Legendary Adriano Fegic before the match between Olimpija and Rijeka, with which he troubled the famous Real: “Today I could buy a helicopter”
Text: David Klemenc. Photo: YouTube
Who would be a more fitting guest in the days leading up to the epic clash between Olimpija and Rijeka than one of the icons of Rijeka, Yugoslav, and Slovenian football, the legendary Adriano Fegic, affectionately known as Nando by many friends? To better understand who Nando was in those times, we turned to longtime sports journalist and expert, and native Rijeka resident Arden Stancich, who grew up just a stone’s throw from the stadium of eternal rivals, Orijent. However, as he says, neither he nor the entire Kvarner could remain immune to the fairy tale created by the boys from the stone stadium.
“Adriano Fegic and his teammates then became a team that even the great quartet feared. The squad, led by captain Srećko Jurčić, probably played the best football of the Yugoslav era for Rijeka. And the popular Nando was one of the pillars of that team. Quietly, diligently, and always respectfully, he became a living legend of Kantrida, especially after scoring two goals against the great Real in the 1984/85 season, his last season before moving to France at 28 years old. Even today, 40 years later, football Yugoslavia remembers him as one of the few who made the ‘merengues’ tremble. Despite not being able to eliminate Real in the return leg in a strange way, this did not diminish the eternal love between the Rijeka fans and the Ajdov bomber,” says Stancich.
Today, 67 years old, Fegic still cannot live without football and actively helps in his home club, Primorje. He is often seen in the neighboring hall, where he fervently follows Ajdovske handball players and cheers for daugher Nuša, who apparently inherited the athletic talent from her famous father. Few know, however, that Adriano was also an excellent athlete.
Adriano Fegic: “Even better at high jump”
“Yes, it’s true. In the JNA in 1983, I won in long jump, but I must admit I was even better at high jump. However, I decided on football at a young age,” Fegic says with a smile. Of course, we cannot overlook the match that made him immortal. At home, they humiliated Real Madrid (3:1), and in the return match, we all know what happened. “It is not true that we couldn’t beat Real… The truth is, we shouldn’t have,” Fegic responds briefly and succinctly, surprising no one who followed those events. What his career would have been like if the match had ended differently, we will never know, but he seems to regret nothing.
In a provocative question about what he would do if he were 30-40 years younger today and had scored two goals against Real, and they offered him a three-year contract worth 60 million euros in Saudi Arabia, Fegic responds with a smile: “Well, I’d go immediately! Even on foot, if necessary.” He humorously pokes fun at himself for not having a driving license: “The money would be useful because I don’t know how to drive a car, so I could buy a helicopter.”
Led by Arsène Wenger as well
When reminiscing about the romantic years of the Yugoslav league, he says there was a lot of talent, but if he has to choose one who impressed him the most, he highlights Safet Sušić, with whom he later met in France, where Sušić played for PSG for many years. The transition from the domestic league to France, where he played for Nancy, Limoges, Dunkerque, and Valence, was not difficult for him, but many things surprised him. “France was then a much more developed country, so I was surprised by something every day at first,” Fegic says. However, French wine was probably not one of those things, as Ajdovec is 15 minutes to the left from his house to kraški teran, and 15 minutes to the right to Goriška brda. “Back then, I couldn’t talk about it, but I must admit I was always a professional. If someone said something to me, I would quickly explain how things are at home,” he adds charmingly.
In his career, he was fortunate to work with two top experts, who, according to him, are very different. “Ćiro Blažević was a master of psychology, a master of manipulation, while Arsène Wenger is, in a word, a gentleman. As we saw him at Arsenal, he was always refined with us.” When asked which one he would choose if he were the sporting director of a team that urgently needs a coach to save the season, Fegic responds: “Both are special, but if it were serious, I would probably choose the gentleman.”
Riera a bit arrogant, but that doesn’t mean he’s bad
Speaking about the new generation of foreign coaches in the Telemach First League, he says: “I like that it is so diverse. Victor Sanchez seems like a great choice. In a few months, the change and discipline are already visible; I must say I like it. Albert Riera is a bit arrogant, loud, but that does not mean he is bad; quite the opposite.”
Before the first match between Olimpija and Rijeka, Victor Sanchez predicted that the chances were 50:50, which, according to Fegic, turned out to be correct. “The first match was one of feeling each other out, probably tactical. Nothing is decided, and the return leg will be a fierce battle. We will see a top performance, which does not mean we will die in beauty, but there will be no lack of combat and spectacle, and I am very looking forward to that. I won’t be disappointed if Olimpija advances, but still, first love is first love…”
At the end, today 67-year-old Fegic adds: “Rujevica and Stožice are great venues, but still, the old Kantrida and old Bežigrad would make this duel completely different. At least from my point of view, I can say that Rijeka would be 20-30% tougher opponent due to Kantrida.”
This text was automatically translated using AI.
Author: editorial Football Planet
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