Jovanovic: “Honored to take charge of the Greek National Team, it’s time to return to a major competition”

Her return National team of Greece in large events, to begin with from the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico, he set as his main priority the Ivan Jovanovichduring its presentation by the EPO.

The new federal coach was quite focused on the fact that the “blue and white” has not played in a major tournamentNevertheless appeared optimistic that since the big four teams are more competitive, there will be a corresponding impact on the representative group.

At the same time, he spoke about his collaboration with the three members who have honored the coat of arms in the past, Mr. Torosidis, Salpingidis and Papadopouloswho will have an important presence in the locker room and will transfer their experience to the younger players, who have the talent and for them it is also a special opportunity to participate in a major event.

“Ten years is a long time and for that we should make the Greeks proud and justify the expectations that exist from us. And the presence of the three children is very important“, he said characteristically.

The message sent by Makis Gagatsis at the end of the presentation is also important, asking everyone to stand by Mr. Jovanovic to achieve the big goal that is in front of him.

Detailed presentation of Ivan Jovanovic from the EPO

“We are very pleased to present Ivan Jovanovic as the coach of the Men’s National team for the next two years and hopefully more. Mr. Jovanovic does not need special introductions, since he graced the Greek fields as a football player and as a coach. For us and for me personally, Mr. Jovanovic was the first and only choice for the bench of the National Team, before the EPO administration assumed its official duties. No special recommendations are needed, since he is a man who will honor the bench of the Greek national team and honors with his presence on its bench. He is loved by all the fans and has won himself recognition for the moral values ​​he stands for“, initially stated the president of the Federation, Makis Gagatsis.

From his side, Mr. Jovanovic said in his first deposition: “I want to thank Mr. Gagatsis for the honor of being the coach of the Greek National Team today, since I have been a football player here for many years and this choice is an honor for me. I will try with their partners and with the footballers to appear worthy of the expectations that we and the fans of the national team have. It has been a long time since 2014 that Greece has not participated in a major event. The football in recent years, having recently been here for the last three years, is at a much higher level than before. The Greek teams and the Greek league are at a higher level and this should have an impact on the National team, since there was a long period from 2004 to 2014 when the National team was in very big competitions. There was huge interest in the National Team and it is time for this generation that makes up the National Team to do everything, to bring pride to the National Team and the world that follows them again».

The new federal technician was then asked on whether it is the highlight of his career: “It certainly is. Why acceptance plays an important role. It is also a big challenge. A training challenge. It’s the ideal motivation for a coach, since we haven’t been successful lately. Maybe I myself can convey it to the people I will work with in the next period, since we will be able to achieve something that we have not done. The World Cup is a huge challenge. It was not an easy choice, since it was a job that I have not done before. I like it, but it gives me interest in my work and whether it was correct or not we will see in the next period“, he replied.

Concerning the reasons why he accepted the proposalunderlined: “During my career as a coach with various Federations we had such discussions, but for various reasons I was not in favor. I preferred a job with everyday life on the field, but perhaps Mr. Gagatsi’s approach, EPO’s approach, their communication and their willingness to work together in a joint effort to change the future of the national team, was the one that played an important role in my decision. And I don’t hide from you that the Greek National Team deserves a better course than it has in recent years. As an extra motivation it played a big role in taking on this mission. The group of players that make up the National team has the talent and the experience and the ego and the willingness to do their best. Whatever titles you have won at the collective level, the distinction with the National Team is a separate chapter. We also have two of our children, Salpingidis and Torosidis, and many of these children I would like to enrich their careers by participating in a major event. I know very well the psychology of the Greek players and how much zeal they have to play in the National team and they have the ego to achieve it».

About the daily life he will have now as a federal coach and if he has spoken with players: “It’s a little different job with less training and preparation time, but basically the best players that Greece has are gathered. We rely much more on discussions, on the plan, on greater effort.

We miss the hits of the last decade. We are in a good group in the Nations League, the games are of a high standard and we will try to learn as many things as possible. Some players still may not be in the playing condition they should be for various reasons. We have time, but not to waste, to make the best picks for the first games of September».

