Čačić takes charge of Slovenia's Maribor
Thursday, June 6, 2013
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Ante Čačić has replaced SK Sturm Graz-bound Darko Milanič as coach of Slovenian champions NK Maribor. "It's an honour for me to work for such a club," he said.
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Former GNK Dinamo Zagreb boss Ante Čačić has taken charge of NK Maribor two days after the Slovenian champions lost coach Darko Milanič to Austrian club SK Sturm Graz.
The 59-year-old Čačić has spent most of his career in his native Croatia. Last season his Dinamo side beat Maribor in the play-offs en route to the UEFA Champions League group stage. "I remember last year I was sitting here at the Stadion Ljudski vrt," he recalled. "It was the brightest moment of my career. I saw a very good Maribor side.
"The atmosphere was also fantastic – the supporters showed how much they love the club. It's an honour for me to work for such a club. I don't feel like a stranger in Maribor. I've been here many times, I have brought many teams to Slovenia for training. Maribor has a great foundation that we can build on.
"Our objectives are clear – to continue our dominance in Slovenia and to play as many European matches as possible," added Čačić as he was presented to the media. "I like attacking football. I hope Maribor will be interesting for the whole of Slovenia to watch, but the most important thing is the results."
Čačić led Dinamo from December 2011 to November 2012. He did not lose any of his first 33 games until last September, when his team succumbed to FC Porto in the UEFA Champions League group stage. More recently he has been coaching Croatian second-flight side NK Radnik Sesvete.
