Young hopes – Žan Trivunčević (Bravo): started as a defender, now he’s impressing in goal, fighting for the championship and dreaming of the World Cup

Published on 4. May 2023 4. May 2023

Slovenia has been known for many years as a country where top goalkeepers grow up. Samir Handanovic and Jan Oblak have set the bar really high, but even before that we had net minders who were at a very, very high level. Handanovic and Oblak are without doubt just the tip of an iceberg with no end in sight. This is also the responsibility of a number of young and talented goalkeepers, including Žan Trivunčević.

Clear goals and high expectations

The Postojna native is currently the first goalkeeper of the Slovenian national cadet team, which will compete at the European Championship in Hungary at the end of May.The 16-year-old Žan Trivunčević played a very important role in the qualifiers, as his defences were one of the main reasons for the team’s progress to the final tournament. He shone especially in the match against Norway, which Slovenia eventually beat to win a crucial victory on the road to the European Championship.

The 2006-born goalkeeper will try to repeat the exercise at the European Championships, where Slovenia will play Spain, Italy and Serbia. “We are going to the European Championships with a clear goal and high expectations – we want to qualify for the World Championships!” Žan Trivunčević emphatically stressed, adding.We will do everything we can to get out of the group and play in the knockout rounds. The fact is that we are not in an easy group, but I think we can do a lot. We have two great weapons: an excellent professional staff and an attitude that is at a really high level.”

Before he leaves for Euro U-17, Žan Trivunčević will already on Saturday with
Bravo
The Ljubljana team will play Maribor in the last round and a draw will be enough to win the title.

He does not regret coming to Šiška

Our interlocutor this time in the
Young hopes
started his career in his hometown Postojna, with NK Proteus. He then went to Ilirija, trained in Domžale and signed for Bravo last summer. “I have no regrets about coming to Bravo. I’m glad I came to this club, because I’ve already made a lot of progress in just one year here,” the goalkeeper, who, despite his youth, is very calm, mature, and prudent on the pitch, is not hiding his satisfaction. He is also one of those goalkeepers who is very good with his foot. How far all this will take him remains to be seen, of course. Žan Trivunčević explained what he hopes to achieve in the world of football, among other things, as a guest of our Young Hopes!

1. Where and when did you start training football?

I started playing football at my home club, NK Postojna, when I was eight years old. It is interesting to note that I was quite a ‘hitchhiker’ at first. I played defence for a few months and then I decided to become a goalkeeper.

2. Who inspired you to take up football and who has influenced you the most in football?

I’ve been playing football for as long as I can remember. At first I played it with my neighbours, in front of the block we used to gather in front of. Even then, I was really interested in kicking a ball and I could say I loved it immediately. As for who influenced me the most… I have always loved Cristiano Ronaldo!

3. What do you like most about football?

I like everything to do with football very, very much. I enjoy playing football and I always go to training with a lot of good humour. Every time I step on the pitch, I try to give my best, and I always look forward to the national team games in particular. These are something special.

4. Your favourite football moment so far?

Qualification for the European Cadet Championships without a doubt! And the defences I contributed in the Norway game. When we did it, I was really happy.

5. Why do you think football is the best sport in the world?

Because everyone is involved in football first and foremost because of the joy they feel for the game. And he loves what he does. Football is joy, it’s fun. At the same time, there are incredible emotions attached to football. And also the effort, we must not forget that…

6. Who are your football role models – local and foreign?

Jan Oblak and Matevž Vidovšek at home, without a doubt, and Mike Maignan and Ederson, who is very good with his foot, abroad.

7. Who is your biggest and toughest competitor and why?

If I had to choose the toughest opponent ever, it was without a doubt the Norwegian team in the recent European Championship qualifiers. But in football, all opponents are challenging in their own way. There are no easy competitors, no team is bad. Every time you go on the pitch, you have to be 100% ready and focused. Whatever the opponent.

8. What do you think is the most important quality of a successful football player?

A footballer who wants to succeed must first and foremost have his head on straight. He also has to put in a lot of effort to succeed, sweat it out in extra training sessions, be active in the gym… Mindset and effort are the most important.

9. What is the hardest thing for you on the road to achieving your football dream?

I don’t think too much about failure. I try to give my best in every training session and every match. Of course, there are bad days when things don’t go as planned, both in training and in competition. When that day comes, you have to ‘reset’ and quickly get back to the old way of proving yourself.

10. How do you deal with disappointment after defeats?

I don’t like defeats. I don’t like to lose in football or anywhere else. When a match like this comes around, I shed a tear… When we lost to Croatia in the last qualifying round for the European Championship, I was not happy at first, even though we qualified for the final tournament. I don’t like to lose, especially in games like this.

11. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

I don’t look that far into the future. But at the same time, I believe I have the work habits, the effort and the character to make it to one of the top leagues. But I am aware that you have to prove yourself every day and train hard to get there.

12. Which of your teammates (current and past) are you sure will make it in football and why?

I have a lot of quality teammates. First of all, I would like to mention David Pejičić, who is already playing for the Italian Primavera team at the age of 15, and also plays for the senior national team. He is quick and skilful with the ball and has a very good shot. I would also like to mention Lovro Golic, who is one of the best defenders I have played or coached with. He is fast, tall, strong, a really great defensive footballer.