Slovenian football figures Čeh and Mlakar reflect on careers and rivalries

Former Slovenian national team captain Aleš Čeh and forward Jan Mlakar have offered perspectives on their careers and the ongoing dynamics within domestic football.

Čeh, who captained Slovenia during its qualification era under manager Srečko Katanec, transitioned into coaching following his playing retirement. He spent over a decade assisting Katanec, including seven years coaching in Asia. Despite his long-standing affinity for Olimpija Ljubljana and Austria's Grazer AK, Čeh expressed enduring respect for rival club Maribor.

Concurrently, 27-year-old striker Jan Mlakar has rejoined Maribor for a third tenure, aiming to secure his first league championship with the team. Addressing past transfer speculation, Mlakar stated, "I was never close to joining Olimpija," while noting that derby fixtures always carry significant stakes regardless of current team form.

Sources: Siol.net, Delo