Slovenian football figures Čeh and Mlakar reflect on careers and rivalries

Former Slovenian national team captain Aleš Čeh and forward Jan Mlakar have shared insights into their sports careers and the landscape of domestic football.

Čeh, who captained Slovenia during its prominent period under manager Srečko Katanec, discussed his transition into coaching. He spent over a decade assisting Katanec, including seven years coaching in Asia. Despite his personal affection for Olimpija Ljubljana and Austria's Grazer AK, Čeh expressed enduring respect for Maribor.

Separately, 27-year-old Ljubljana native Mlakar addressed returning to Maribor for a third tenure. Mlakar expressed confidence in leadership figures Zlatko Zahović and Darko Milanič while noting the unpredictable nature of derby matches against Olimpija, emphasizing that team form offers little guarantee in high-stakes rivalries.

Sources: Delo, Siol.net