Slovenian football figures reflect on coaching careers and club loyalty ahead of derby

Former Slovenian national team captain Aleš Čeh and striker Jan Mlakar have offered perspectives on their footballing journeys, coaching transitions, and club commitments. Čeh, who served as captain during Slovenia's qualification achievements under manager Srečko Katanec, detailed his decade-long coaching collaboration with Katanec, which included seven years in Asian football. Čeh reiterated his ties to Olimpija Ljubljana and Austrian club Grazer AK while maintaining respect for Maribor.

Concurrently, 27-year-old Ljubljana-born forward Jan Mlakar addressed his third stint at Maribor, where he targets his first league title. Mlakar dismissed speculation regarding a potential transfer to hometown rivals Olimpija Ljubljana, stating he was "never close" to joining the club. Despite acknowledging Olimpija's current internal challenges, Mlakar emphasized that upcoming derby matches remain inherently unpredictable.

Sources: Delo, Siol.net