Slovenian football figures Čeh and Mlakar reflect on careers and upcoming derby

Former Slovenian national team captain Aleš Čeh and forward Jan Mlakar have reflected on their respective careers and the state of domestic football. Čeh, who led Slovenia during its prominent era under manager Srečko Katanec, detailed his post-playing transition into coaching. After club spells with Olimpija, Grazer AK, and Maribor, he served as Katanec’s assistant coach for over a decade, spending seven years working in Asia.

Concurrently, 27-year-old forward Jan Mlakar discussed his third stint with Maribor. Despite his Ljubljana roots, Mlakar confirmed he was never close to joining hometown rivals Olimpija. Addressing the upcoming derby, Mlakar noted that while Olimpija faces a current crisis, derby matches remain unpredictable and their opponents "can only gain" from the fixture.

Sources: Delo, Siol.net