Montenegro opens House of Football

On the day when Montenegro celebrated the 10th anniversary of its independence following a referendum on 21 May 2006, the Football Association of Montenegro (FSCG) inaugurated its new headquarters – the House of Football in the capital Podgorica.

The opening ceremony was attended by guests including Montenegro's prime minister Milo Đukanović, FIFA president Gianni Infantino, UEFA first vice-president Ángel María Villar Llona and delegates from national associations across Europe.

"Thanks to the financial assistance of UEFA and FIFA, we have built our House of Football as a new step in our football development," said FSCG president Dejan Savićević. "Considerable thanks must go to the municipality of Podgorica for providing the space to build our home." Montenegro has been a UEFA member since 2007.

"Our national association now has an address which is worthy of the role it has – to promote and represent the most popular sport in the world and our country," added the mayor of Podgorica, Slavoljub Stijepović.

The new House of Football is an administrative building of 3,784 square metres, and is located near the national football training centre, which was built in 2008.

"I am very glad to see that financial help from UEFA and FIFA is being used in this way," said Ángel María Villar Llona. "I am impressed with what I see, and I hope this day will be a new beginning in the further development of football in Montenegro."

"First of all, this impressive House of Football shows what Montenegro, as a state, can do. Secondly, this is a shining example of the vision of Dejan Savićević and his team," added Gianni Infantino. "The House of Football is a new step for football in Montenegro, and a sign that the FA of Montenegro will continue to develop our sport in best possible way."

Savićević emphasised that the House of Football is one of several football development projects in Montenegro.

"With the help of UEFA and FIFA, we have invested considerably in football infrastructures in the past eight years. And we will continue to do that in the years to come," said the FSCG president, who was also accompanied by former team-mates from his playing days with Budućnost Podgorica, Crvena zvezda, AC Milan and Yugoslavia's national team – including Predrag Mijatović, Zvonimir Boban and Davor Šuker, who is now president of the Croatian Football Federation (HNS).