Zlatko Zahović without reservations: “I am not sure that the one who signed the sale of the club feels love for Maribor”
Photo: Vid Ponikvar / Sportida
No one can question his success, as Zlatko Zahović has achieved significant milestones with Maribor and demonstrated to the whole of Europe that even a low budget is no barrier to competing with the biggest clubs in the world. However, before and after his departure, the pride of Styria has lost the distinctive character it once had, and now a new one with a Turkish influence is emerging, which does concern the 53-year-old to some extent.
“To me, things are very, very clear. This is not some strategic partnership. I don’t know why the club emphasizes this. I think I know why they are doing it, but I don’t understand it. Acun Ilicali will be a classic owner, which is legitimate. I have to say that I am very, very glad that this did not happen during my time, because those who will be signed for the sale of Maribor… This is not exactly honorable, it’s not really a reference. In my opinion, it’s quite the opposite. But things are as they are. These people have come; they need support. They need to be understood and everything should be done to make them feel good in our environment. Only in this way can we make them ambitious, respectful, and not just a Hull City scouting and Hull City branch. That’s what I would wish. For them to feel good, to be ambitious, and to be successful,” Zahović shared in an interview with Ekipa.
Love for Maribor? Many, according to him, do not feel it, but as he says, there is no turning back now. “Do you want to ask whether Maribor will lose its identity? This will certainly happen, but things move forward. We held that identity for a long time, but given that things in Europe, around the world, are changing, and the structure of people in all cities and countries is changing, this has to be taken into account. As for identity… That’s why I said I want the Turks to feel good here. However, people do not understand what it means to be an owner of a Slovenian club. Owning a Slovenian or European club are two completely different concepts. And those who don’t understand this, and I believe 99 percent of people don’t, will have many questions and few answers. I can already predict all the positive and negative things that will come with this. But let’s stay positive, welcome the people, because there is no turning back. Let’s help them integrate into our society and identify with us, because there is no other way. That’s why I say that for those who signed the sale of Maribor, this will be a very big family stain. But it is what it is, and it has to be accepted and helped. With everything else, you go from one problem to another. The only loser is NK Maribor. We always talked about the importance of love for Maribor. I’m not sure that those who signed the sale of the club feel the love for Maribor.”
“Absolutely. That’s why I said it. Now it’s up to the people of Maribor to make them feel welcome in our environment. Sooner or later, we will also come to extreme measures. And the question is how people will accept them. But they will have to accept them. It reminds me of the decision of Olimpija, which removed Robert Prosinečki, leading to much disapproval from fans. At that time, Ljubljana Mayor Zoran Janković asked a question that said it all. ‘What now?’ And I think no one really understood or listened to what he wanted to say. ‘What now?’ In the sense that they are the owners, they can do whatever they want, even if the fans don’t like it. And again, we come back to who signed it. But now it is what it is. Welcome. Let’s be positive and hope that everything will be fine,” concluded the all-time leading scorer for the Slovenian national team.
This text was automatically translated using AI.
Author: editorial Football Planet
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