March 15 – Former Red Star legend Dragan Dzajic has been elected president of the Serbian Football Association. All 78 delegates attending the election voted for Dzajic.
The 76-year-old Dzajic was the only candidate for the post after former Serbia and Manchester United captain Nemanja Vidic surprisingly withdrew his candidacy a day before the vote. Dzajic’s mandate is for four years.
“I am honored to have been given the opportunity to lead Serbian football. I accepted this challenge because I feel that with the knowledge and experience gained from winning 36 club trophies, world and European titles, I can help. I think that together we can raise Serbian football to a higher level. There are many things in the FSS that work well, but also things that we can improve. We will do everything possible for our national team to be a regular participant in the biggest competitions. The priority is to qualify for the European Championship and succeed there,” said Dzajic.
Vidic’s last minute withdrawal from the election was a surprise within the country’s football community. In a statement, Vidic said: “Our football faces big challenges. Many things must and can be improved. My idea was and remains to assemble a team of top professionals who are able to solve these challenges better than perhaps anyone in Europe. Unfortunately, at every step of the way to becoming the president of FSS, it was made clear to me that we would not be given that chance. This is how I want to inform you that I am withdrawing my candidacy for FSS president.”
Vidic intends to stay within Serbian football.
“Withdrawing my candidacy does not mean that I give up Serbian football,” he said.
“I believe in my team and our vision, as well as the great help we will receive from our friends from the top of European and world football. What is unfortunately not possible for us to start working on today – my team and I will do, I believe, in the near future. Now that is not possible.”
Contact the writer of this story, Aleksander Krassimirov, at moc.l1713569843labto1713569843ofdlr1713569843owedi1713569843sni@o1713569843fni1713569843