Farewell interview – Mirko Alilovic

 

Mirko Alilovic leaves the Telekom Veszprém after seven seasons winning six Hungarian Championships and five Hungarian Cups. Because of this occasion we made with him a longer interview about his years in our city.

 

This was the worst season of the team since I am here. This was the first time in my career in Veszprém that we could not win the Hungarian championship and this was the first time since my first season that we could not get into the quarter finals of Champions League. It tastes sour now because that was my last season here and I think it had to be better for us. During my years in Veszprém I learned that you have to fight here always, there are no excuses, the goal is to win all the possible trophies. And if you cannot get into the Final4 and you cannot win all the domestic titles then it is a bad season.

 

 

When I came here the Veszprém was a good team. But when such a playres came to this clube like László Nagy, Momir Ilic, Chema Rodriguez and other class players then Veszprém became one of the bests of Europe. I am produ that I was a part of this process and I could help to build up a team with a high quality that was able to get into the Champions League Final4 four times in a row.

 

When I left Celje I was in a difficult situation. I did not play well in my last season however the expectations were high. But Veszprém called me because Peric left them and they wanted to sign me instead of him. It was a big challenge for me because I knew how much the people loved him here. However everybody was angry and disappointed after our home game against Skjern, the fans were chanting my name while I was giving sideline interview to our club’s TV. In that moment I realized that I was successful in Veszprém because I felt that the supporters love me and appreciate everything what I did for this club and how hard I was fighting for them. I think this is the biggest success what a handball player can achieve here in Veszprém. I am glad that I could achieve this.

 

My forst game was a friendly match against Balatonfüred in our old hall in the Március 15. Street. I also remember that I was wearing an orange jersey.

 

It is hard to answer because a lot of people come and go during these seven years. But for sure when I arrived to Veszprém everybody helped me the oldest and the youngest guys as well. So however I had some language difficulties I could fit into the team quickly.

 

 

That this is the Handball City. This is really the city of handball. Everything is about handball here. The people live for the handball in every corner of the city, every sport court in the city is a handball court. This is amazing. The handball is the part of the culture here and it must be like this forever.

 

Maybe Tihany is the most beautiful. It is very similar to the coasts and islands of Croatia.

 

There were ups and downs in every season. I think the best season was when we won everything or almost everything and it was the season 2015/16. This period was good for me as well, I was in a good form all season long and I could help my team to be successful. Unfortunately, we lost the Champions League final in the penalty shootout but despite this I can highlight that season.

 

Maybe I can say our home game against PSG when we could qualify to the Final4 first time. That was amazing, I will never forget. And I am talking about not only the game but everything what surrounded it, the happiness of the people. Players and fans were very happy because we could get into Cologne first time. That game is very remarkable for me.

 

 

I really do not know this. I rather remember the important victories and really the goals or saves.

 

The most painful was my last game which we lost. The best one is that I have already mentioned, the qualification to the Final4 in 2014.

 

It is a difficult question. I had to face with a lot of big shooters but maybe I would say Mikkel Hansen. He is one those few players whose shots are very hard to study and save. This is why he is one of the best back shooters in the world.

 

I do not want to say one player. I could train together with lot of world class players here and it was always a pleasure for me.

 

 

The self-confidence is the most important thing. The second one is to trust your teammates and they must trust you. It is very important for the goalkeeper and for the whole team, too. You must believe in each other and play for each other.

 

I spent here seven years and Veszprém became like my home, my children were growing up here. I like the life here that you can go quickly to everywhere and Zagreb is quite close, too. I will miss these things.

 

In the next season we will be rivals on the court because I will be the player of Szeged and I will fight for their success as a real professional and a real sportsman. But off the court everybody in Veszprém – players and fans – will stay my friends. We will be opponents on the court but forever friends off the court. I spent here seven special years and I had special connection with everybody. We will see each other in the next years.

 

 

 

Photos: Dávid Vörös