Tomi Horvat before the first championship match for Football Planet: “I am eagerly looking forward to this moment, as you get goosebumps already when you hear the anthem on television”

Published on 4. August 2024 4. August 2024

Photo: SK Sturm

Tomi Horvat is one of those who will not easily forget the year 2024. Beyond Slovenia’s appearance at Euro 2024, many wonderful things have happened to him. Winning the double and achieving his best personal statistics have surely etched his name into the history of Grazer AK Sturm, with whom he will compete in the Champions League this fall. However, the best moments came after the end of last season and before the Slovenian national team’s journey at the European Championship concluded. First, he got engaged, and then his first child was born. The former Mura midfielder already proved himself last week in a cup competition, contributing a goal and an assist as his team advanced. Today, he and his teammates face their first league challenge against Rapid Vienna. Before taking the field in the Austrian capital, Tomi Horvat took some time for Planet nogomet to discuss his goals for the upcoming club and national team seasons.

“You always start each season with high goals, aiming to be as high on the league table as possible and to win trophies. With this mindset, we as a team will approach this season, as we want it to be as successful as the last one. My personal desire is to deliver good performances with as many goals and assists as possible,” said Horvat, who will be one of the key players for coach Christian Ilzer.

Today, the reigning Austrian champions begin their quest to defend their title, and next week they have a friendly match against French giants PSG at the Wörthersee Stadium, which will also serve as preparation for the demanding European season ahead. “We played a few matches against strong opponents, which is always welcome to see what level you’re at and what kind of opponents you’ll face during the season. We’ll play the match against PSG to see what awaits us in the Champions League this fall.”

He has already stood on the field to the sounds of the Conference League and Europa League anthems, but now he will hear the most iconic one, which evokes special emotions even among fans. “It is definitely a special feeling, as the Champions League anthem gives you goosebumps even when you hear it on TV, let alone when you experience it live. So I am really looking forward to that moment. If I could choose, I would most like to face Real Madrid because I believe they are currently the best team in the world.”

Sturm will play their home matches in the world’s most elite club competition an hour and a half away in Klagenfurt, as the stadium in the Styrian capital does not meet certain UEFA requirements. However, Horvat and his team still expect strong support from the stands. “It will be a bit different because we won’t be playing in Graz, where we enjoy really great support and our home stadium is our fortress in these tough matches. But I think the atmosphere in Klagenfurt will also be excellent, as we have a lot of fans supporting us at all matches, even away games. So I believe they will cheer us on now too and create a fantastic atmosphere.”

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Horvat: “I feel great in the new role; I have to say we are really enjoying it”

“I have high goals both at the club and with the national team. I hope we will continue with the excellent performances that characterized us at the European Championship. We are also looking forward to good results in the Nations League and then in the World Cup qualifiers,” Horvat said about the upcoming national team challenges, which will take place in a month’s time.

Two days before the historic match against Portugal, he left the national team camp in Germany and returned to Slovenia. The reason was not a misunderstanding or injury, but rather that the 25-year-old had become a father. Not only his closest family celebrated, but he also received a special congratulatory message from Wuppertal. “I feel great in the new role; it is something special and I have to say we are really enjoying it. The guys prepared a nice gesture for me by writing my daughter’s name on the field, which I really appreciate, and it was really nice to see.”

Slovenski nogometaš Tomi Horvat in partnerica Laura sta postala starša. Rodila se je Mia. Pred treningom v Wuppertalu so mlado družino z lepo gesto pozdravili člani reprezentance. @vecer #srcebije #EURo2024 pic.twitter.com/lbsFB5GUPi
— Miha Dajcman (@mihadajcman) June 30, 2024