photo: watfordfc.com
Minutes after signing with Maccabi Tel Aviv, new coach Slavisa Jokanovic gave his first exclusive interview to the Official Maccabi Tel Aviv Website! We asked our new manager what he knows about Maccabi, his philosophy as a coach, the challenges that lie in front of him, his time as a player and he offers a special message to the millions of Macacbi Tel Aviv supporters throughout the world.
"I know that Maccabi Tel Aviv is the most important Israeli club, and they are the current champions of Israel. Maccabi did a very good job last season winning the Treble, but the team wants to improve and continue building and I want to improve as well. This will be a great challenge for both me and the club.
It's a big responsibly to take over a team that won the Israeli Treble and that are headed into the UEFA Champions League qualifiers. In many countries including Israel, the months of July and August are the most important months of the year. Not only is it the beginning of the season but Maccabi wants to take important steps in Europe and it's our dream to make it to the Champions League. This will be a great challenge and we must be positive going into this competition. All of us will have to push very hard in the same direction so we can make a great summer out of the upcoming matches! It's not an easy job in front of us but anything and everything is possible.
As a manager I had a great season with Watford and the club was promoted to the English Premier League, but this is just a memory now as I have the chance to coach Maccabi. The Tel Aviv management really wanted me for this position and they believe in me, my abilities and philosophy. It's a pleasure for me to be with Maccabi going forward. My coaching philosophy is simple, we will be a dominating team, but no one from the players to coaches will be a dominating force within the club. We will play good football and get solid chances to win games. Our season starts very soon and we will be very prepared and play clever football. It's time to start from the beginning and we will all be ready for this challenge.
I played for many years and had a long football career. Playing in Spain for a number of clubs was great but my year with Deportivo La Coruna was very special and one of best years I had as we won the Spanish League title that season. I have been living a footballer's life for a very long time and all these experiences have made me the coach I am today.
Most importantly I have a message for the Macacbi Tel Aviv supporters. Not only do I believe in myself, but I also believe in the people around me. With that philosophy, everything is possible as long as we remain positive, and believe me I understand the responsibility of being in charge of this very important club. I am ready for the challenge and I won't ask the supporters for patience as we have to begin preparations immediately in order to be ready for the very important games coming up. This will be the first challenge. I also know that Maccabi has great fans and they will push us and they will always be with us. Our job is to support them and to give them the results they deserve so they will be proud of the team and how Maccabi will play this coming season."
Slavisa, congratulations and welcome to the Maccabi Tel Aviv family
