Olympic vice-champion in Jovo Caković's coaching staff!
The celebrated Serbian national team player, volleyball legend Tijana Malešević, world and two-time European champion, silver medalist at the 2016 Rio Olympics, will be an invaluable "helper" to the Montenegrin volleyball team in their campaign for the European Championship and other future events, the Volleyball Federation of Montenegro announced.
Tijana ended her trophy-winning career just under five years ago, and joining the coaching staff of the Montenegrin national team - the senior national team, after working with younger players, is the next big step in her coaching development.
"I'm coming, excited, to help and to learn. I bring experience from the field that is invaluable and cannot be learned, I'm sure I'll be able to help the young Montenegrin national team," said Tijana Malešević.
How did the collaboration come about? The “connection” is, of course, Jovo Caković.
"I have known Jovo for a long time, our friendship dates back to the time when he was part of Zoran Terzić's coaching staff in the Serbian national team. That friendship has developed over time, I greatly respect him both as a person and in business as a top expert. We also collaborated on the volleyball camp on Zlatibor that I run together with Nataša Krsmanović, he came several times."
The idea to join the coaching staff of the Montenegrin national team came from Tijana herself.
"When he was appointed as the head coach of Montenegro, I had the idea to join him. Of course, he accepted it with great enthusiasm, just like the people in the Volleyball Association of Montenegro, and I am very glad that it came to fruition. I had a desire to work with older players, seniors, because I have been coaching younger volleyball players for two or three years," says the 2018 world champion from Japan and the 2017 European champion from Turkey and 2019 from Azerbaijan.
"With Jovo Caković, I believe that I will be able to approach the players from the female side, to recognize the problem, to try to explain to them through conversations and advice how to solve it, based on my extensive playing experience. In short, to help them in the complete maturation process."
Tijana met some Montenegrin players during her playing career.
"I played against Nikoleta Perović and Danijela Džaković, and I also know Mina Dragović, who played in Serbia. I have yet to meet the younger part of the team, but based on what I have seen, and of course through conversations with Jova, it is clear to me that this is a young and extremely promising team. Montenegrin players stand out primarily for their physical predispositions, which is something that many teams, even Serbia, lack. I believe that with a good strategy and good work, a beautiful story can be created," says the 34-year-old from Užice.
Next comes the Golden League, then the final round of the European Championship qualifiers.
"Good matches in the Golden League will also serve as a way to get to know each other - us and the players, and the players will get to know each other. I believe it will also help us prepare as well as possible and successfully complete the qualifiers, and then make plans for the European Championship."
Tijana began her professional career in Jedinstvo from Užice, after which she wore the jerseys of Volero, Polish Pila, Agel Prostejov, Belediyesi, Agil Volley from Italy, Nestle Ozasku from Brazil, Turkish Seramiksan and Volley Alba Blaž from Romania.
She traveled the world and decided to retire when she was at her peak - at the age of 29.
"I felt a bit bored, it was the period when I returned from Indonesia, the time of the coronavirus. I felt like I was no longer enjoying myself as much as before, I didn't want to torture myself, I decided to say it was over."
She won almost everything there was to win, and after a short break, she started coaching. Montenegro will be an important stop for Tijana Malešević too!
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