Tell Alen peternac in Valladolid is to name one of those mythical players, who have entered the Blanquivioleta Olympus in their own right and, in this case based on goals, specifically 55, which keep him as the top scorer in the history of Real Valladolid in the First Division. Croatian is currently second coach at Dinamo Zagreb And he is in a sweet moment, as he comes from eliminating Tottenham in the Europa League: “Here I am at Dinamo, working, always linked to football.” Many years have passed, but Alen Peternac continues to speak Spanish correctly after spending five years in Valladolid (1995-2000), plus the two seasons he was in Zaragoza (in two stages) and one more in Murcia.
Peternac left his mark as a player and his 48 years He also seeks to leave his stamp as a coach, although he longs for contact with the ball: “To all of us who have played football, we would like to continue playing our whole lives” and that is precisely why he continues to kick a few kicks from time to time “of course! It is logical, I play a lot of games with veterans and in training I always play with the team … it is something that is not forgotten. There are many footballers who at the end of their career, disconnect from football, they almost hate it, but I don't, on the contrary, I really like to play soccer whenever I can“.
As second coach in one of the most important teams in Croatia, Peternac also watches many games: “Obviously because of my work I have to be up to date, but I also really like to watch football, train and be aware of any thing of this sport. It is what I have chosen in life and I like”.
The issue of the pandemic is something global and Peternac is living it within the bubble of being in a professional team. The former player told how they handle this situation in Croatia: “It is a screwed up issue, as in the rest of the world. The coronavirus has killed football, the joy of having fans in stadiums, here as in the rest of the planet; We are waiting for it to end, for things to improve and for us to meet our public again, to have the football we all know again. “Restrictions are the order of the day in almost all countries, although with nuances:” In Croatia there are no time limits, but every week it changes. Now they are closing the bars, but they open the terraces, but people keep walking down the street and in that sense there are no problems “, another thing is professional football, in which the situation is similar to that of any country in Europe:” Yes, they protect us a lot. We have just played against Tottenham in London we have gone on a charter just for us, isolated in a hotel just for us; even from the plane we went straight to customs to pass the controls without mixing with people. We try to have minimal contact with people. “
Peternac landed in Valladolid in 1995 when he was just 22 years old, being almost a child who had already played six seasons at Dinamo Zagreb and the truth is that it was undoubtedly his best campaign, the one in which he scored 23 goals. What remains of that boy who dazzled at Real Valladolid 25 years ago? “the same joy and the desire to enjoy football. This sport has given me everything and I have always liked it, since I was born, the first thing I touched was a ball and that illusion of a child is still present in my mind. As a footballer or as a coach, I have always been linked to the soccer ball. “It is evident that that year is also very present in the memory of the Blanquivioleta idol:” Each stage has its things, but that one in particular, something great that we did. The passage through Valladolid, those five years, were incredible and that one in particular (1995-96) was my best year… although the following year we classified the team for UEFA and ultimately each year has its good things to remember and I keep many memories of those good things that happened in my career as a player “.
Peternac only wore those four shirts, but two of them are the ones that marked him the most: “My two main teams are Dinamo Zagreb in which I am today as a coach and in whose quarry I grew up and Real Valladolid. They are the two teams that I have in my heart and the ones that make me feel joy, they are part of me. In Valladolid I spent the best years of my life; my best friends live in Valladolid and whenever I pass through Spain, I stop by to see them and it makes me happy to go to Valladolid to see them “.
Peternac, as a good football lover and with the Pucela in his heart, follows the news to the minute of the team of his life and thus values the arrival of Ronaldo to the presidency: “The truth is that I was surprised and also very happyBecause a man like Ronaldo who takes a team like Real Valladolid deserves all the respect. The team is in First although lately they have problems in the table, but I think they have a good team and will surely manage to stay in First“Peternac precisely knows the feeling of fleeing from the burning of the descent in that first season as a Blanquivioleta, a terrain that Pucela is too used to treading:” Yes, we were in the lower zone that year, but we did an impressive second lap, we stayed and even the following year we qualified to play in Europe. “
Peternac
Father of a boy and a girl, they learn from their father about their time in Valladolid and Spain: “MY daughter is the oldest and is Spanish and the boy is younger and was born in Zagreb, but they both know how to speak Spanish and I like that they know Spain; they have been there many times with me and they like it a lot. Now with the covid it is more difficult to go anywhere, but in 20 days I will be in Spain because we play fourth against Villarreal, but it will be very difficult for me to go to Valladolid, but I hope looking forward to this situation ending at once and thus being able to travel and go to Valladolid to see friends and enjoy the city … have a normal life. “
Five years go a long way and many memories are made, but Peternac has one above all: “There are many like that first year and the 23 goals, but logically that 3-8 in Oviedo with my five goals … I have recently seen that famous photo in which I am up on the fence waving to the public surrounded by my colleagues … they are memories that I will always carry in my heart“.
Asturiasdiario.es