Slovenian football figures Čeh and Mlakar reflect on careers and club rivalries

Former Slovenian national team captain Aleš Čeh and 27-year-old forward Jan Mlakar have shared updates on their football careers alongside insights into domestic club rivalries. Čeh, who spent over a decade working as an assistant under former head coach Srečko Katanec—including seven years in Asia—reaffirmed his affection for Olimpija Ljubljana and Austria's Grazer AK, while emphasizing his ongoing respect for NK Maribor.

Meanwhile, Ljubljana-born striker Mlakar has returned to NK Maribor for a third tenure. Addressing his local roots, Mlakar clarified that he was "never close to Olimpija" and expressed complete trust in Maribor's management. Commenting on the upcoming domestic derby, Mlakar noted that although Olimpija "is in crisis, but in a derby it can only gain," pointing to the unpredictable dynamics of the fixture.

Sources: Delo, Siol.net