Aleksander Čeferin, Joan Laporta (foto: Getty Images)
UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin says Slovenia’s mix of Balkan fighting spirit and Central European discipline explains the rise of stars like Luka Dončić and Tadej Pogačar.
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Aleksander Čeferin, president of UEFA, has offered his view on why a country of just 2.1 million people has produced two of the world’s biggest sporting stars – Luka Dončić and Tadej Pogačar.
In an interview with Politico, Čeferin said Slovenia’s unique cultural and genetic blend has helped its athletes thrive at the highest level. “I think Slovenians are a good mix. There is some Balkan fighting spirit in us, but not too much. We are also disciplined. Our culture is closer to Austria and northern Italy. At the same time, we are fighters, like other nations from the former Yugoslavia. All the results we achieve are phenomenal. It’s hard to explain in one sentence, but I think it’s a combination of genetics and culture,” he said.
Future at UEFA and beyond
The interview also touched on Čeferin’s own future in football governance. Asked whether he would run for another term as UEFA president, he declined to commit. “At this moment I wouldn’t comment on that,” he said, also dismissing speculation that he could one day lead FIFA or even return to Slovenia in a political role.
Still, Čeferin admitted that in football and in life, one should never rule anything out entirely. “Of course, you can never know for sure what might happen in the future,” he added.