Varaždin Football Club had a successful half-season, which ended in 5th place in the championship ranking with 26 points, which tied it with fourth-placed Osijek. This result is a confirmation of the effort, quality and dedication of everyone in the club. Considering the stability and progress of the game, there are many goals for the future and further development. On the occasion of the end of another successful football year, the president of the club, Dražen Vitez, reflected on the results achieved, praising the work of all members of the club and the professional staff. In a big interview, he announced plans for the continuation of the season and further development of the infrastructure, the senior team and the youth team, stressing the Club’s desire to return European matches to the Varaždin stadium.
How would you rate the club’s results this half-season? Finishing in 5th place is certainly a great success, especially considering that at the beginning of the season, part of the public saw us in a fight for survival.
With this half-season, everyone in the Club can be very satisfied, both with the place on the table and with the number of points won. Our team’s way of playing is especially joyful. Sports director Nikola Šafarić he did a very good job scouting the players, and then he made a very good team out of those players as a coach team spirit. The boys have really enjoyed this half-season, which is evident in the matches and training sessions. The professional staff led by the coach did the job top job. The preparations themselves were a sign of a good season, which was later reflected in the results. Proof that they were done very good physical preparations on the eve of the start of the season, there is also the fact that we did not have any serious injuries during the season. I think that all the players were more than satisfied, in their own way with a gameas well as desire and aspiration for victory, which was visible in each of their performances. We played several top matches against stronger teams in which we were not in a subordinate position in any segment.
What are the key factors that contributed to such good results?
This result is a consequence the spirit of community which adorns the entire Club, the entire Management and the entire team. All the bodies of the Club have one goal, which is to become Varaždin stable first league player with the desire to come to our city let’s bring back the European matches.
Is there any moment from the first part of the season that you would single out as crucial to achieving this result?
Each game was a game in itself, and each victory brought us something new self-confidence. The decisive moment was when we saw that we were not losing games and that we were standing firmly on the field. An additional incentive for the players to put even more effort into training and matches was when they realized that we were powerful team and that we can handle everyone. I think that was the key moment in this half-season.
How would you rate the support of sponsors, club friends, spectators and fans in this half-season?
We can boast a large number of sponsors and friends of the Club. In this way, I would like to thank everyone who got involved and helped us to function better and better. I believe that this number will increase, since our results speak of the good direction we are heading. I would especially like to thank you The city of Varaždin who gave us the stadium and infrastructure to use, in the revitalization of which we invested over 600 thousand euros, Varaždin County, County Football Associationas well as Croatian Football Association. I am very happy that we are still among the top 5 teams in terms of the number of viewers and that they are fans those who are the wind at the team’s back and support even when it is difficult. Thank them for that! On this occasion, I invite all spectators, fans, football fans and friends of the Varaždin Football Club to continue supporting us in the spring part of the season.
What are the goals for the rest of the season?
First of all, the goal is to try keep the current position on the scale, and we will do everything to make that position even more let’s improve. We’ll try to get in the fight for Europe. I think that we have the capacity, a good roster of players and that we will get along well, prepare and continue, from the first game, to play our recognizable football. In every game we will strive to win and collect as many points as possible.
How do you plan to strengthen the team during the winter transfer window?
Although there are many media reports about the departure of our players, she has not yet come to the Varaždin Football Club no official offer for no player. The winter transfer window is long and we will see how everything unfolds. Surely our goal will be strengthen with several players and in several positions in the midfield and attack in order to strengthen the competition and try to achieve best placement in the history of the club.
What are the long-term goals of the Club and how do you see its development in the next few years in terms of the development of infrastructure and youth facilities?
We have entered the last stage transformations of the club into a sports joint-stock company, which shows how seriously we think about the future and long-term strategy of the club. A challenging period is ahead of the new Assembly and the people who will lead the club. Since finance is the foundation, I think that reshaping is a step towards a higher level because we will gain from it financial stability. After reshaping, we will make club development planwhile great emphasis will be placed on ours Academy in which everything is done better. In terms of infrastructure development, one has been completed playgroundand it will be ready soon new training ground. Installation is planned for the summer new lawn on the main field to ensure the best conditions for our team. New ones are also planned changing rooms the house for youth facility on the site of the former Centropromet store. We will create all the conditions so that the youth facility can work even better and with higher quality. I am happy that children from other counties also come to our Academy, which means that the quality and way of working of our Academy is more widely recognized. This is also an indicator that in the future we can expect more and more of our staff in the first team.
The club started to transform into a sports joint-stock company. What will this mean for its stability in the future?
Currently, the President of the Association is responsible for the Club’s finances and operations, and with the restructuring, this responsibility will be shared between the shareholders, so the restructuring will certainly contribute financial stability of the Club. Considering all the successes and results, I believe that in the process of reshaping we will find partner which will support the Club and help us raise it to a higher level.
In the end, what would you like to say to the fans and friends of the Club for the continuation of the season?
We can promise the fans and friends of the Club that Varaždin Football Club will continue to play beautiful and attractive football and that we will fight in every game until the referee’s final whistle. I believe that with their support, we will collect a lot of points that will guarantee us a high position in the league table. It is my desire and the desire of the Board that we try win a place more. With all the partners, sponsors, donors, friends and fans of the club, we made a great sporting success. We are talked about in Croatia and beyond, and it’s all thanks to that of everyone involved in the work of the club – from our diligent cleaners, aunts in the laundry, maintenance staff, all club employees, to the professional staff and coach and sports director Nikola Šafarić, stadium director Ivan Bača and director Toni Dalić. I would especially like to thank all of them! In Varaždin, we really live football 24 hours a day, which has led to all these successes.
2024-12-30 12:11:00