Former Slovenian stars reflect on careers and Olimpija-Maribor rivalry

Former Slovenian national team captain Aleš Čeh and forward Jan Mlakar have shared insights on their football careers and the enduring rivalry between Olimpija Ljubljana and Maribor.

Čeh, who served as an assistant to manager Srečko Katanec for over a decade—including seven years in Asia—reaffirmed his deep ties to Olimpija and Austria's Grazer AK, while expressing high regard for Maribor. Meanwhile, 27-year-old Ljubljana native Mlakar has returned to Maribor for a third spell. Addressing his roots, Mlakar noted that he "was never close to Olimpija" and expressed confidence in Maribor's leadership under Zlatko Zahovič and Darko Milanič. Looking ahead to the upcoming derby, Mlakar remarked that despite Olimpija's ongoing internal crisis, derby matches provide struggling teams an opportunity to reset their season.

Sources: Delo, Siol.net