When last year, to the great surprise of the Korean football public, he rejected offers from several strong K-League teams and decided to remain loyal to his Incheon United team even on an unplanned second-league trip, the Montenegrin international Stefan Mugoša he felt he had made the right choice.
It was the first time that the league's top scorer was relegated, but Mugoša had no dilemma: he kept the blue jersey that he has worn since 2018, with a one-season break (with Japanese side Vicel Kobe).
- Of course, I felt that it was the right decision. The skeleton of the team remained, even though we were relegated, but that was not the main reason for staying in Incheon, but rather a sense of commitment to the club and the fans. I also felt a responsibility, together with my teammates, to quickly return to the elite. I know that few people, both in Incheon and in the K-League, believed that I would stay and play in the second league - Stefan Mugoša tells "Vijesti".
The correctness of his decision at the time was finally confirmed last Sunday, although the outcome had been in sight for months - Incheon United won the second division championship in a dominant manner and returned to the elite K League.
Meanwhile, the former striker of Buducnost, OFK Titograd, Kaiserslautern, Munich 1860, Karlsruher and Sheriff, received an incredible honor, which no athlete before him has ever received - he became an honorary citizen of Inchon, a city of three million people in North Korea.
- I can't say we took a walk, but we did win first place in a dominant manner. Our main rival was Suwon, a big club, which we beat twice in three matches. We grabbed first place from the 2nd round and didn't let it go until the end - points out Mugoša, who is also the top scorer in the second league with 20 goals.
- We felt from the start that we would be back, the fans gave us a big boost, who recognized our commitment and came to the games in even greater numbers than was the case in the first league. Simply incredible, but it was especially evident on away games, where we were followed by two, three, and sometimes five thousand fans. A good coach also arrived, who had coached the season before Marko Tući in Gangwon, so everything was ready for an express return - points out the 33-year-old goal scorer, the best scorer in Incheon's history.
109
Stefan Mugoša scored 1,000 goals for Incheon United, making him the top scorer in the club's history.
His 109 goals in 205 games have a tendency to grow. Because, just as there was no dilemma with the second-league team, there is no dilemma with the first-league team Inčona either - Mugoša will stay.
- Of course I will stay, I have a contract until 2027 and I plan to play more. Besides, I feel great and I enjoy football like never before. Now I am looking forward to the new challenges of the first league, it will, of course, be a little harder than in the second league, the defenses are tougher, but I scored goals there too - he recalls, with a smile.
And the national team? He marked an era of the Montenegrin national team with his goals, he started scoring at Ljubiša Tumbaković, continued at Faruk Hadžibegić, sifted and at Miodrag Radulović (the famous hat-trick against the Romanians in Bucharest in the Nations League).
He was willing to travel two days from Korea to sit on the bench for the national team, or play for 10 minutes, but there was never any dilemma for him.
However, with the new selector Mirko Vučinić, after a long time, he was not on the list in October.
- I talked to Mirko, I played a match for the club on Monday, on Tuesday I was supposed to travel to Montenegro, and on Wednesday to the Faroe Islands, which wouldn't make sense, and then it was Liechtenstein's turn, where the younger players were supposed to try out and I really wasn't needed. We'll see what the new year brings, I'll be 34 by then, and new, younger players are coming, maybe it's time to make way for them. It's all a matter of agreement with the people from the Federation. Of course, I've always given my all for Montenegro and it always will be that way - concludes Mugoša, who has worn the red jersey 62 times and scored 15 goals.
Privilege and responsibility
Stefan Mugoša received an unusual recognition about 20 days ago, when he was elected an honorary citizen of Inchon, a city of three million inhabitants on the coast of the Yellow Sea.
It has been known for a long time that he is a club legend, but the award was not presented to him by Incheon United, but by the city authorities, for all his football achievements.
- They recognized that I remained loyal to the club even in the second league competition and they gave me an incredible honor. It's a huge thing, especially because no athlete before me, not just a football player, has received such recognition. A great honor, but also a responsibility for me. I believe I justify it, I brought the club back to the first league, of course with the help of my teammates - says Mugoša.
Bonus video:
