Smoje on Osijek's Rebirth
Club legend Ivo Smoje talks to Net.hr about the great start to the season, the return of homegrown talent, and the importance of local identity.
Club legend Ivo Smoje talks to Net.hr about the great start to the season, the return of homegrown talent, and the importance of local identity.
Osijek's footballers have opened the new season in a way that has exceeded even the most optimistic expectations. Two away wins with an impressive 8-1 goal difference have brought a wave of euphoria among the fans, and legendary Ivo Smoje does not hide his delight at what he sees on and off the pitch.
Smoje is particularly pleased that players who have come through the club's youth academy are increasingly appearing in the first team. "It really makes me happy to see young Jona Ježić in the starting lineup, in the first team, because he is one of our own. I know his father and his brother, who is also in the NK Osijek youth academy," Smoje told Net.hr. He also highlighted Ivan Kolarik, who has established himself in the starting eleven, emphasizing that it is precisely such stories that give the club its special charm.
He also commented on two of his favorite players, Bukvić and Omerović, who came through the ranks while he was still working at the club. Omerović has already scored four goals this season, and Smoje notes that Bukvić has "come alive" and that coach Federico Bessone is increasingly trusting him, which is reflected in his improving performances.
Osijek has recorded two wins in their first two away matches, with the game in which they scored six goals against the opponent standing out. "I can't remember when Osijek last did that, especially scoring six goals against someone," Smoje emphasized. He also recalled the many question marks and skepticism that surrounded the club at the start of the season, but he points out that the coach, the coaching staff, and the players have convinced most of the doubters, showing quality and well-executed preparations.
"I can't put into words what these results mean to me, but not just to me, but to this city, to the people, the fans, everyone who loves NK Osijek. I'm really glad that positivity has emerged," Smoje added, emphasizing that the club's new management has made bold cuts and justified their decisions with sporting results.
He is especially pleased that the club has recognized the importance of the people who built it. "I'm really glad they brought Ivica Vranješ back to the youth academy. The man has marked the last twenty years of the football school," Smoje said. Vranješ is a scout who brought numerous players to the club, most notably Josip Mišić, who at one point lived at his house.
Similarly, Smoje also praised the return of Tomislav Šorša, who, he says, has earned the opportunity to work at the club through his approach both on and off the pitch. "NK Osijek is waking up in the senior section, in the youth section, the club is restoring its identity in terms of homegrown talent," he said.
Smoje is clear: results are the most important thing, and Argentine coach Bessone is doing an excellent job so far, having accepted the chance in a difficult situation after a season of fighting for survival. However, what pleases him most as a fan are the homegrown players. "I'm talking about an identity that is local, Osijek, Slavonian. Every club needs homegrown talent. Not just Osijek, it's the same with Dinamo, Hajduk, other teams, because local boys, homegrown players, feel the club and the environment differently and are ready to 'die' if necessary for the club," Smoje concluded for Net.hr.
Although the championship is long and the real challenges are yet to come, the message from Osijek is clear: the club is waking up at all levels, and the foundation of that awakening lies precisely in strengthening its own, Slavonian identity.
