Jokanovic faces final curtain

By Aleksandar Bošković

Injuries and time have taken their toll on Chelsea FC's defensive midfield player Slavisa Jokanovic, who will retire at the end of the season aged 35.

Time is right
"Chelsea offered me a new contract on slightly lower pay, but we could not find a common language," he told uefa.com. "My career does not allow me just to go and play anywhere, and now is the right time to say goodbye. I might change my mind if Real Madrid [CF] come in for me, but that's not going to happen so the boots are off for good."

Coaching exams
Jokanovic's boots might be off, but this longstanding student of the game has no intention of quitting football. "I want to get a theoretical education," he said. "That is what I need if I am to become a good coach. But before we can talk of Jokanovic the coach, I have to put in a lot of hard work. My exams are at the end of April, then we will see where I can start coaching – probably in my hometown of Novi Sad with young players."

Vojvodina education
It was in Novi Sad that Jokanovic began his career with FK Vojvodina. In 1989 he helped the club to their first title in 33 years. "It was there I learned what football is, what is required of a player, what you have to give up. The title was the crowning achievement of a great generation managed by Ljupko Petrovic."

Partizan feeling
Next, Jokanovic switched to FK Partizan where he won another championship medal in 1993. "I was lucky to work with Ljubisa Tumbakovic," he continued. "It was there that I made my reputation as a player."

Spanish sojourn
The following season he moved to Spain, first with Real Oviedo and CD Tenerife, then with RC Deportivo La Coruña where he claimed another league title in 2000. "It was at Depor that I felt happiest," he said. "I helped them become the club they are today."

'Beautiful moments'
Injuries curtailed his career somewhat at Chelsea, following a transfer to England, but Jokanovic has few regrets. "I had a lot of beautiful moments," he said, "but playing for my national team was the biggest honour and I am proud of all 63 matches I played for Yugoslavia. If there is a regret, it is that I did not win the league with Chelsea, because then I would have won the title in all three countries I played in."

National job
The Football Association of Serbia and Montenegro (FSSCG) has often turned to former or experienced players to fill positions of power. Dragan Stojkovic is president, Dejan Savicevic national coach, and Predrag Mijatovic and Sinisa Mihajlovic – both still playing – are on the executive committee.

'Second home'
"The FSSCG is my second home," Jokanovic said. "We have never spoken about anything, but maybe I could be an assistant to Savicevic. However, there are a lot of former players in Serbia and Montenegro and the FSSCG cannot give us all jobs."

Natural progression
Such self-deprecation is typical of Jokanovic who insists the national side will not suffer in his absence - pointing out the potential of Partizan's Igor Duljaj. "No one should mourn the older players," he said. "When it comes to Duljaj replacing me, all the national side loses is 20cm of height. He has many excellent qualities that could and should be used."

Staying upbeat
"We are not in bad shape [in the UEFA EURO 2004™ qualifiers]," he added, "even after the recent draw against Azerbaijan. That was just bad luck and there is no reason why we should not win in Azerbaijan." There speaks the voice of experience.