For Miron Muslic it is clear: “Once Schalke, always Schalke”. However, this does not apply to his work as a trainer.
Miron Muslic has the struggling second division football team Schalke 04 became a candidate for promotion within a very short space of time – and definitely wants to remain loyal to the cult club. “I will remain a member of Schalke 04 forever, 100 percent. No matter how we part ways,” the coach told the “kicker”: “Schalke 04 is a part of me, it has a very permanent place in my heart. Once Schalke, always Schalke.”
But the traditional old master is not the ultimate goal for the 43-year-old. “I want to be the national coach of Bosnia-Herzegovina one day,” said Muslic: “And I believe in that too. The basic requirements just fit too well – my history, my connection, the love for my home country.” He doesn’t know “when the day will be, but I’m looking forward to the day.”
From refugee to savior
The Bosnian-born man with an Austrian passport fled the civil war in his homeland with his parents as a child. He grew up as a refugee in Tyrol and quickly learned to assert himself against resistance. During his football career, in which he played primarily in the lower classes, he began working as a coach – initially with the youth ranks.
Muslic came to Schalke in the summer via the Austrian Bundesliga club SV Ried, the Belgian first division club Cercle Brügge and the English second division club Plymouth Argyle. With his new employer, which he described as “perhaps the trickiest challenge in German professional football at the moment”, Muslic is on the path to promotion after the 1-0 (1-0) draw against Darmstadt 98 on Friday.
The fact that he is suddenly in the spotlight at a major club doesn’t intimidate him. “I was calm four months ago when many people were surprised about my commitment and asked what this unknown person from Tyrol wanted to do here – and I remain calm when I feel that people have learned to really appreciate our work in just four months,” he said.
Schalke’s miraculous transformation
Schalke, who were fighting against falling into the third division six months ago, celebrated their fifth win in a row against Darmstadt. The reward: first place – at least overnight.
Our sources:
- kicker.de
- SID news agency
