Yugoslavia - Portrait of Stankovic, the wizard

17.06.98 15h54 CET

Dejan STANKOVIC (20) is a wizard. He's the son of Borislav who played for OFK Belgrade, and at 10 he joined Red Star Belgrade, the biggest Yugoslav club. He played for all the national junior teams and at 16 he joined the senior side! Three years later, he became the youngest captain in club history and celebrated his first selection against SOUTH KOREA, by scoring two goals. "Things are happening really fast", said Dejan, "it hasn't sunk in yet, but I'm not afraid".

To crown it all, the youngest player of the Yugoslavian selection will both celebrate his twentieth birthday and join Lazio in Rome in September. "I dreamed of playing for Paris SG to be with my friend Darko PANLEVIC. Michel DENISOT came to see me in Belgrade, but the financial offer of Lazio couldn't be refused". The Italian club paid 50 million francs to sign up Dejan, the biggest transfer fee of the year in YUGOSLAVIA.

For his second selection, against IRAN last Sunday 14 June in SAINT-ETIENNE, STANKOVIC who was called on to the pitch during the match, pleased everyone and helped his team to win one-nil thanks to a free kick by Sinisa MIHAJLOVIC (11). He modestly stated that, "That's why changes are made, to give fresh blood to the team. I did everything I could, but it isn't the real YUGOSLAVIA you saw against IRAN. You'll discover it on Sunday 21 when we'll have to play really well against the group F favourites. We'll then see if we've got what it takes to go the whole hog. Dejan STANKOVIC and Dejan SAVICEVIC are contending for a midfield position against GERMANY. Replacing one of his idols doesn't bother him. "The coach will decide", he declared. But SAVICEVIC didn't play against IRAN and still hasn't recovered from a pulled muscle in his left thigh or from a knee injury. What's more he hasn't played for the last two months. Who spoke about handing over power?