February 24 – In what is being hailed as a revolutionary step for Serbian football, the Football Association of the Western Serbia Region (FSRZS) has officially opened enrolment for the country’s first-ever Academy for Sports Professionals.
For decades, Serbian football has faced a critical shortage of qualified administrative and operational staff. To address this alarming deficit—a concern recently echoed by the national Football Association of Serbia (FSS)—the FSRZS leadership, led by President Nebojša Živanović and General Secretary Darko Bradonjić, moved swiftly from initial concept to full implementation.
While institutions for training coaches and referees already exist, the new Academy focuses specifically on the sports workers who manage the infrastructure of the game—clubs, districts, and regional organisations.
“The problem was identified at the national level, not just the regional one,” said General Secretary Darko Bradonjić. “We are pioneers in an area of capital value for Serbian football. We aim to educate both new talent and existing staff through practical experience across various clubs and districts.”
The Academy will be headed by Zvonko Jevremović, President of the FSS Player Registration Commission and one of the country’s most seasoned sports officials. Lectures will be delivered by eminent sports professionals from both the national (FSS) and regional (FSRZS) systems.
The main goal is to create a sustainable pipeline of educated personnel to modernise the management of Serbian football.
Interest in the program is reportedly high, FSRZS said. Prospective students and current professionals looking to formalize their expertise have until March 31, 2026, to apply.
Contact the writer of this story. Alexander Krassimirov, at [email protected]