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Vladimir Sliskovich's departure from Spartak Moscow came as a big surprise to the football community. It seemed that after the team’s brilliant spring, the Bosnian’s position in the club was unshakable, but after the appointment of Dejan Stankovic as head coach of the “red-whites,” Sliskovic announced his resignation. In the first interview after the decision was made, Sliskovich explained to the correspondent why he left Spartak, denied information about negotiations with Khimki near Moscow, and also stated his intention to win the championship in the future with the “red-whites”.
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– Vladimir, your departure from Spartak was very unexpected. Please tell me why you decided to leave?
– Perhaps my departure was unexpected for the sports public, but for me it was not at all, since I made this decision when I took over the team. The club management trusted me. My responsibility was to do everything possible to get the team out of the crisis. The club has always been sincere and correct, I knew that I would only work until the end of the season and my ambitions ended at this stage. I also knew that the club would like to see me on the coaching staff, which was said publicly, but I waited until the end of the season to tell them personally about my decision, because I did not want to create pressure and any problems.
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– The media wrote that you could have had a conflict with management or disagreements with Dejan Stankovic. Was there any of this?
– Never, in my entire football career, have I had conflicts with anyone. I read a lot of nonsense, that I supposedly asked for a lot of money, that (Vladimir) Ivich did not want to work with me. I assure you now that this is all a lie of some people and their own interests. I react normally to criticism of my coaching qualities, but I do not allow my integrity to be questioned. The management of Spartak has always been correct towards me, and I have always felt absolute support. In turn, I have always been correct and honest, I have always put the interests of the club and team above my own. Moreover, at that time I received an offer to work at the RPL club, where I could be the head coach and earn a lot more, but I could not leave the team. The sports director (Tomas Amaral) came to Spartak when there was already a coaching staff that he did not choose. I thought that it would be right to start working on my sports project in the summer, so I decided to leave the club, explaining my decision to the sports and general directors.
– How did you feel about Stankovic’s appointment? Did you plan to work with him or did you immediately realize that you wanted to leave to become a head coach?
– “Spartak” invited an authoritative coach who has already won trophies. Amaral knows his job very well and knows perfectly well what the team needs. I don't doubt his decisions. We worked together for six months, and I became convinced of his high professional and human qualities. But it didn’t matter to me who would be the head coach, because I had previously decided to leave.
– A number of experts argued that you should be given a chance as the head coach of Spartak. Do you think that during the spring period of the championship you deserved such a chance?
– I didn’t think about it, but I am convinced that one day I will return to Spartak to win the championship.
– There have never been any problems or intrigues. There is pressure in every club, but it all depends on the people – pressure destroys some, while it gives strength to others.
– What has become for you? “Spartak” in these two years?
– If you had a stone in your pocket for two years, you would love it. “Spartak” gave me a lot, I will never forget it, for me this club will forever remain special.
– Colleagues report that you are the main candidate for the post of coach at Khimki. Are you negotiating with this club? Are you interested in this option?
– I did not negotiate with Khimki, but after the end of the season I talked with four clubs, where each of them already had a coach. I thought this was unprofessional and dishonest towards my colleagues, and immediately caused rejection. Some thought I was a magician, while their ambitions and reality did not match. As a coach, I am interested in the sports project, real ambitions and support for the club. At the moment, I have not seen anything like this.
– If the option with Khimki is not true, then when do you plan to return to work? And will it be a club from Russia, or are you considering options from abroad? Are there any offers already?
– There were offers, but I was forced to refuse. They didn’t suit me in a sporting sense. My priority is sporting success. I hope that such an opportunity will appear either in Russia or abroad.
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