. The ambitions certainly exist - concluded Šćepanović
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