Robert Prosinečki named NK Rudeš coach as newly-promoted Croatian club signals intentions

Robert Prosinečki presented on Friday (Photo: NK Rudeš)

Former international Joe Šimunić was appointed president of newly-promoted Croatian first division club NK Rudeš last month. On Friday, Šimunić presented the club’s new coach – Robert Prošinečki. 

The manager role is the former Barcelona, Rea Madrid and Croatia midfielder’s first in Croatia and his first role after a nine-month break.

“I am honoured to be here. Both because of the friendship and the vision this club has. I believe we can be a stable first-division team, maybe even a sensation of the championship,” Prosinečki (54) said. 

Prosinečki added that the team needs to be strengthened.

“We already have some interesting and intriguing players in the team, but we will need to reinforce. I am confident that the players will recognise Rudeš as a serious project. I am well aware of the strength of the Croatian First Football League (HNL) and the players. I had the time, so I closely followed our football. I even watched three Rudeš matches, so I know that a lot of work awaits us,” Prosinečki concluded.

“The negotiations were tough; we talked for four hours, of which three and a half hours were spent reminiscing and sharing stories,” then in five minutes – when I asked him if he was coming, he simply said, ‘I’m coming,’ said Prosinečki’s former Dinamo and Croatia teammate Silvio Marić, who is the club’s Sports Director.

Prošinečki got into coaching after retiring and has had a number of roles with clubs and counties, including assistant coach under Slaven Bilić with Croatia, coach of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Azerbaijan.