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Stories from the Other Side – Rok Vodišek: How Samir Handanović Proved What a Giant He Is, Even with the Help of the Slow Italian Postal Service

Published on 29. May 2024 29. May 2024

Writes: Rok Vodišek. Graphycs: WPM

Soccer is far more than just live broadcasts, dry match reports, transfer rumors, and evergreen clichés from the main actors’ mouths. What the public sees is only one side of soccer; it is interesting and often exciting. But there is also the side hidden from the eyes of ordinary mortals. On the other side, things happen that you wouldn’t believe. Complications, adventures, anecdotes, incredible stories, bitter disappointments, failed plans, and much more occur. These are stories from the other side. Their stories. The stories of the main actors.

The next to join the Planet Soccer website team was Rok Vodišek, once one of the most promising goalkeepers in Slovenia, who debuted in Olimpija’s senior team as a teenager. After his adventure in Ljubljana, he went to Italy, where he experienced many interesting and noteworthy things. And many things remain hidden from the public’s and fans’ eyes. Rok Vodišek joined Planet Soccer precisely to tell as many unheard stories as possible. Stories from the other side.

Have you ever felt that a stadium, say Stožice or Ljudski vrt, looks completely different when you see it live compared to when you watch a match on TV? I had such a feeling with practically all the stadiums I first saw on TV and later live. I also had the privilege and honor to see all this from another perspective – as a footballer allowed to enter a world not accessible to everyone. That means the locker rooms and the fields of these remarkable objects. I will start my journey through the largest Italian stadiums with the stadium that, besides my home Marassi, left the biggest impression on me. San Siro.

Five years ago, when I was watching Inter and AC Milan matches on TV, I had a completely different impression of the cult San Siro. Then I saw it live… On TV, it looks big and magnificent, but only when you actually see it live do you feel the full grandeur of this object. Even as I approached it, I was – I admit – impressed by its mightiness. The huge, spiral–shaped towers surrounding the stadium, intended for fans to climb to the highest areas, add an additional dimension of uniqueness. Everything about this stadium is magnificent: the entrance to the huge garage, the hallways leading to the locker rooms and the field, and the locker rooms themselves. Although not the most modern, as it is an old object, they are in perfect harmony with the entire history of this historic stadium.

The most beautiful part, which left the greatest impression on me, followed… When I first stepped onto the San Siro field, I witnessed a view that is even more powerful from this perspective. When you stand and look at the stands rising so high that you almost can’t see the top, I got a feeling of extreme smallness, which I had never experienced before. The floodlights, spread across the entire stadium roof, shining down on the impeccably prepared field and the empty stands at that moment, gave a sense of peace and tranquility to this giant object.

At that moment, I imagined it as some kind of sleeping giant. I was always fascinated by the extreme contrast that happens in just one hour. From the quiet observation of the field before the match to the extreme roar of the crowd at the beginning of the match. This contrast was even more significant at the stadium, which holds nearly 80,000 people and is almost always sold out, and therefore left an even more profound impression on me.

It was very interesting that we played at San Siro twice within just 4 days. Thus, between the matches against both Milan giants, we stayed in the capital of Lombardy. I had a unique opportunity to compare the atmosphere at Inter and Milan home games. Personally, I didn’t notice any significant difference. In both cases, the fans filled their places to the last corner and created a top-notch atmosphere. I can confirm that the supporters of both Milan clubs are really passionate.

When we played against Inter, Samir Handanović was still their goalkeeper, who was also the captain of the Milan giant for many years. As I am also a goalkeeper, it was fascinating to observe him up close, and I am really proud that I stood on the field with him, even if only during the pre-match warm-up. I must say that he is not only an excellent goalkeeper but also a great person. After the match, we had a short conversation, and I got the impression that he is really down-to-earth and does not see himself as a star, which he actually was. After the match, he also gave me his jersey, which I still have safely stored at home and will always be a beautiful memory of the visit to San Siro.

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Regarding Samir, I can tell another anecdote that proves what a great person he is. After the match against Inter, the then-goalkeeper of Primavera (Genoa’s youth team), who came with us, really wanted Handanović’s jersey as he was his idol. Since he didn’t get it after the match, Samir promised to send it to our club in the following days. Since players of such caliber and fame probably get at least 50 such requests for jerseys every day, we all thought he would forget about it. But lo and behold, after about a week (yes, it’s true, the Italian postal service is very slow…), his jersey really arrived at the club, and the Primavera goalkeeper was, of course, overjoyed that his great wish was fulfilled. Once again, Samir Handanović proved who he is. Like San Siro. A giant. In every sense.