Mateo Susic: “It did not take me a long time to decide and move to FC Sheriff”
FC Sheriff new Bosnian defender Mateo Susic gave his first interview for the official site of the club where he talked about his football career and many other things.
You can watch the interview in the section Video.
The first question is about your mood. How do you feel in the new team?
I am very glad to be in FC Sheriff. I have many friends in Bosnia, Croatia, Serbia who previously played for FC Sheriff. All of them had good memories about this club. It did not take me a long time to decide and move here. I feel very well, everything is great!
How did the guys meet you in the team?
As in all teams when a new player arrives. They greeted me, asked me where I am from and how I am doing. Regular questions.
A little bit about your childhood. How did you get an idea to become a football player?
Honestly, I don’t know. I was 7 years old. Maybe I decided to play football after the Croatian national team took the third place at World Championship in France in 1998. Due to this event, everyone was involved in football. Perhaps that was when I decided to become a football player. I don’t quite remember!
We know that you started your career in Zrinski. Tell us about this period please…
My professional career started in the second league in Bosnia. At that time I had a trial in the first team. Before that I played in kids and junior teams for Zrinski. The transfer from junior to adult football is the hardest one for every football player. In general Zrinski is an interesting period of my life. I have only pleasant memories.
After that you moved to Croatia to Istra. You played 72 matches for this team. It is quite a lot…
Yes, indeed. After two years of performance for Zrinski I moved to Croatia. I wanted to try playing in another team, in another championship. It was especially great in Istra because I played many games for this club. We had a good club, good coach and a good team. It was a wonderful part of my career and my life. It was in Istra that I started to be called up to youth national team of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
How did you move to the German club FC Energie Cottbus?
Three games before the end of the championship in Croatia, we played against HNK Rijeka. In general the match Rijeka – Istra is a great Croatian derby. The representatives of a German club noticed me and proposed to move to FC Energie. A few rounds before the end I signed another contract and after the end of the championship I moved to Germany. That’s how my German experience started.
Do you know that FC Sheriff played against HNK Rijeka last summer?
Yes, of course. I follow performance of Croatian teams and I know about those matches.
Would you want to stay in Germany and continue your career there?
I had a great desire to stay because it is Germany. German football is on a high level. There are very organized clubs, great fans. Twenty or thirty thousand supporters visited every game, whether it was a second or a third league. Unfortunately, I had to change the club. But this is life and it continues.
Your previous team was Romanian CFR Cluj. Did you leave CFR Cluj because of the problems inside the club?
Yes. There were lots of problems. I don’t even know how to explain. We presented a good result, we had a great team but then everything collapsed in two months. At first the coach left the club, and then some players. They got involved in the conflicts not connected with football. There were also big problems with funding. It was impossible to play normally when all thoughts are about when you get your salary and whether you are able to pay the apartment and car rent.
Yesterday you had your first match for FC Sheriff. What can you say about the game? What was it like for the team?
The game was a difficult one but at the same time it was good. As you understand Wisla in a strong team and they play in a strong championship. It was difficult because they are now in a better shape than we are. The total score is 1:1 but it was our first official game this year if I can say so. I hope next game will be better.
Do you have a football dream?
I live in my own dream – it is professional football player career. I hope that one day I will play in Bundesliga, in one of the best European championships. I would also like to play for the national team at the World Championship or European one.
You are twenty four years old and we know that you have a wife…
Yes, I do have a wife. Her name is Anna. She studies in college. Now my wife is at home but soon she will come to me.
Do you want her to come here to Tiraspol?
Of course. Family life calms down. And when everything is easy in your head, then you show a good game on the field.
FC Sheriff Press Service
You can watch the interview in the section Video.
The first question is about your mood. How do you feel in the new team?
I am very glad to be in FC Sheriff. I have many friends in Bosnia, Croatia, Serbia who previously played for FC Sheriff. All of them had good memories about this club. It did not take me a long time to decide and move here. I feel very well, everything is great!
How did the guys meet you in the team?
As in all teams when a new player arrives. They greeted me, asked me where I am from and how I am doing. Regular questions.
A little bit about your childhood. How did you get an idea to become a football player?
Honestly, I don’t know. I was 7 years old. Maybe I decided to play football after the Croatian national team took the third place at World Championship in France in 1998. Due to this event, everyone was involved in football. Perhaps that was when I decided to become a football player. I don’t quite remember!
We know that you started your career in Zrinski. Tell us about this period please…
My professional career started in the second league in Bosnia. At that time I had a trial in the first team. Before that I played in kids and junior teams for Zrinski. The transfer from junior to adult football is the hardest one for every football player. In general Zrinski is an interesting period of my life. I have only pleasant memories.
After that you moved to Croatia to Istra. You played 72 matches for this team. It is quite a lot…
Yes, indeed. After two years of performance for Zrinski I moved to Croatia. I wanted to try playing in another team, in another championship. It was especially great in Istra because I played many games for this club. We had a good club, good coach and a good team. It was a wonderful part of my career and my life. It was in Istra that I started to be called up to youth national team of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
How did you move to the German club FC Energie Cottbus?
Three games before the end of the championship in Croatia, we played against HNK Rijeka. In general the match Rijeka – Istra is a great Croatian derby. The representatives of a German club noticed me and proposed to move to FC Energie. A few rounds before the end I signed another contract and after the end of the championship I moved to Germany. That’s how my German experience started.
Do you know that FC Sheriff played against HNK Rijeka last summer?
Yes, of course. I follow performance of Croatian teams and I know about those matches.
Would you want to stay in Germany and continue your career there?
I had a great desire to stay because it is Germany. German football is on a high level. There are very organized clubs, great fans. Twenty or thirty thousand supporters visited every game, whether it was a second or a third league. Unfortunately, I had to change the club. But this is life and it continues.
Your previous team was Romanian CFR Cluj. Did you leave CFR Cluj because of the problems inside the club?
Yes. There were lots of problems. I don’t even know how to explain. We presented a good result, we had a great team but then everything collapsed in two months. At first the coach left the club, and then some players. They got involved in the conflicts not connected with football. There were also big problems with funding. It was impossible to play normally when all thoughts are about when you get your salary and whether you are able to pay the apartment and car rent.
Yesterday you had your first match for FC Sheriff. What can you say about the game? What was it like for the team?
The game was a difficult one but at the same time it was good. As you understand Wisla in a strong team and they play in a strong championship. It was difficult because they are now in a better shape than we are. The total score is 1:1 but it was our first official game this year if I can say so. I hope next game will be better.
Do you have a football dream?
I live in my own dream – it is professional football player career. I hope that one day I will play in Bundesliga, in one of the best European championships. I would also like to play for the national team at the World Championship or European one.
You are twenty four years old and we know that you have a wife…
Yes, I do have a wife. Her name is Anna. She studies in college. Now my wife is at home but soon she will come to me.
Do you want her to come here to Tiraspol?
Of course. Family life calms down. And when everything is easy in your head, then you show a good game on the field.
FC Sheriff Press Service