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

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

Čeh, who captained Slovenia during their qualification for major tournaments, reflected on his playing career across clubs such as Olimpija, Grazer AK, and Maribor. Following his retirement from playing, he spent more than a decade as an assistant coach to Srečko Katanec, which included seven years working in Asia.

Meanwhile, 27-year-old striker Jan Mlakar discussed his third spell with Maribor. Despite his origins in Ljubljana, Mlakar stated he was never close to signing with hometown rivals Olimpija. Looking ahead to the eternal derby, Mlakar observed that despite Olimpija's current struggles, derby fixtures remain unpredictable, adding that their opponents "can only gain" from the match.

Sources: Delo, Siol.net