It seems that this can only happen to a club with a bright tradition, in the year of its greatest jubilee - a century of existence.
Only such an institutional giant, the pride of a city - the capital and largest - and the pride of a country, small but with a great football history (as it is often said), can be so important to local powers that it is managed as if it were a political prize of the highest order.
No, this is not a statement made because of - and after - the dismissal of coach Ivan Brnović. His days on the bench of Buducnost were, realistically, numbered from the moment the new Board of Directors was formed. Nor is the fact that he was dismissed in the middle of preparations for European competition the point.
The bottom line is that Budućnost, once again in its "rich history", has been viewed solely as a political trophy, a symbol of political prestige. Not as a sports club. Not as a football institution. But as a status symbol of those who are currently in power.
That's how it was under communism. That's how it was in the DPS era. That's how it is, apparently, now - despite the promises of August 30th that everything would be different.
Of the seven members of the Steering Committee, which was expanded by two members after the turbulence in early June, five of them are either directly delegated as representatives of the parties currently in power in Podgorica, or are indirectly connected to the leaders of those parties.
One is a representative of the players who currently play in the first team (a debatable norm prescribed by the Sports Law), and one is a representative of the Varvari fan group - not the fans in a broader sense, because Budućnost also has those who love and support it, but are not in the north stand.
So, the club is run by political parties, players and a fan group. A paradox in itself.
So, for example, the fate of coach Brnović was decided by those he coaches, those who have been in conflict with him for more than a year, and people who probably vote the way "central" says.
Is there anything similar in the world? Is there any biggest and most trophy-winning club in a country with this kind of decision-making model?
Is this a "normal" sports story?
Drawing a parallel with the dismissal of Brnović, the conclusion is that the new coach should be a man who will have the majority support of the ruling parties in Podgorica, but who the players will also be happy to have as their coach, and who, at least initially, the most organized fan group will have nothing against him.
It is mentioned that the candidate is Miodrag Grof Božović, the club's leaders claim that they are very close to an agreement - what if the Barbarians are bothered by his coaching past at Red Star, just as they were, at one point, bothered by Dejan Radonjić's basketball coaching past?
What if Grof is not, say, politically acceptable because he recently supported students in Serbia?
Nenad Lalatović is also mentioned, but he is just a star at heart... His political views are unknown.
And so on...
The coach is just one of the issues that have arisen now and will inevitably arise in the future. However, there are many important issues within the jurisdiction of the Board of Directors, and every decision will (rightly) be observed and analyzed in public through a political prism.
Wasn't that the case at the central celebration of the 100th birthday? By protocol, the front rows were reserved for representatives of local and state authorities, even those of lower rank, such as deputies or vice presidents, while the playing and coaching legends were mostly behind them.
The media can, perhaps rightly, be criticized for not writing about this earlier – before the first decision of the new Board of Directors. But journalists, believe it or not, are often sensitive when it comes to Buducnost. They would honestly like it to be the club it can and should be. That's why they waited. They gave it a chance. They provided space. They believed that the people who took over the club would be worthy of carrying it, of elevating it.
And so - 100 years. And it could have been different. But, it's not in the plan.
Bonus video:
