This is because the story is not so common that it is mentioned. A Swiss coach is currently sitting on the bench of a first division club in a European championship.
Destination: Belgium. Club: La Gantoise. Coach: Danijel Milicevic.
The name may bring back some memories: around ten years ago, Milicevic, now 39 years old, was a hit in the flat country. This attacking midfielder was crowned Belgian champion in 2015, already at Gantoise. He played in the Champions League the following season, scoring three goals during a campaign which took the Flemish club to the round of 16.
Some will remember that his profile was circulating when it came to mentioning the Swiss team (he was a junior international). Ultimately, Vladimir Petkovic never called him up, and the native of Bellinzona chose to wear the jersey of the Bosnia-Herzegovina selection, of which he also has nationality (3 selections).
In short, since 2021 and the end of his career which he mainly spent in Belgium (except for a trip to Metz), the former Yverdon player (2006-2008) had reconverted as an assistant coach at La Ghent.
But things have accelerated in recent days. On Friday, during a match against Charleroi, head coach Wouter Vrancken fell ill and had to withdraw. Milicevic assumed the role and La Gantoise conceded the draw 1-1. And then, on Tuesday, the club currently 6th in the Pro League announced that it had parted ways with its coach.
-Direct consequence: Milicevic is designated to take over. Even if it’s just a temporary job. The Ticino man will in any case be on the bench for the Buffalos (the club’s nickname) in Louvain on Sunday. What next? We have to imagine that another coach will be appointed, knowing that La Gantoise has ambitions. Particularly European, with a Conference League play-off to be played against Betis Sevilla in February.
But you never know: Danijel Milicevic may have a card to play, he who knows the club by heart.
This would not be trivial: Swiss coaches who go abroad are rare. Since Lucien Favre has experienced what looks like an unofficial retirement, Gerardo Seoane has been the standard bearer, on the bench of Borussia Mönchengladbach. It is also not a question of forgetting the two Zurich players from Cairo, with Marcel Koller at Al-Ahly and Christian Gross at Zamalek.
They are the only ones active in clubs. While waiting for Urs Fischer to find a position again, perhaps, he whose name is sometimes mentioned on the Borussia Dortmund side, since Nuri Sahin was ousted on Wednesday morning. And then, one day, we can imagine that Mattia Croci-Torti will be called to take a trip to Italy or elsewhere.
In the meantime, Danijel Milicevic has the opportunity to launch a career. To be continued.
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