Titograd, the late seventies and eighties of the last century - a more romantic time, a period when the capital of Montenegro lived for football and Buducnost, an era that journalists at the time called the golden era of our greatest club.
Many masters wore the blue and white jersey at that time, great generations changed, and one guy who arrived from Bačka in 1977 became a symbol of the club, a symbol of loyalty, as he left his heart for the successes of Buducnost until 1991.
He is Slavko Vlahovic, a legend of the Podgorica club, a great captain, a man who played 413 first league matches in the blue and white jersey - only the Enver Marić.
After Vojo Gardašević i Petar Caca Ljumović The series of interviews with famous players by "Vijesti" as part of the survey "We are choosing the ideal team of the Future" continues with the brave and courageous libero (initially also the right back) of the "blue and whites".
- I arrived in Titograd primarily because of my family, because my parents had already come and lived here. It was immediately clear from the way I worked and the games that I had decided to stay in Buducnost, practically for 14 seasons and with five signed contracts - Vlahović began.
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He also recalled how Buducnost became interested in him.
- I was a member of the Crvenka junior team and we won third place in a strong tournament in Italy. When we returned, I immediately got a professional contract, and my first coach was Marko Valok (a legend who also led Buducnost). On his recommendation Milutin Miso Folic He watched me at a match in Bosnia and Herzegovina and when he returned to Titograd he said they had to bring me.
However, the release notice from his former club did not arrive immediately.
- That's right, I started playing football at the age of 23 and a half and managed to play 413 league games and played until I was almost 37. It certainly wasn't easy in Yugoslavia - Vlahović believes.
The best at Poklepović and Mojaš
He won many duels, guarded the best offensive players of the former great country, and as he says, he played his best football in his later years.
- Two years at Stanko Poklepović (from 1987 to 1989) and one after that at Mojaš Radonjić They were the best in my career. Stanko was a great man, a great coach, an intellectual, and he always told me in that coastal way: “My Vlaho, I can't do without my Vlaho.” I played all 60 games with him in those years in two seasons.
What was the secret of Buducnost's most prepared player?
- I had physical predispositions, I was very fast, I did gymnastics, I'm not very tall, and no one jumped over me. In the old Yugoslavia, there was a system where we learned everything in physical education classes.
Only our goalkeeper Đuka hurt me.
There were practically no injuries, and when they did occur, Vlahović defied them.
- I couldn't get hurt, or rather it only happened once and it was our goalkeeper who hurt me. Branislav Djukanovic. We were playing against Rijeka and the away team, I wanted to intercept a ball, when someone lifted me two meters up from behind. I looked up and it was Đuka. He twisted my ankle and in Belgrade they immediately put a cast on me.
All this at a time when Buducnost was waiting for one of the big matches, a holiday in Titograd...
- I was nervous because Partizan was coming to play in seven days, so I decided to take off the cast on my own, without the doctor's permission who asked me to rest for three weeks. I couldn't move in the first training sessions, but I pulled myself together and against Partizan no one noticed that I was kneeling.
Vlahović says he doesn't remember the exact result of that match, he thinks it was a draw, but that match also showed how much even the biggest Yugoslav clubs were not up to the task in the capital of Montenegro.
- For the big four (Red Star, Partizan, Dinamo and Hajduk) the toughest games were against Buducnost in Gorica, because they never knew how they would go, and we were extremely motivated. Well, we beat Hajduk 4:0. The stadium was packed, people were watching the games from the nearby trees next to the stadium. Look today, our national team almost played, there were not ten people in the east, and Buducnost is watched by no more than 200-300 spectators in total - emphasized Vlahović.
Janko as a brother, no one like Ante and Dejo
During his playing years, a special relationship was born with one of his teammates.
- Janko Miročević He was more than a friend to me, like a real brother. His departure was hard for me and I feel like crying every time I talk about him. We were inseparable, and his brother Ante has now taken on the responsibility of seeing each other and having coffee.
