Alen Korošec is one of the most prominent faces of Rogaška: When Maribor came knocking at his door, he rejected them, preferring to stay home and enjoy

Published on 16. March 2024 16. March 2024

Photo: Nik Moder / Sportida

When, on August 18, 2018, in the first round of the new season of the 3rd SNL, the home team and the guests from Slovenska Bistrica faced each other on the field in Pesnica, it was not a match that aroused interest in the broader Slovenian football community. Far from it. And even the audience in Pesnica didn’t exactly rush to the game. Less than 100 spectators witnessed a smooth victory for Bistrica, led by Nejc Bračko (hat-trick) and Tim Kolar (two goals), ending with a convincing 5-0 win. At that time, the jersey of Bistrica was also worn by a barely 16-year-old boy, who immediately hinted, with the number 17 on the back, that he had something more. Although he was still very young and although the 3rd SNL was anything but professional, the teenager played a good game and raised quite a few eyebrows. The boy who made his debut in senior football back then is now – almost six years later – one of the most interesting faces in the Prva liga Telemach.

If Alen Korošec hadn’t become a footballer, he would probably have been a police officer, he revealed in an interview with Planet Nogomet, which was a logical consequence of his games and the games of his club in 2024. Rogaška, to which he transferred last summer, is currently the best team in the Prva liga Telemach, and according to Wyscout, Alen Korošec is even the best central midfielder in the Slovenian national championship! And that’s really something; especially for a guy who once turned down Maribor because football was then primarily about … fun!

“Well, not many people know about this,” Alen Korošec smiled when Maribor was mentioned and continued: “But the story is true and real. Maribor showed interest in me, Maribor wanted to bring me into their ranks, but I preferred to ‘stay at home’. Honestly, at that time, I didn’t have any big ambitions in football. I preferred to be at home and enjoy kicking the ball around.” It’s undeniable that the decision seemed at least “crazy” to many people, if not worse. But who knows where Alen Korošec would be today if he had actually gone to Maribor. Almost certainly not making his senior debut at just sixteen… Nevertheless, his story testifies that the seemingly easiest path to success is not always the only one that leads there. Today’s 22-year-old Alen Korošec took a “detour” to the top league, but in the end, it was the quality that prevailed.

Alen Korošec: “I focused more on playing time”

“I was mainly lucky that they recognized my talent at Bistrica and actually offered me a debut in the senior team fairly quickly. So I progressed step by step and didn’t rush. I started in the 3rd SNL, then I was at Nafta in the 2nd SNL, and today I’m in the Prva liga Telemach. Looking back, I could have reached the latter even faster. But at that time, I was more focused on offers from other clubs. Now, everything is as it is, but the fact is that it all turned out fantastically,” says the 180-centimeter-tall Alen Korošec, who does not regret his past decisions. Despite his young age, he is not ruling out a change of employer in the near future. By signing a contract elsewhere. In a bigger club.

“Relatively speaking, I am still quite young, so at this moment, it is most important for me to play regularly. Only by playing regularly can a footballer develop and progress. For now, that’s perfectly fine the way it is. I’m satisfied. Of course, I am also an athlete, and every athlete has their dreams, ambitions. Anyone who is professionally involved in football has a clear goal: to sign for an even bigger club,” says Alen Korošec, who this season has played 25 games in the 1st SNL, scored 2 goals, and also made 4 assists. Thanks in part to him, Rogaška is recovering and climbing up the table, with the goal, of course, being clear. “To stay in the league,” said the former Sežana Tabor player, adding regarding his good performances: “Of course, I would like to score a few more goals, make a few more assists. Above all, I want to play well. I hope to prove myself even more… And who knows, maybe all this will be enough for a step forward in the summer. To a higher level.”

Alen Korošec Svit Sešlar — Photo: Grega Valančič / Sportida

When Rogaška is mentioned, many people ask mainly: what and how? What happened in winter that made Rogaška a completely different team? How did they approach things to become the best spring team in the Slovenian championship?

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“There are two reasons: sports director Nino Ivačič did an excellent job in the winter transfer window, as he brought several important reinforcements to the club. We also had very, very good preparations in Rovinj. Apparently, we rested our heads enough to be able to ‘reset’ and start anew. And we started to write a successful story,” explained Alen Korošec in a hurry, admitting at the same time that the autumn quarrels and tense relations between the club and the Football Association of Slovenia didn’t exactly help: “Those were not pleasant times. Although we, as footballers, were completely focused on the field and our work, somewhere in the background, it evidently affected us. And then the results consequently weren’t the best. The club operates at maximum speed at the moment, everything is really professional. Good results are not a coincidence.”

Football Talk at Home

Regardless of what the future holds for the footballer who enjoyed watching Ronaldinho, Paul Pogba, and Luka Modrić in his youth, there is no doubt who will be the first to confide in him. Alen Korošecwho hopes and believes that he will follow his sister and together with her inscribe themselves into the history of Slovenian football: twins, both in the national team, she in the women’s, he in the men’s. “Above all, I have realistic goals. My favorite team is Manchester United, but those are practically impossible goals. But the national team… Those are every footballer’s dreams. And I would be lying if I said those aren’t my ambitions. That drives me even further. And who knows, maybe that will succeed someday,” concluded Alen Korošec. The guy who turned down Maribor. And still succeeded.