Slovenian footballer Jure Travner, who once played for the now-defunct Azerbaijani club Baku, spoke to Sport24.az about his current career, memories of Azerbaijan, and the upcoming UEFA Europa League clash between Celje and Sabah.
– What are you currently doing?
– I'm working as a coach in my hometown of Lasko. I train the U13 team and also work with children in primary schools and kindergartens. Besides that, I still play amateur football in Austria.
– How do you remember your time in Azerbaijan?
– I have great memories of your country, especially of "Baku." The city center was truly beautiful, and I spent some wonderful times there with my teammates.
– Did you stay in touch with anyone after leaving the club?
– Yes, I did. I remember we had a great team spirit and coaching staff. I really enjoyed playing for that squad. I believe we could have achieved more if we had stayed together. I was deeply disappointed when the club went bankrupt.
– Did you receive offers from other Azerbaijani clubs?
– Not really. After leaving, I got offers from England and eventually moved to play for Reading.
– You spent five years with Slovenia’s Celje after that. What can you tell us about the club?
– Celje was actually my first professional club, and I ended my time there with a championship title. Since then, they’ve developed a lot, especially financially, and it clearly shows in their recent results. They had a strong run in European competitions last season.
– Celje is set to face Sabah in the UEFA Europa League. Who do you think is the favorite?
– I believe Celje are the favorites, though not as clearly as some might think. It’s going to be a very tight and competitive match.
Idman.biz
