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

Former Slovenian national team captain Aleš Čeh and forward Jan Mlakar have shared insights into their careers and the landscape of domestic football. Čeh, a prominent figure in Slovenia's qualification campaigns under head coach Srečko Katanec, spent over a decade working as Katanec's assistant, including a seven-year stint coaching in Asia. He highlighted his ties to Olimpija Ljubljana and Austrian side Grazer AK, alongside his regard for Maribor.

Separately, Mlakar discussed returning to Maribor for a third tenure. Despite his Ljubljana roots, the 27-year-old stated that he was "never close to signing" with rival club Olimpija. Mlakar expressed confidence in Maribor's leadership while noting that upcoming derby fixtures offer struggling teams an opportunity to reset their season momentum.

Sources: Delo, Siol.net