A year of steep ascent – Žan Vipotnik admitted in an interview for Planet Football that he is living his dreams: “It hasn’t been an easy journey, but it has been very beautiful”
Photo: Bordeaux
Slovenian national team striker Žan Vipotnik spoke for the website Planetnogomet.si, sharing insights into his experience since last summer when he started his career in France. He now wears the jersey of Bordeaux, where things didn’t initially go as planned and desired, but he is now gaining attention with his goal-scoring prowess. Žan Vipotnik is the leading scorer of his club, which is unexpectedly struggling in Ligue 2. In an interview for our website with journalist Nik Brumen, he discussed events in France and the journey that brought him to his current position. Former Maribor player Žan Vipotnik shared his thoughts in written form, and don’t miss the interview recording at the bottom of the article, which you can watch here.
Considering that you opened the doors to foreign football for the first time at the beginning of the season, how do you feel in France?
I must say, I feel really good, especially in recent months, as I’ve started scoring goals. Everything becomes a bit easier when that happens. Otherwise, I have everything I currently need. An excellent training center, stadium, staff, coaches, and I believe I have everything a good footballer needs for progress and life. The city itself is beautiful, a bit old but with very nice landmarks. Occasionally, I take the time to explore. I’m genuinely excited.
How did you experience the transition from the first Slovenian league to the second French league? Recent performances show that you adapted excellently. What do you think about the differences between the two competitions?
I can say that it was quite challenging at the beginning, especially when you move from the Slovenian league to the second French league. Here, the game is quite physical, and the speed is on a completely different level. Many African players, known for their physical strength and speed, are here. At the beginning, it was quite demanding for me. The Slovenian league is not as fast and physical. But in the last two months, I’ve found my rhythm, even in terms of playing time. Now I feel really great. Results are not the best, but I think that will change too.
You went abroad at a very young age, while many of your peers are still proving themselves at home. What is your view on young players moving abroad quickly? Any advice for others?
You have to believe in yourself, be confident, and believe in a process that is not always easy. I also went through a challenging process. Looking back, I always feel good about it. I think I did everything right. Of course, it wasn’t easy, especially when you have to go to another league on loan or even to the first league in a less successful club. That’s part of life, but I think it helped me reach this level. When you are young, the first league is tough, with older and more experienced players. Without confidence and regular play, it’s hard to get into the system. But you have to believe in yourself, sometimes take a step back, so you can then take two steps forward. It’s not easy, but the harder it is, the better it is for you in the end.
In a little over a year, you practically rose from the second Slovenian league to the national team, and now you play for a highly successful club in France. How do you view your career so far?
In the youth selections, everything went smoothly. But then reality hits. Senior football is a significant step in a footballer’s life. It wasn’t easy, especially in Gorica, where the results weren’t the best, and we even got relegated. But it was a good experience for me; I got minutes in the top league and a feel for the game. Even though I wasn’t very effective, I decided to go on loan to the second league. There, with Triglav, we were pushing for the first league, playing very offensive football, which suited me. I scored some goals and assists. I think I gained confidence there, which I then transferred to Maribor. At the beginning of last season, things didn’t go well for me; I was the second or even the third striker at the club. It was tough; sometimes I didn’t even make the matchday squad and had to watch from the stands. That’s part of football, but when it happens, you have to keep going. Try to do more than others, gain confidence, which you achieve in training with goals. That’s the only way you can get into a routine and shape your game. From October onwards, everything went dreamily for me. I would say that up to this point, it has been a beautiful journey, certainly not an easy one. I’ve experienced a lot that still helps me now. Overall, it’s good for the future.
A year of steep ascent. The title of top scorer, debut for the national team with an important goal against Kazakhstan, qualification for the Euros, and a move abroad. How do you fit into the attack with Benjamin Šeško, who has a similar story to yours?
We have quite a bit of contact; we often hear from each other. We also spend a lot of time together in the national team. I must say that his path hasn’t been easy either. As a very young player, he went abroad, which certainly wasn’t easy. However, with will, desire, and above all, hard work, he reached the level he is now. I believe he still has a lot of room for improvement. I truly wish him all the best, and I believe that, like in the national team, we can achieve a lot; he can do a lot at the club level too.
The Euro draw gave us opponents with whom we have historical stories. In the national teams of our Euro opponents, is there any player you would particularly like to play against?
I can say that we got a very good but challenging draw. It’s normal; only quality national teams qualify for the European Championship. I think these will be really good
This text was automatically translated using AI.
Author: editorial Football Planet
Interviews
#legionarji
#žanvipotnik
Share