Dejan Savićević, President of the Football Association of Montenegro
When the name Dejan Savićević is mentioned, the first association for football fans across Europe and beyond is a talent without borders. The “fantasista” from Podgorica, who created poetry with the ball and made fans leap from their seats, remains just as dedicated to football today but in a different role. As President of the Football Association of Montenegro, he has been guiding domestic football through the challenges of transition, infrastructural limitations, and systemic struggles for nearly two decades. In an interview with the magazine Diplomacy & Commerce Montenegro, the popular “Genije” reflects on his playing career without nostalgia but with sincerity. He discusses the highs and missed opportunities, football that has changed beyond recognition, collaboration with Berlusconi, challenges within the domestic scene, and his unwavering belief that Montenegro sooner or later will stand shoulder to shoulder with football giants at a major tournament. In an era when talent often gets lost in the maze of media attention and premature transfers, his message to younger generations is clear: football is not played for money it is played out of love.
Mr. Savićević, your name is synonymous with one of the most remarkable eras of Montenegrin, Yugoslav, and European football. How do you perceive your playing career now, from the standpoint of a sports official?
I had a good career. You know, in a career, you can always achieve more, but you can also achieve less. To be honest, at the beginning of my football career, I didn’t think I would accomplish even a fraction of what I later achieved. If you had told me in 1985 that I would be a representative of the SFRJ, I would have told you that you’re not normal. It wasn’t until I was 20 that I realized I would be a good player. Unfortunately, a groin operation limited me a bit more, and because of that surgery, I got injured more frequently. Had that not happened and if I had been physically better, I could have definitely given more. Nevertheless, I’m not dissatisfied with my career. I played in two Champions League finals. I’m sorry that, due to injury, I didn’t play in the 1995 Champions League final. Similarly, during my national team career, I regret that my generation in the SFRJ national team missed three major football tournaments: 1992, 1994, and 1996. I’m not saying we would have won those three championships, but I’m sure we would have reached the top 4. That team consisted of top players: Peđa Mijatović, Siniša Mihajlović, Vladimir Jugović, Dragan ‘Piksi’ Stojković, Savo Milošević, Darko Kovačević, Zoran Mirković, Slaviša Jokanović, Miroslav Đukić, Željko Petrović, Dejan Govedarica, Branko Brnović… So, it was a constellation of exceptional footballers. It’s a pity we suffered because of the political decisions of that time.
How has football as a sport changed from the time you played to today?
I believe football has developed significantly from my playing days to the present in all aspects. There is now much more sponsorship, and considerably greater financial investments are being made in the sport. In my time, there were fewer matches, the game was more physical, and players weren’t protected as they are today. As I mentioned, today much more money is invested in football, there are many more matches, players are better paid, and they receive more protection. Additionally, the technical aspects have improved greatly, and as a result, players are more exposed in the media. Social media is an entirely different matter. In my playing days, ‘Milan Channel’ had just begun, and now every team has its own club television. Because of this, it’s much more challenging for players today in terms of media exposure. Football presents many challenges, regardless of the era in which you play. A career is short, and that is why you must endure all the efforts to make the most of the many wonderful things this sport offers.
Considering you wore Milan’s jersey during the club’s golden era, how do you remember your relationship with Silvio Berlusconi, the club’s president at the time?
Silvio Berlusconi played a key role in bringing me to Milan. He had a habit of watching VHS tapes for two hours each day, reviewing footage of individual players. One day, his associates brought him a tape featuring my matches. After watching it, he instructed them to bring me to Milan. At that time, the Italian weekly ‘Guerin Sportivo’ published a photomontage showing me in a Juventus jersey, with the headline: ‘Arrivederci Baggio, benvenuto Savicevic!’ (Goodbye Baggio, welcome Savicevic!). Later, Berlusconi told me that when he saw that publication, he thought the deal was already finalised. He immediately called Ariedo Braida and told him to go to Belgrade and finalise the contract with me. So, since I was Berlusconi’s personal choice, I had his unwavering support. In the early days at San Siro, I was quite stubborn and rebellious. The club had a rule that only three of the six foreign players could play at once. I wanted to play, not sit on the bench, leading to intense disagreements with coach Fabio Capello, who even tried to turn the entire locker room against me. However, I had already established myself as a player, having won the European Cup and secured second place in the France Football’s list rankings. For me, it was humiliating to travel with the team and not play. Yet, whenever I faced challenges, I had Silvio’s protection.
In your opinion, what are the main challenges currently facing Montenegrin football? Where do you see the greatest potential for improvement?
