Miljkovic for WoV – “Season in Halkbank was one of the most exciting in my 22 years pro career”

Miljkovic

After a great season in the Turkish Halkbank ANKARA, with whom he won the National Championship, Ivan Miljkovic is still a free player for the upcoming season. Many clubs called him, but he still did not make a decision.

About his last season in Turkey, plans for the future, the rumor about Olympiacos and his role in the Serbian Volleyball Federation, read in the text below.

First of all, can you tell us something about your last season? 

“I have spent it in Halkbank Ankara and it was one of the most exciting seasons I have ever had in my 22 years pro career. Considering all the facts that happened, in this moment I can say Halkbank is the most organized club I have ever played for. Also, the club recognized my position and reputation as a player and as a person and gave me the role of the captain“ explained Miljkovic and added:

“During the season, we had difficulties in the first part of the season trying to find the best starting players. Luckily, not only but also thanks to coach Slobodan Kovac and setter Dejan Vincic from Slovenia who arrived after the New Year, things started to change. As a result, we started playoffs from the second position and with good team spirit and play managed to be champions. We also missed the chance in the Turkish Cup finals but we learned a lot from that.”

Plans for the future? We heard some rumors about Olympiacos.

“I had an option for the second year in Halkbank, but since the club already made an agreement with another player during the second part of the season, we had to cancel that option during the last days of the playoffs. That just gave me an additional motive to show everybody that I can still play good and that the team I play for can win, even though I was 37. It was a wonderful feeling. After the season, there was a turnaround and I had a meeting with Halkbank with an invitation to remain at the club as a substitution player. We are about to see what is going to be. Really, I am not afraid of competition, the thing I have always had in my mind is to win. Everything else comes after that” said the former captain of the Turkish champion:

“Regarding Olympiacos and some other teams from Italy that had an intention to sign me this summer, I learned a lot from the adventure I had 2 years ago with LUBE Civitanova and didn’t want to repeat it. I think it is better like this for all.”

Where are you now, what are you doing?

“After the changes in Serbian Volleyball Federation last November, Mr Gajic Zoran, legendary Serbian coach and gold medal winner from Sydney 2000 Olympic games, became the president and invited me to be in his team as a first vice-president and as a person responsible for the relations with the FIVB, confederations and other national federations in the world. According to this, my free time during the summer I used to travel with National teams in Slovenia, Croatia and currently in Brazil for the F6 of the World League 2017. It’s a kind of difficult situation for a player to do this role, but I find it really inspiring to stay in contact with volleyball people, get direct feedback and be in a situation to help volleyball grow on an international level even more. As you know, Serbian volleyball managed to be ranked very high in the last 20 years and we have to continue that way. Hope doing these two positions as a player and vice- president will not create me any difficulties and could be done parallel.”  concluded Ivan Miljkovic, the official best player in the volleyball history.

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