Dino Hotić shines against European rivals Olimpija and Celje: “They are good in attack, but their defence is a bit lame. Me? Life form!”
Text: David Klemenc. Photo: Lech Poznan
Footballers of Celje and Olimpija prepare for their upcoming European challenges as the opening matches of the league phase of the Conference League are on the horizon. Interestingly, the draw has ensured that both Slovenian clubs will face Jagiellonia, the club against which our current interlocutor Dino Hotić recently played. Not only did Dino Hotić play, but he also had an outstanding match, capped with a stunning goal from a free kick, earning him the title of Player of the Round in the Polish Ekstraklasa.
Although the match ended with a convincing 5:0 victory for Lech, the team for which Dino Hotić plays, he cautions both Ljubljana and Celje that the score can be misleading. “The match was strange. We did beat them 5:0, but that doesn’t mean they are a bad team; they just had a bad day. They were down a man by the first half, so Celje and Ljubljana shouldn’t think this is Jagiellonia’s true face. Overall, they are good in attack, but their defense is somewhat lacking,” Dino Hotić said initially for Planet nogomet.
Regarding predictions on what chances the clubs from the Prva liga Telemach will have against the current Polish champions, Dino Hotić remains cautious, stating that the chances are even: “I see both matches as a 50:50; it’s very likely that small details will decide the outcome.”
Dino Hotić: “I needed a new challenge”
Hotić began his football journey as a young man at Brav, but soon moved to Maribor, where the purple team built a strong youth squad that, despite high expectations, did not win anything: “We had a very strong team, but I think the problem was that there were too many of us together.” In senior competition, he made up for lost time, winning five national titles and one cup with Maribor and experiencing Champions League play: “In that first Champions League, I was just there; I think I was on the bench for the last match. When we qualified a second time, I played almost all the matches,” he recalls.
After 22 goals and 34 assists in 159 matches for Maribor, he moved to Belgium in January 2020, signing with Cercle Brugge, an opponent of Olimpija in December matches in Stožice. Belgium left him with fond memories, as shown by his statistics—scoring 18 goals and assisting 16 in 118 matches. “Moving abroad wasn’t hard for me, as I was used to it since I left home at sixteen for Maribor. After the first three matches, I adapted easily.”
After his contract expired, he left Belgium, despite the club wanting to keep him. “They offered me a new three-year contract, but I wasn’t satisfied. It wasn’t about the money but rather about ambitions. I was tired of the fight for survival, the battle for the middle of the table. I needed a new challenge; I wanted to be in a club that fights for Europe, for the championship,” Hotić explains. The move to Poland and choosing a club from Poznań seemed the most appropriate. “The Polish league is very interesting, physically demanding, and the media coverage is incredible. We have an average of 30,000 spectators per match, and during derbies, the stadium is sold out with 40,000 people, which suits me well.”
Although his first season didn’t go as planned, with the team failing to achieve their target of qualifying for European competitions and him missing several months due to an injury, Dino Hotić believes this season will be different: “The goals are clear—to maintain the first place in the standings and win the cup. Nothing less than a double crown.” Injury issues are now a thing of the past, as he underwent top-notch rehabilitation in Dubai, preparing for the season: “I started preparations before summer to be in optimal shape for the first gathering. My wife and son enjoyed the sandy beaches, while I was working hard. I was up at seven in the morning, training and doing rehabilitation.”
Besides football, real estate business
His form this year is exceptional—after nine matches, he has four goals and one assist, which has caught the attention of Bosnian media, hinting at his return to the national team of Bosnia and Herzegovina: “I’ve heard that I’m in the running. I won’t say I’m surprised, as I’m playing in the form of my life, but I don’t stress about it. If I get called up, I’ll be happy; the most important thing is that I’m healthy.” Dino Hotić is also following the Slovenian national team and is impressed with their performance: “All matches have been phenomenal. I believe this team can achieve even more. I keep in touch with the guys seriously, especially with Peter Stojanović after matches.”
At twenty-nine, he is not thinking about retirement, but he has plans for the future that are not related to football: “I’m investing in real estate. My partner and I have a construction company; we’re currently building a large complex near Dubrovnik.” He also reveals an interesting passion: “Since I can remember, in my free time, I love watching Spanish soap operas and I speak Spanish fluently.” He continues to follow the happenings in the Slovenian league and believes the championship title will return to Maribor: “Olimpija is indeed a good, organized team, but I still say that the title will return to Štajerska.”
This text was automatically translated using AI.
Author: editorial Football Planet
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