We must consistently aim for progress in infrastructure. It must be understood that, no matter how much we invest, we will always lag behind larger countries. For example, Slovenia allocated €52 million for sports last year, with a large part dedicated to football. Without government support, it is difficult for the Football Association of Montenegro to accomplish everything on its own. We will carry on, as we have before, to initiate infrastructure improvements. I would like to point out that due to bureaucratic procedures and the interference of certain individuals, many processes are being delayed. The stadium in Cetinje serves as a clear example of this. In Montenegro, planning anything long-term is challenging. Additionally, I would like to see more involvement from Montenegrin coaches in personal development. All Montenegrin coaches who speak English tend to go abroad. The Football Association of Montenegro has organized two major study visits for our coaches working in the First and Second Leagues. We hope to organize a third study visit this year.
The senior men’s national football team of Montenegro is still waiting to qualify for a major tournament. What is it that we are still missing to make that breakthrough?
We have come close several times to achieving that breakthrough. In 2011, we even participated in a playoff against the Czech Republic. What we lack is a larger pool of players, a broader base. In crucial moments, some players were missing due to injuries. Unfortunately, those who could have replaced them weren’t at the same level as the first-team players.
Therefore, our limited player base is our biggest challenge. However, we are working on it and hope that our senior national team will participate in a major tournament. Currently, we are playing qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The path is somewhat narrower. I believe it’s much easier to qualify for the European Championship – among 24 teams. We’ll see how things stand in the next Nations League, with the hope that we’ll secure a spot for the next European Championship through that route. We must remain optimistic, as I truly believe we have a realistic chance of qualifying for that tournament. We were very pleased that the youth national team participated in the recently concluded U19 UEFA Euro in Romania. It’s encouraging that this generation has many young talents who will mature and, soon, wear the senior national team jersey.
Montenegro has taken part in numerous UEFA and FIFA programmes. How important are these international partnerships for the growth of local football?
Additionally, how would you evaluate the relationship between the Football Association of Montenegro (FSCG) and UEFA and FIFA – and what are the main joint projects currently underway? The collaboration between the Football Association of Montenegro (FSCG), UEFA, and FIFA is at an exemplary level. Firstly, many of our coaches and referees attend various schools and seminars sponsored by these two organizations. I would like to remind you that UEFA significantly assisted us in establishing the Coach Education Centre. They have supported us in numerous infrastructural initiatives and developmental projects. However, UEFA and FIFA cannot always know what we need within our own country. We must initiate projects and address issues ourselves. UEFA has the “HatTrick” four-year program, established to provide financial support to UEFA member associations for the development and nurturing of football at all levels, whereas FIFA has the “Goal Project.” Additionally, we collaborate closely on various programs through which our administration receives different training. These projects allow us to secure substantial funds for infrastructure development, with participation from clubs, local governments, and the state. We have recently launched a major project in Bijelo Polje to build a sports centre, which I believe will be completed successfully. Since I became president of the FSCG, I have been fortunate to communicate personally with former and current presidents of UEFA and FIFA. Additionally, as a member of the FIFA Council, this membership enhances cooperation between the Association and the international organisations that oversee European and world football.
What would you say to young football talents who dream of becoming the next ‘Il Genio’?
First and foremost, I encourage children and young people to participate in any sport, as this will contribute to their healthier growth and development. Unlike when I was a child, today it’s challenging to motivate children to participate in sports. I believe that smartphones and social media platforms, which captivate their attention, significantly hinder these efforts. In Montenegro, while children do train, they seldom practice football outside of club sessions. Our playgrounds and fields are nearly empty. This was not the case in the past; I used to play football with my friends even after official training sessions. I also hear many criticisms about football schools. I believe their existence is beneficial because, without them, it is questionable whether children would play football at all. Currently, we are witnessing a shortage of athletes. A new approach needs to be designed to inspire future generations to engage in sports. Another issue is that some parents use their children’s involvement in sports to address their own existential problems. In my childhood, such concerns were minimal. I understand that many young players find it difficult to resist the allure of money. While earning a thousand euros daily may seem attractive, if you’re not given the opportunity to play, your development is effectively stalled. I was lucky to play for four years at FK Budućnost, during which I sharpened my skills. Only after that did I move to FK Crvena zvezda as a more experienced player. Finding balance is essential! No child from Montenegro can leave at 18 and expect to play for a major European club. Unfortunately, our training conditions are not on par with those in many European clubs. More focus must be given to young players in the domestic league, and I urge Montenegrin coaches to trust more in youth footballers. Lastly, to young football talents, I would say that love for the game is vital. Be dedicated, train hard, and believe in yourselves and your abilities.