28.09.2012, 05:06
Bojana Popović appointed Sports Director at Budućnost

Budućnost legend Bojana Popović has been appointed Sports Director at the club she led to EHF Champions League glory last season.

Bojana Popović appointed Sports Director at Budućnost

Budućnost legend Bojana Popović has been appointed Sports Director at the club she led to Women´s EHF Champions League glory last season.

She accepted the post shortly after her final international match, in the Olympic final against Norway, and bowed out at the very top of her game as she had announced she would prior to the London 2012 Games.

Last season Budućnost were without a Sports Director after Anica Đurović decided, after a maternity break, to stay in Italy with her husband.

"We are proud that Bojana has accepted the position of Sports Director of the club”, said club president Predrag Bošković in a statement on the club’s website.

Popović, six times Women's EHF Champions League winner (three times with Slagelse, twice with Viborg and once with Budućnost), made her debut in the new role on Tuesday night in a game in the Regional League, against Serbian team Jagodina (32:20). She was on the bench, offering occasional advice to the players.

“It all happened so quickly after a short break after the Olympics,” she explained. “I was aware that a longer break away from handball would just make things worse.

“Budućnost offered me the position of Sports Director and I accepted because I love this club, I want to stay in the sport, and this job is something close to me after my playing career."

And she added that a new job is going to be a new challenge for her.

"As for the girls, everything will be the same, because we were close and we spent so much time together that I feel like I have not even been away. But everybody must be realistic about the new team of Budućnost.”

“This season’s Budućnost team is not the same as last year. We hope to have a quality defence, because it is unlikely to have again a deadly attack like last season.

“We have a young team and the goal is to do as well as possible in the Champions League, playing quality handball. A lot of things have changed from last season, the team is weaker, and it takes time for new things to happen. But I believe in the team and I'm sure everything will come into place. Although they are young, several players have great experience, especially from last season where they learned a lot, such as Milena Knežević, Radmila Miljanić, Clara Woltering, Suzana Lazović, Anđela Bulatović."

“We expect lot from them. We were not favourites last year either, and we won the Champions League. But now the situation is different, it will be difficult even to get out of the Group Matches, since Viborg, Zvezda and Thüringer have a lot of quality", added Popović.

Club’s president Predrag Bošković revealed that Popović is still registered as a player, and added: “If she chooses to terminate her "player’s pension” there will be a place for her on the court!"

Bojana revealed that her former club Viborg wanted her to return and play for them in Denmark, but said: “They wanted to bring me back as a player, they needed help because of large number of injured players. We spoke also about taking the job of Sports Director in Viborg.

“However, I thanked them for the offer and decided to stay in Podgorica. Viborg, for me, was a wonderful experience and I will always remember those moments. I have a lot of friends there, but Budućnost is something special.”

Further information

Find more information about Buducnost Podgorica HERE
Join the growing community of handball fans of Facebook!
www.facebook.com/ehf.champions.league

TEXT: Saša Jončić