There were many players playing alongside Vlahović, many masters, so it's hard to single out the best. However, the former captain decided on two.
- In the first generation, exactly Ante Tonko Miročević, he was something incredible. He was guarded by all the national team players and no one could do anything to him. Incredible overview of the game, such technique, from 30 meters he 'hit' Mojaš with the ball in the head.
And then...
- After that, there's no story - Dejan Savicevic. He was born like that, no one taught him football. When he received the ball in the shooting zone, it was incredible how easily he dribbled, he would always find the opponent on the wrong foot. When he entered the team, he was the only young player who could solve the game.
I'm sorry I didn't look after Džajić.
As he says, there are many games and moments that he will remember fondly, but there are also some things he regrets.
- Every match with the big four was a holiday and I remember them all. But it remains a regret that due to the late registration in 1977 when I arrived I did not play for Buducnost against Dragan Džajić. I was a right back and I would guard him. All the other left wings from Ivica Šurjaka So I kept on guard and didn't scratch or hurt any of the players.
The Red Star legend ended his career in 1978.
When the players choose you as captain
He didn't give up on the field, but neither did he off it.
- I had a lot of trouble at Buducnost and I never understood why people treated me that way, because I think I was a great professional, I didn't argue. The players elected me captain, and when they did that, then you are at their service and defend them, so no one was allowed to do anything to them. I would react immediately, and that bothered the people from the management who want to ask questions about everything. I didn't give in to them and that's why I suffered, but all the generations I played with appreciated and respected me.
This is especially difficult for more experienced players with younger generations, but Slavko did not have that problem.
- Young players can only appreciate you when they see that you are still a professional, and even at the end of my career I didn't allow anyone to run faster than me or be faster or stronger.
Špaco told them to look after me, as soon as he left they turned their backs on me
Vlahović also left his mark as a coach in the younger categories, but he has not been part of the Podgorica club for a long time.
- Now I'm leading the 2009 generation of Podgorica and we were leading 2:0 against Buducnost, I was in Buducnost for 40 years and seven or eight in Podgorica and I wonder if it's normal for a team that's fighting for survival in the Second League to teach a lesson to the cadets of Buducnost. That's an example of what Buducnost has fallen to. I feel bad about that.
Saying goodbye to Buducnost was not easy.
- I was also made redundant, we sued, I had the lowest salary of all the coaches...
When Špaco Poklepović left, he told the management to look after me, to be a part of the club. As soon as he left, they turned their backs on me.
But that's how it is when everyone is involved and has no idea, because of things like this, Ante Miročević was never a sports director, so it's no wonder that Budućnost ended up in such a mess. The new management wanted to bring me back, but I thanked them and said no.
I found my peace in Podgorica - concluded Vlahović.
Two Slavko's ideal teams
This is not easy - it was the first thing Vlahović said when he had to choose the ideal 11 Futures of all time.
- There are so many good players, so I decided to have two teams. And I saw, for example, that Petar Caco Ljumović put Milutin Folić as a full-back, so I decided to have someone else, to have as many players as possible. I also want to emphasize that Janko Miročević is my right-back, because that's what he played when I was a right-back. There's little talk about Branislav Drobnjak, who has over 300 games under his belt, and I also put Darko Mugoša in the second team, even though we're not on good terms today, but from a football perspective, I decided to go for him - explained Vlahović.
FIRST TEAM
Momcilo Vujacic - Dusko Vlaisavljevic, Janko Mirocevic, Vojislav Vukcevic, Zoran Vorotovic - Petar Ljumovic, Predrag Mijatovic, Ante Mirocevic - Dejan Savicevic, Dragan Guzo Vujovic, Mojas Radonjic.
SECOND TEAM
Dragoje Lekovic - Branislav Drobnjak, Miodrag Bozovic, Nisa Saveljic, Dragoljub Brnovic - Momir Bakrac, Branko Brnovic, Igor Burzanovic - Zarko Vukcevic, Darko Mugosa, Anto Drobnjak.
Bonus video:
