Vlado Kovac: "The three years at 1860 Munich were the best"

Deining / Nitrianske Rudno - At the end we come full circle.

In 2012 Vladimir Kovac came to Germany to start a career as a professional footballer.

By chance, the then 21-year-old Slovak ended up on the Deiningen sports field before he made his way via BCF Wolfratshausen to TSV 1860 Munich and finally to SV Wehen Wiesbaden and FSV Wacker Nordhausen.

• Vladimir Kovac played for BCF Wolfratshausen in the Bayernliga in the 2012/13 season.

• The now 29-year-old Slovak was active as a professional at 1860 Munich, in Wiesbaden and Nordhausen.

• Out of a friendly bond, the right-back has deposited his player pass with the A-class club SC Deining.

Now the right-back has ended his sporting career and has moved back to his homeland with his family.

In an interview with sports editor Thomas Wenzel, Kovac tells what he has experienced as a professional in recent years, which coaches he particularly values ​​and why his player pass is now with the A-class team SC Deining.

Mr. Kovac, what plans did you have when you came to Germany?

Clearly, I wanted to be a professional.

In Slovakia I had already played in the U19 national team and in the first division at MFK Ruomberok.

When the club was no longer interested in me, I went to Germany on my own.

How did it go for you here?

It wasn't that easy, because I had no contacts and couldn't speak the language.

I first worked for a construction company.

The boss then noticed that I was a footballer and sent me to SC Deining.

Do you remember the first training session?

Yes, it was a bit of a shock (laughs), because of course that was a hobby team.

But I got along well with the boys and made friends with the then captain Sebastian Repert.

I have also been on friendly terms with his family since then.

Wasn't it far from Deining to Wolfratshausen?

Right, the then BCF trainer Steffen Galm (today sports director of SpVgg Unterhaching, editor's note) wanted to keep me right after the first trial training.

I really liked it there, even if it was “only” the Bayern League.

However, I had to work and in football I benefited more or less from what I had learned from Slovakia.

Did it take you a while before you switched to TSV 1860 Munich?

I soon had a trial session, but it was recommended to me that the season should end in Wolfratshausen.

The transfer took place in the summer.

However, because of a groin operation, I only played 14 games for the second team in the regional league this season.

But did you get on well with coach Torsten Fröhling?

Yes, he took over the first team the following year.

Under him, I also played my first of two games in the 2nd Bundesliga on May 25, 2015.

It was the last game of the season and we lost 2-0 at Karlsruher SC.

But it didn't really work out with the big breakthrough?

Unfortunately, no.

I also played the first league game of the new season in the 2nd Bundesliga.

That was on July 26th at 0-1 in Heidenheim.

But then I tore the syndesmosis tape and was out for almost seven months.

At the end of the season, the club did not renew my professional contract.

But Torsten Fröhling believed in you?

He was now a coach at Wehen Wiesbaden in the third division and brought me.

I played 17 point games there.

But was it over after only one season?

A new coach arrived who turned the squad inside out.

My advisor then put me in charge of Nordhausen.

From a sporting point of view, a step backwards?

You cant say it like that.

It was a good team that always wanted to rise.

The Thuringian state cup competition, which we won in 2019, was also important.

2020 was the end in Nordhausen - not just for you?

Right, Nordhausen had two bankruptcies behind them - once the Spielbetriebs-GmbH and then the football department.

In the meantime, I myself had significant health problems due to cartilage damage in my left knee.

Were all these reasons to quit your professional career?

Yes, among other things.

In addition, my wife and I decided to go back to Slovakia.

Because the oldest of my three children is starting school now.

What are your career plans?

Let's see what happens in the short term.

At that time I graduated from high school in tourism / gastronomy.

My knowledge of German could help me here, as well as in the construction industry, which is also an option.

And what are your sporting ambitions?

Can SC Deining count on your support in the fight against relegation?

The contact after Deining has never been broken off over the years.

And it may be that I will be in the area again and again for a few weeks due to work.

During this time I will be happy to train with the footballers and maybe even play a league game.

What is your personal conclusion as a professional footballer?

I am proud of what I have achieved in terms of sport.

The three years at 1860 Munich were the best.

It's just a great club.

And I am happy about the contacts I made in Germany.

I'm still on good terms with coaches like Steffen Galm and Torsten Fröhling.

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