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FOOTBALL’S NEW HOPE: STRAHINJA ERAKOVIĆ Comparisons with Vidić make a big impression on me I’d love to reach the level that he was at. We both matured at Red Star and I hope that, like him, I’ll also have a brilliant career abroad DRESSED IN A RED STAR SHIRT, STRAHINJA ERAKOVIĆ quickly be- came a source of fear and trepidation for opposition players. This young defender has grown up with great help from the ex- perienced Aleksandar Dragović and im- posed himself as a player that national coach Dragan Stojković could count on for the upcoming World Cup in Qatar. However, the popular “Čupo” says that he’s thinking only about the Red & Whites and how to become a play- er who’ll leave a strong mark on Bel- grade’s Marakana. This young knight of the Red Star order is already on
every step. I’ve been at the club for a long time, and in terms of length of service I’ve perhaps been here the longest among all first team play- ers, alongside Gordić, but, again, it’s different when you enter the ranks of the senior players. I was the youngest at one point, but everyone viewed me as an equal and that was extremely important for me to feel relaxed both on and off the pitch. I attended my first preseason train- ing when I was still a cadet and I recall that everyone welcomed me warmly even back then. It’s differ- ent today but, back when I arrived, I had the closest relations with Niko- lić, Petrović, Gavrić and Krstović – that’s something I have to empha- sise. We were that ‘younger team’ and we stuck together.” His good performances led to the inevitable comparison: Strahin- ja is said to be the true successor of the great Nemanja Vidić. “Comparisons with Vidić really make a big impression on me. This is a player who left an indelible mark on such a club as Manchester Unit- ed. I’d love to reach the level that he was at. We both matured at Red Star and I hope that, like him, I’ll also have a brilliant career abroad. Vidić is the Serbian footballer that I admire, while among foreigners that’s Sergio Ramos.” Eraković has travelled the length and breadth of Europe with Red Star... “It’s tough to choose a single favourite location, but that would certainly be a place with constant spring and summer temperatures. I’d like to live in a country that has access to the sea.” We concluded by asking Stra- hinja which other athletes he ad- mires… “Of course, that would first and foremost be Novak Đoković, who’s an incredible athlete. We’re all proud of him and everything he’s done in his career to date. Along- side Novak, there are also legend- ary basketball and water polo play- ers, but I wouldn’t single anyone out because the list is really long,” ad- mits Strahinja.
to adapt even then, but everyone was behind me and that made the process much easier for me. For a young footballer, the most impor- tant thing is to feel that the club takes him seriously, with an aware- ness that time is also needed to de- velop a routine and overcome child- hood illnesses,” says Eraković. Team manager Dejan Stanković is to “blame” for the chance Erak- ović received as early as the start of the season. “I was a “bonus” against Novi Pazar. I recall that it was 1 st August and we won 3:0. That was a special day in my career. That wasn’t my first preseason of preparations with Red Star, but I was extremely proud because, after them, I wasn’t only able to remain with the first team, but was also able to get my chance at the start of the season. Those were my first preparation sessions with Dejan Stanković, with whom I built good relations immediately. He’s watched me maturing, which is why it means a lot when he praises me, as he did after the 167 th eter- nal derby. We are constantly talk- ing; he’s a man with incredible ex- perience and I’ll certainly always remember what he’s taught me.” His baptism of fire actual- ly came in Europe, against Hof- fenheim...
“We did lose the game, but I received a lot of praise for the way I played. That was a completely differ- ent feeling, even though I’d previ- ously played in the derby. Still, that interna- tional match, in the group stage of the Europa League, was very special…” There’s no suc- cess without a special atmosphere, and the one from Red Star’s changing room is at a high level. “Red Star is a family, as I say at
the watchlists of many Europe- an clubs. And how could he not be, given that he plays flawless football? “The key to my pro- gress is in dedicated work, but also in the support that I receive from the club. Everyone is con- stantly backing me, ev- er since my days at the Academy. I followed a well-trodden path, by first maturing through the jun- ior categories of Red Star, then in the shirt of development team Grafičar, to be ready to receive my baptism of fire in the first team. I still needed a little time
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