Slovenian Marko Hrvatin wrote a beautiful futsal story in Italy with Pordenone: “I think that something like that will be almost impossible to repeat”

Published on 9. June 2024 9. June 2024

Photo: Pordenone Calcio a 5

The season in Serie A2 ELITE has also concluded, strongly marked by the Slovenian-colored team Pordenone. The team also includes coach Marko Hrvatin and players Tilen Štendler and Rok Grželj, who is concluding his futsal career. After Pordenone’s successful season, Planet Football spoke with a Slovenian expert temporarily working in neighboring Italy.

Pordenone’s team finished second after the regular season in Serie A2 ELITE, earning them a spot in the playoffs. The top-ranking team, Vinumitaly Petrarca C5, directly qualified for the strongest Italian league, Serie A1.

One might think the season was easy for Pordenone. Marko Hrvatin briefly described the entire season: “The entire season didn’t start well, but ended historically. Before the season, Grželj underwent knee surgery, Štendler had his meniscus operated on for the second time; we didn’t know what condition we would be in. On the other hand, it was a new league for all of us, A2 ELITE, where only the top six from the second league and four from last year’s Serie A qualified. After two initial defeats, there was a crisis meeting with the players, and from that moment until today, we showed a completely different face. The face of a fearless team. After seven consecutive victories, we began to believe in ourselves and in success, even though our initial goal was just to stay in the league. In the end, we achieved more. Finally, finishing second in the regular season and reaching the playoff final, losing only on penalties, is the crown of this team. I think something like this will be almost impossible to repeat.”

In the quarterfinals, Pordenone faced the fifth-placed team, Sporting Altamarca. Pordenone won the first away game 3:1, but lost the home leg 3:4. Due to more goals scored in the aggregate, Pordenone faced the fourth-placed team, Leonardo, in the semifinals. Leonardo won the first leg at home 4:1, convincing many that Pordenone’s dreams were over. However, in the return leg at home, Pordenone staged a comeback and won 6:2. This secured their place in the grand final of Serie A2 ELITE and the opportunity for promotion to Serie A1.

In the final match, held on neutral ground, they faced Vitulano Drugstore Manfredonia. At halftime, Vitulano Drugstore led 2:1, thanks to Barbiere’s goal and Finata’s own goal. Chtioui scored for Pordenone. In the second half, Pordenone’s players equalized to 2:2 with Ziberi’s goal, forcing extra time. In extra time, Manfredonia took the lead with Taliercia’s goal, but Pordenone equalized to 3:3 with Grigolona’s goal, leading to a penalty shootout. The final result after the penalties was 7:5 in favor of Vitulano Drugstore Manfredonia, meaning their promotion to Serie A1. Štendler and 18-year-old Minatel missed penalties for Pordenone.

However, Marko Hrvatin still has mixed feelings after the final match, as they had the chance to qualify for the strongest Italian league Serie A1: “There are definitely mixed feelings at the moment. There’s a predominance of anger and disappointment, but also the awareness that we’ve achieved something incredible. If I can say that we were just penalties away from Serie A, it’s truly a testament to an exceptional season. Anyone who watched the final, like me, can be proud of this team. Let’s not forget, this is a team made up of local boys, all working, reinforced by three quality foreigners like Rok Grželj, Tilen Štendler, and Sadat Ziberi, while on the other hand, you have professional teams with four foreigners each, meaning one always has to sit in the stands. But I don’t think you could see those differences on the field, especially in the final.”

**In Italy, the coach is god**

In Italy, there is greater respect for coaches than here, as Marko Hrvatin revealed, explaining how much respect he received from the youngest to the oldest Pordenone fans: “What I can say about Italy may surprise many, but I invite anyone who doubts it to come to our training sessions. In Italy, the coach is like a god, even though it sounds funny. It’s a level of respect I haven’t seen in any other sport. Everyone shouts your name, everyone calls you MISTER, and I mean that from all the kids in the club to the oldest Pordenone fan. The coach decides practically everything, but at the same time, I have 6-7 people around me who take care of the first team, so I can practically focus only on preparing for the match and the opponent.“.

Of course, he didn’t forget about the leaders in the club, who ensure that the club is very well managed financially: “What’s most important is that the club stands on solid ground, payments are regular. In three years, we haven’t missed a single day of payments, so players, after their day jobs, can focus solely on their game.”

After the club’s historic season, the team will undergo several changes, but those responsible have already rolled up their sleeves: “The team will undergo some changes. After seven years, ‘daddy’ Rok (Grželj) is leaving the locker room, who accepted this team in the C league and practically led them one step away from the first league. Most likely, Tilen Štendler will also continue his career elsewhere, who showed incredible defensive aggression in the second half of the season and playoffs and is also a player we will greatly miss if he doesn’t change his mind. Their absence will be my first task to replace and bring in two significant reinforcements. Talks have already begun.”

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Finally, we asked if he sees himself as the coach of Pordenone in the next season or if he has any other offers: “Right now, I mainly need rest, so I’m taking a week off from futsal, as the season has been really long. Talks began halfway through the season, so most of the team is staying. I haven’t extended yet. The president has written to me several times, come to the office and sign for 10 years (laughs), but also because of the family and the distance (1 hour and 20 minutes), we renegotiate for the next season each time. Most likely, it will be the same next week, even though I have some other offers, but I think our story, our fairy tale, is not over yet.”

He is aware of what they have achieved in these three years together and believes it won’t be easy. The fans’ expectations will be high, but at the same time, Marko Hrvatin also reminds them that they will need to calm down the euphoria and give their best in the next season: “The fact is that we have had incredible results for three years, so there has been such euphoria in the club all these years. We’ll see how it goes when the results aren’t as good, if the coach is still the god of the club then (laughs). I think the next season will be the hardest, as the appetites in the club and among the fans have grown significantly. Expectations will be high, which will need to be calmed down before the season. We must realize that in terms of quality, it’s hard to compete with the best in this league (A2 ELITE), but in terms of dedication, heart, desire, and aggression, we might even stand out a bit. Without hard work, these results wouldn’t be possible.”