Peđina Buducnost, the realization of boyhood dreams - he returned from Chile and immediately became a star

Two and a half year career in the first team of Buducnost Peđo Mijatović, a legend of Real Madrid and European football, can be divided into two parts.

The first one lasted a short time - from the debut against Rijeka at Kantrida, on August 3, 1987: Spaco Poklepovic pushing the then 18-year-old Mijatović into midfield, until October of the same year, when the World Youth Championship was played in Chile.

From Chile, Mijatović returned to Titograd as a world champion - he became a superstar, a local hero, just like his teammates from Buducnost, Dragoje Leković i Branko BrnovićNothing was the same again...

And exactly a decade after his debut in Buducnost - in 1997, France Football chose Mijatović as the best footballer in Europe - ahead of him in the famous Ballon d'Or election was only a Brazilian, Ronaldo. A year later, in the Champions League final in Amsterdam, Mijatović bypasses the Juventus goalkeeper Angela Peruzzi and brings Real Madrid their seventh European title, their first after a 32-year wait - and probably their most significant.

And it all started in Buducnost - that's what a star was launched from the stadium under Gorica.

- In 1987, I signed my first professional contract for Budućnost - it was the realization of my childhood dreams and ambitions - Mijatović tells "Vijesti" in a series of interviews with the aces on the occasion of the 100th birthday of the Podgorica club.

His debut against Rijeka is something he still remembers and cherishes to this day as the most memorable detail from his career in the blue jersey.

- Špaco came as coach and immediately gave the youngsters a chance. His arrival was perhaps the best thing that could have happened at that time. He didn't look at who was who, where they were from, or even how old they were - he believed in us, he gave us a chance, Brnović, Broccoli, to a whole galaxy of young players.

Before the start of the championship, Poklepović approached 18-year-old Mijatović during training.

- "You're good, you'll dance for me," in that Dalmatian way, those words still ring in my ears.

- That debut was so memorable to me, I didn't expect to play at all. And it happened that Špaco put me in the starting 11, in midfield. We played 0:0.

Immediately upon returning from Chile, Mijatović scored one of his most memorable goals.

- Against Red Star in Titograd, a shot from the edge of the penalty area. It came as a real confirmation of my talents and what was being said, that I am the heir. Dejan Savićević, who was still playing with us.

Everything took its course from then on: from Buducnost, through Partizan, Valencia, to Real Madrid and the very top. Mijatović was destined to become a champion.

- That's where my journey began - I got a chance quickly, big things happened quickly, everything seems like it was easy, even though it was actually hard. First of all, getting a chance at Buducnost, next to so many great football players. That's why Buducnost remains a very, very important club in my career.

From a galaxy of great football players, Mijatović chooses the ideal team - two ideal teams. Not only his teammates, but also those he remembers, those he watched from the stadium as a kid.

It starts with teammates from the club, the Yugoslav national team, the youth and senior teams.

- Dragoje Leković. A super-goalkeeper, we started together, he had incredible predispositions. He would have had an even better career if he hadn't suffered an injury at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, when it was as if some fear had entered him.

Right back, another "Chilean" - Branko Brnović.

- I'll put him at fullback. An incredibly capable player, running-tactically-motorically, whatever you want. Versatile and for multiple positions, with great predispositions, which he has proven in his career.

Mijatović is honored to have shared the locker room at Buducnost with Slavko Vlahović, a stopper in his “ideal” team.

- Slavko was the forerunner of everything that football is today - work, order and discipline. An incredible professional, he was my captain. It was a great honor and privilege to play with him.

Nisha Saveljic, formerly a striker, is paired with Slavko as a central defender.

- Strong, intelligent, with a killer jump. He knew the ball, as they say, and that is still required of a defender today.

Left back - Zoran Vorotović.

- Zoja was the forerunner of the defenders we have today. Ready as a beast, brave, deadly. He could run for three days and three nights - says Mijatović.

The midfield opens with Janko Miročević.

- The same goes for Slavko. Incredible energy, positivity. The type of player he was. GuardiolaI would put Janko next to him. Zeljko PetrovicHe had a great career in the Netherlands, a master with the ball, a connoisseur, with pronounced running qualities.

The following is a trio: Ante Miročević, Dejan Savicevic, Dragan-Guzo Vujović.

- Ante is a legend of Montenegrin and Yugoslav football. Incredibly beautiful to watch, everything he did he did with style. And he did everything and he knew everything. He could play in today's football without any problems. Dejan Savićević - everything I say is small, so I will just say: Dejan Savićević. Guzo Vujović is a player I admired, probably the greatest master in the history of Buducnost. He had a problem with slowness, but he was fast with the ball, a quick passer. And what he could do with the ball, few could do.

At the top of the attack: Mojas Radonjic.

- Professional, positive, dedicated. He was always like that. On the pitch, you just had to feed him balls, and then you didn't have to worry about goals.

Mijatović assembles and describes the members of his virtual “B” team of Buducnost.

- On goal Sasa Petrovic. One of the most talented, just like Leković, he could have had an even better career. Right back Dusko Vlasavljevic - fast, excellent running and technical skills. Left back Dragoljub Brnović. To this day I don't know which leg he has stronger, the left or the right. I've never seen that before. I knew he played, the forerunner Marcela. Maybe he wasn't as strong as Roberto Carlos, but in terms of finesse - like Marcelo.

Miodrag-Count Božović i Branislav-Bodo Drobjnak in a stopwatch tandem.

- The Count had a distinctive style - tall, dominant. He was always direct, his own person, both on and off the field. And rough when needed. Bodo Drobnjak was always ready to give his maximum, and that maximum was always at a high level.

The following is a trio in the middle of the old, and even older, guard: Petar-Caco Ljumović, and then Dmitrije Mitrovic i Gano Ceric.

- Caco was an old fart, a legend of Buducnost. At that time, he made a difference, he was very popular. Dimo, on the other hand, was a wide-spectrum player, a bit strange, intriguing. And Gano Ćerić - short, fast, with a nerve, you don't know if he was more dangerous for his own or for others - that was his character, both as a player and as a coach.

In the attack of the trio: Rade Vešović right, Darko-Daca Mugoša left and Anto Drobjak classic nine.

- Rade Vešović was a quality player. Maybe he lacked some details, but compared to Savićević, who played in the same position - everyone will lack something. Daca, on the other hand, was fast, urgent, penetrating, crossed well and made the difference. And Anto Drobnjak was someone who 'caught' all crosses, excellent in the game with his head, but also with his foot in the penalty area - the first center forward - concludes Peđa Mijatović.

Titograd School - everyone was a virtuoso with the ball

Peđa Mijatović describes most of his teammates from Buducnost, or those he watched, as "virtuosos with the ball".

The Titograd football school had its own recognizable flair, and its most prominent representatives were great masters.

- Dejo, Željo, Guzo - they all learned to play on the street, the ball was the main prop. And many of them rose to prominence playing indoor football - describes Mijatović, who himself took his first football steps - on concrete, in meadows.

Mijatović's two best teams from Buducnost

FIRST TEAM: Dragoje Leković - Branko Brnović, Slavko Vlahović, Nisa Saveljić, Zoran Vorotović - Janko Miročević, Zeljko Petrović - Ante Miročević, Dejan Savićević, Dragan Vujović - Mojaš Radonjić.

SECOND TEAM: Sasa Petrovic - Dusko Vlaisavljevic, Miodrag Bozovic, Branislav Drobnjak, Dragoljub Brnovic - Petar-Caco Ljumovic, Dimitrije Mitrovic - Gano Ceric, Rade Vesovic, Darko Mugosa - Anto Drobnjak.