Miodrag Radulović is no longer the football coach of Montenegro.
The expert who has led the Falcons since December 2020 informed the public in a statement that after discussions with the management of the Football Association of Montenegro (FSCG), he agreed not to extend the contract that expired at the end of the European Championship qualifiers.
Radulović succeeded Faruk Hadžibegić on the Montenegrin bench, and he led the "falcons" in the qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup, the League of Nations and the qualifiers for Euro 2024. In the battles for the World Cup, Montenegro won fourth place with him, and from that cycle they remember draws with Turkey in Istanbul and the Netherlands under Gorica (2:2). In the League of Nations, the "falcons" kept their place in League B, while in the recent qualifiers for the Euro they had several opportunities for a historic trip to the big competition, but Hungary and Serbia were better in the end.
We transmit his announcement in full...
"I am informing the respected sports public that after a long and constructive discussion about the performance of the national team so far and the possible extension of cooperation, I have made a joint decision with the management of the Football Association that my engagement as coach of the senior national team of Montenegro will end with the expiration of the current contract.
After three years of working in a position that has a special place in my heart and my career, I am leaving proud and with my head held high. During the time I spent as a selector, the national team of Montenegro was rejuvenated, the player base was expanded, stability was gained, progress was made in the game... I am also proud of the results achieved, and especially of the recently completed qualifications for the European Championship, in which our selection was the closest placement in a major competition since the play-off matches in 2012. Proud, although all of us were left with regret that we did not succeed in crowning our great joint work by qualifying for Euro 2024.
Together, we made significant progress, created a good atmosphere and strengthened the team spirit compared to the previous European Championship qualifiers, which ended without a win. This was also recognized by our loyal fans who, during the three years of my mandate, always sent the players off the stadium with thunderous applause, for which I especially thank them from the bottom of my heart.
As a coach with many years of international experience, I have convinced myself that it is definitely the most difficult to work in one's own country, in one's own home. The pressure of coaching your country's national team is inevitable. All together - the players, the coaching staff and the Association - we felt the pressure imposed from the side the most during this year when we had the opportunity to take a step that no one has taken so far and achieve the long-dreamed goal of all the fans of our national team. We knew we could do it, we had the strength to do it, but in the end the pressure was so great that it was felt even after the victories.
By coming to the bench of Montenegro, I fulfilled my professional wish. I did not manage to fulfill my second professional wish, also a personal dream, to qualify for a major competition with my Montenegro. When I came to the position of selector, I did not receive an ultimatum of placement in a major competition, but after three years of work, it was human and sporting on my part to set myself and all of us the biggest goal - placement in the final tournament of the European Championship. In order to achieve that goal, we were also hindered by injuries, because of which we did not perform in any match with the full team... This certainly affected the quality of our editions in the matches we played in the last three years. Nevertheless, we were very close, we fought until the last round and at the same time sent a strong message that the 'brave falcons' have quality and will soon see the lights of a major football competition.
I would like to thank all the players who were part of the national team during these three years for their merciless fight and professional attitude towards the jersey with the national emblem. I would also like to thank all members of the professional staff for their dedication and dedicated work. We also thank the media for the extraordinary cooperation and support they have provided us all this time. And finally, once again, a big thank you to the true fans of Montenegro for their boundless support.
I would like to thank the president of the Association, Dejan Savićević, and his colleagues for the opportunity to be the coach of my national team. There is no greater honor for a coach than to lead the national team of his country, to train and lead the players and the team he supports with all his heart and soul. It is a recognition that I will be proud of for the rest of my life.
Coaches in football are transitory, their time on the bench of a team is limited... What remains forever is the atmosphere, character and team spirit that is built through dedicated work with the players and which will remain as a help in striving to achieve the greatest goals that everyone together we strive.
Forward 'brave falcons', forward Montenegro," wrote Radulović.
FSCG is now looking for the seventh coach since independence, after Zoran Filipović, Zlatko Kranjčar, Branko Brnović, Ljubiša Tumbaković, Hadžibegić and Radulović led the Falcons.
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