Young hopes – Luka Topalović (Domžale): a Koroška player who started his career with Maribor and then replaced Senijad Ibričić at 16
Did you know that Koroška gave Slovenian football a player who is now written in golden letters in the history of football in Slovenia? When in 2010
the Slovenian national team
played in its last major competition, the national team played Algeria in the first round of the World Cup in South Africa. It ended 1-0 to the team of selector Matjaz Keko and Slovenia celebrated its first and only victory in a major competition! The shooter was … a Korošec!
Maribor also ahead of Domžale
When Robert Koren kicked the ball behind the back of Algeria’s inept goalkeeper Faouzi Chaouchi at the Polokwane stadium, he was
Luka Topalović
was just four years old. He was too young to really know what happened. But who knows, maybe that goal also contributed to his decision to take up football…
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The attack-minded midfielder Luka Topalović was born in Slovenj Gradec in 2006 and spent the early years of his youth in Prevalje, where they once had a Slovenian first league player. He left home at a very early age, moving to Maribor when he was only 13, where he stayed for two years. Luka Topalović has been earning his living for some time now in
Domžale
where he is making great strides. After all, he even made his debut in the Telemach First League when he was just 16.
16 goals in 13 games
“I chose Domžale because they work very well with young players. They have been counting on the youth for a long time, helping us to progress in football and take a step further in our careers. Domžale is the best club for a young footballer, so I really don’t regret coming to the yellow family,“, the 17-year-old Luka Topalović revealed the reasons for his move to Domžale.Not long ago, he was rewarded for his good work by signing a new professional contract with Domžale until February 2026.
“I hope I will continue to do the right thing, because I have big ambitions. First I definitely want to finally establish myself in the youth team, then I want to move to the first team of Domžale, and then I will think about the next steps,” said our interlocutor at the time in the
Young hopes
who scored 16 goals in 13 games in the first part of the current season in the Cadet League and will prove himself in the youth team in the spring. And you’ve also donned the jersey of the national team here and there…
1. Where and when did you start training football?
I started coaching at NK Korotan Prevalje when I was four years old. I come from Prevalje in Carinthia, so I made my first football steps in my home club.
2. Who inspired you to take up football and who has influenced you the most in football?
Probably just watching the games on TV. I always liked Lionel Messi, I was really impressed by his games. That’s one of the reasons why I spent a lot of time on the football pitch with my friends and then trained more and more seriously over the years. To this day, the biggest influence on me is the support of my parents. From day one, my mum and dad encouraged me, drove me to training and stood by me all the time.
3. What do you like most about football?
Victories! It is something beautiful. When you train hard all week to score a goal, pass to a teammate, and look forward to three points… It feels really good.
4. Your favourite football moment so far?
Undoubtedly a debut performance in the Domžale team, and in Senijad Ibričić’s farewell match. I replaced him in the second half and it is something I will remember for the rest of my life.
5. Why do you think football is the best sport in the world?
Because it’s followed by a really huge number of people all over the world. There are always strong emotions in football and this has a special impact.
6. Who are your football role models – local and foreign?
The host is Senijad Ibričić. I know he’s not Slovenian, but from the moment he came to the Telemach First League, I followed him regularly and eventually trained with him for a while. Lionel Messi is undoubtedly the foreign one. The best of all time.
7. Who is your biggest and toughest competitor and why?
The matches in the younger selections are always challenging. Every match is special. There are not as many differences between teams as in youth football, so it would be hard to choose someone. Against Domžale, everyone gets even more motivated because we have been among the best schools in the country for a long time.
8. What do you think is the most important quality of a successful football player?
Discipline and hard work. I think that is the difference between success and failure. Sure, it sounds easy, but it’s really not. It’s only when you have to pay attention to all things football-related on a daily basis for a longer period of time that you see that it’s a big challenge.
9. What is the hardest thing for you on the road to achieving your football dream?
There are many challenges to overcome. Patience, competition, injuries. It’s all part of football, so I don’t think about it much. I just want to progress and learn as much as I can year after year.
10. How do you deal with disappointment after defeats?
No defeat is pretty or pleasant and I try to forget it as soon as possible, especially in my home company. Of course, you can learn from every defeat. You look at the footage, point out the weaknesses and build on the good things.
11. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
In 10 years, I would like to be an established Slovenian footballer abroad and a member of the national team, but I would prefer to play in the Premier League. It’s the league I follow most closely and one day I would like to play there too.
12. Which of your teammates (current and past) are you sure will make it in football and why?
You never know what will happen in the future. We all have opportunities, you just have to take them. In football, anything is possible.
This text was automatically translated using AI.