Talking with Bojan Djordjic

Djordjic' playing career can be view by anyone on the internet. He became a Manchester United player, before going out on loan to Glasgow Rangers and Danish side Aarhus. His father also convinced him to join Crvena Zvezda. "I am lucky that I have talent to play this sport. The fact that I chose football was natural. My father was a known international player, playing in a then top league in the World. I used to go with him to training and matches from a very young age. I could say that I grew up into football", said the midfielder. "No one knew what would become of me, as it is hard to know which way a 10-11 year old will go. My sister decided to move back to Serbia, and still lives in Belgrade today. She also used to do sport, and was a youth international in basketball in Sweden. She suffered a serious knee injury and was forced to finish her career."

It is amazing when someone has such roots, and a young boy sees his father among the best, as well as watching him play against, among others, Maradona. It is only normal that he would dream of the same, and to also be among the best. The dream became a reality at the age of 17, when he moved to Manchester United. He went on to make only two appearances for them, and won the Jimmy Murphy award, for the best youth player in 2000. What role did midfielder Ranko Djordjic have in all of this? "My father never really interferred in my things, and he let me do what I thought was best. This applies to football as well. He never pushed me, and it was my choice to take up football, as I had been playing basketball, like my sister, until the age of 15. He knew that it was a waste of time trying to force things onto me.

He came and watched my games but never told me what to do on the pitch. He knew that I probably knew inside me when I was playing well or not. He would sometimes come over to me after a game and ask me what I was thinking, and what performance I had produced. He also knew that the first thing to come into my mind was that I was not as good as he was." And if we are trying to find parallels between father and son, then I also had to ask whether the young Djordjic always wanted to be a midfielder? "Yes, I am that type, who likes to be in the thick of the action, and there where the ball was. I would go crazy in goal, but probably in defence as well." He feels good at organising things, and starting moves  and passing. A good player has to be able to see the opponents steps two or three steps before he does."

Djordjic has had a colourful career to date, which has seen him have long and short stints in various countries. I asked, where he felt happiest? His reply was one of a positive attitude. "In each place where you play and live, you have to try and find the positives. This is how you can bring the best out of yourself the most. When I played for Crvena Zvezda, I was at home, and I could speak my own language, and I lived close to my relatives. When I moved back to Stockholm, the other half of my family were there. When I played in England and Scotland, I had to find the good things, just as now in Fehervar. I am not here to party, or to go from coffee shop to coffee shop. I came here to play! I have not got that many chances up to now, but I am not down hearted. I am working hard even if it is with the reserve side. I know very well that my time will come. I am not a star, and consider myself as one of the players. I would like to be a good example to the young players. Perseverance, patience and hard work! Get on with things, and go through difficult times, while you prepare to prove yourself when your chance comes!"