Developing football in Montenegro
Article summary
Montenegro only became a UEFA member in 2007 but there are already plenty of signs of promise.
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Overview
The Football Association of Montenegro (FSCG) wants people to be happy to come to the nation’s stadiums; as a result, the association is striving to improve Montenegro’s footballing infrastructure and provide the best possible conditions for players and coaches, as well as spectators and media representatives.
Investing in youth development is also a key mission, with the first steps having been made towards the establishment of an FSCG academy through the launch of the ‘School of Football’ project: an initiative aimed at defining the conditions and facilities necessary for a successful youth programme.
A promotional campaign is also looking to bring girls from the under-12 age band into the game, with the FSCG seeing the benefits of targeting young players via social media as it steps up its mission to organise more competitions in primary schools. Positive results for the senior women’s national teams have also helped to create more interest in the game.
Montenegro is a relatively small nation, with most clubs owned by local municipalities, and with sponsorship hard to come by, finances continue to be an issue for local sides, but the FSCG is battling to encourage good practice and optimise performances.
"Football has always been an important part of life in Montenegro, and we are doing our best to improve the quality of our beautiful game for the future. Investing in infrastructure and taking care of youth development will be the focus of our activities, and we will do our utmost to fulfil our potential."
UEFA support
UEFA's HatTrick programme, which channels EURO funds into football development across Europe, is helping to bring positive change at grassroots level in Montenegro, with the FSCG using UEFA funding to provide grass and artificial pitches to all municipalities, significantly improving playing conditions across the country.
In the past, HatTrick funding has also helped to upgrade the FSCG’s administrative buildings and make improvements to the national training centre, as well as supporting social projects like Football United the Alps, Adriatic and the Balkans and the Be My Friend initiative aimed at inclusion for disabled children.
UEFA Foundation for Children in Montenegro
Set up in 2015, the UEFA Foundation uses football as a vehicle to help improve children’s lives by supporting hundreds of campaigns and projects across Europe and around the world.
Learn&Play – Equal educational and sports opportunities for all children!
The Learn&Play project is helping 1,400 children, aged 6–12, who live in poverty in suburban and rural areas of Podgorica, by supporting their education and social inclusion through sport. The project consists of football training, literacy classes, and a final event, the Learn&Play Cup.
Timeline
Association history
National team history
President
Dejan Savićević
the Nationality: Montenegrin
Date of birth: 15 September 1966
Association president since: 2004
General secretary
Momir Djurdjevac
Nationality: Montenegrin
Date of birth: 5 April 1962
Association general secretary since: 2001