On whether the funds are available for the construction of the training center and whether there is a reserve that would help such a thing: “It is certainly a very important issue. There are close to 14 million euros from FIFA and UEFA, regardless of the Federation’s reserve. There is no commitment from the State, we are in good communication with Mr. Vroutsis, so that a piece of funding can be found, because it is a matter for all Greeks, so that the State also supports this large construction. Some contacts will be made in the next period. Discussions are well underway».

On his collaboration with Vassilis Torosidis, Dimitris Salpingidis and Dimitris Papadopoulos and how important their presence is for the national team to return: “They are the children who participated in very big events and have the experience, which they can transfer to the next generations. They are capable guys who can help us in all phases of our work and in the contacts with the footballers, but also the locker room with their presence and their contributions. It is important to have football people, who know the National Team with a large number of participations, in order to help Greek football. Perhaps more important presence than all of us, it is something that connects generations of footballers. Even now everyone is talking about their own successes, from 2004 when they won the European Championship to 2014 when they won the World Cup. We had two chances, this year and also with Croatia. Greek football has four strong teams and it is important for us that, with its own successes, the national team is also successful. Ten years is a long time and for that we should make the Greeks proud and justify the expectations that exist from us. And the presence of the three children is very important».

On whether there will be addition of other great Greek players to the staff of the National Team: “We are currently full on seats. If the need arises, we will see if someone else will be activated».

Why he signed a two-year contract rather than a four-year one, and if he intends to deal with the smaller National teams: “The proposal was for four years, simply because I have been in Greece for several years and I know how things work, it is important not to see them in such a long term. Let’s see if our cooperation and our work is for the better. If we are all satisfied we can continue. The EPO showed how much it wanted me to be the one to take charge of the fate of national Greece. More logical and healthier but also more Greek. The long term in Greece is not the best… let’s see the results first and then we will talk».

Mr. Gagatsis answered about the plan of the National teams: “The committee of the national teams with Dimitris Papadopoulos and the help of the new coach will advance the plan for the small national teams».

For his part, Mr. Jovanovic underlined: “It goes without saying that the coach of the national team must communicate with the manager of the younger ones. We will have enough time, I will always be at the Federation’s disposal for any issue, problem, where I can help.”

Mr. Gagatsis was asked to answer about women’s football in Greece: “It is the wish of both FIFA and UEFA to give special weight to the women’s national teams. It is something that was also mentioned in the meetings I had. Good work was being done and Dimitris Papadopoulos is also the technical director of the women’s, youth and girls’ section.

In closing, the EPO president emphasized: “The keys to the national team are with Ivan Jovanovic. From the president and all the members of the Executive, Vassilis Torosidis, Dimitris Salpingidis and Dimitris Papadopoulos, to the last employee, we will try to satisfy what he wants, to the maximum extent, in order to succeed. It is necessary for those of us directly or indirectly involved in Greek football to stand by this effort, so that the national team that we all love will soon be in some major competition. Thank you very much».

From there, Mr. Gagatsis was asked about the training center: “We have had a meeting about the training center. Next week the MoU will be ready and by the end of September we will have reached the training center of the National Team. We don’t want to keep postponing this decision, that’s why we reached 2024. I hope that the procedures will be completed either in Elliniko, which is the priority, or somewhere else that we have in mind».

Makis Gagatsis mentioned, at the same time, the toxicity that exists in Greek football: “It was always there from 2004 onwards and from 2014 onwards. We will do everything to protect the national team. It is understood in groups that toxicity does not help. Yesterday there was a unanimous decision on the arrival of the KED. I consider it a positive step. We will do everything to protect it».

Watch the press conference again

@sporfm946 “???????????? ????????? ?????? ????????? ???? ????????? ?????????????????? The return of the Greek National Team to a major event, starting with the World Cup in 2026, was set as a major goal by Ivan Jovanovitch and he described the positive response to the EPO as a challenge. #sporfm #Hellas ? original sound – sporfm946