Predrag Mijatovic
Now, not a lot of people have heard about him, but Real Madrid fans remember him well. Mijatovic was one of the finest players from Yugoslavia; a player with a good sense for goal and an excellent technique. He started his career with the biggest Montenegrin club, Buducnost Podgorica. He also played for some well known clubs like Valencia, Fiorentina and Partizan.
But the peak of his career was his time at Real Madrid, where he scored his most important goal. It was May 1998, Amsterdam Arena; Real Madrid was playing against Juventus in the final of the European Cup. Pedja chose the 65th minute to make Real Madrid fans go wild! That was the moment when the genius decided to skillfully dribble the ball, chip Peruzzi and score a goal that gave Real Madrid their 7th European Cup after 32 years.
His love for Madrid continued as he became the sports director for the club, from 2006 to 2009. In June 2006, Mijatović hooked up with Ramón Calderón as part of the lawyer’s candidate bid for the position of Real Madrid president. When Calderón won the closely contested club election on 2 July 2006, Mijatović became Real’s new Director of Football.
On 16 January 2009, Calderón resigned his post and by mid February reports appeared that Mijatović‘s is on his way out as well. Though he continued at his post under new interim president Vicente Boluda, it soon became clear that it’s just a matter of time before Mijatović leaves. On 20 May 2009, Real Madrid announced Mijatović‘s departure. Now, he can be seen at Real Madrid matches, supporting them with the same passion as he played for them.
Predrag Mijatovic was in Belgrade to promote “Real Madrid Campus experience”. The campus is registered in Slovenia, but it will soon be in some other countries on Balkan. It is a unique experience for boys and girls from seven to 17 years. Football school is a combination of sport and education for students which presents intense and rich learning process. Real Madrid coaches are experienced professionals whose main goal is to teach children the basics of football, and to pass values of Real Madrid: leadership, self-control, hard work, team spirit, respect and solidarity.
Mijatovic has his own place in Real Madrid’s history, but Real Madrid has a bigger place in Predrag‘s heart.
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