Dalibor Stevanović for Nogomania: I want aggressive, Salzburg-style football - possession means nothing if you aren't dangerous

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Two decades have passed since the now-defunct Domžale made history by producing one of the club's greatest-ever players. Dalibor Stevanović transferred to Real Sociedad back then, embarking on a journeyman career as a Slovenian international. His football path took him to Israel, the Netherlands, Ukraine, Poland, Russia, Croatia, and finally Switzerland, where he eventually settled down with his wife and two children.

In Lausanne, he began his coaching journey as an assistant at second-division side Stade-Lausanne-Ouchy. He had neither planned nor desired a coaching career; he was drawn into this world by the club's head coach at the time, Meho Kodro. Six years later, Stevanović is now the head coach of the club, coming off a strong season. Alongside his footballing achievements, he has also faced major personal challenges in recent years.

His outlook on life is very different today. Four years ago, his wife passed away suddenly after a severe illness. He was left alone with two children. Although he initially stepped away from Switzerland for a few months—wanting to forget everything and never return—he took time to reflect, gathered his thoughts, and returned to the path he and his late wife had envisioned. He came back to Switzerland, organized his family life with the help of his parents, and resumed his duties at the club, which had been waiting for him.

We caught up with him during one of his rare stops in Domžale and Slovenia, just after the conclusion of the past season and right in the middle of planning the next one. Although he was recently a serious candidate for the Luzern hot seat, Stevanović will remain at the helm of Stade-Lausanne-Ouchy for the upcoming season.

Dalibor, your story is a blend of personal trials and footballing challenges. Where do you find the inspiration and strength to build a coaching career in a foreign country?

Life is full of trials. I am happy and grateful to have my family. Look, anything is possible. And football helps. Interestingly, I never planned on a coaching career; it just happened. Meho Kodro, who is an incredible person and a passionate coach, offered me a hand. I became his assistant, and throughout this time, I’ve also been scouting. Scouting is one of the most crucial elements in football. It is the foundation that helps you understand the "material" you are working with.

You are the head coach of Stade-Lausanne-Ouchy. Can you describe what kind of club it is?

It’s a small club owned by Vartan Sirmakes, the manufacturer of the luxury Franck Muller watches. We finished fourth in the second division and reached the cup final, which is an absolute sensation, and I’m very proud of that. Our budget simply doesn't allow us to sign the best players from the second tier, let alone active top-flight players. We have the seventh-largest budget in the league. We look for young players, for instance, from the reserve teams of larger clubs. Since our academy is in the second division, it’s harder to draw players directly for the first team. However, we are well-organized and professional, which is key. I would say the Swiss second division is strong and well-structured, perhaps even on par with the Austrian top flight, if you exclude Salzburg and Sturm.

You mentioned good organization as the foundation for success. What exactly do you mean by that?

I mentioned scouting earlier. We take it extremely seriously. How can you work effectively if you don't have all the information? Furthermore, the sports director is crucial! I am fortunate to have a sports director who works like a machine. We click perfectly. In Slovenia, there might be a perception that a sports director is just someone sitting comfortably in an armchair. That couldn't be further from the truth. That person must be a hard worker! They have to be! Zlatko Zahović was like that at Maribor, doing incredible things, and in my playing days, Nenad Protega alongside Slaviša Stojanović did the same at Domžale.

You are still a young coach. What is your ideal brand of football?

My tactical model is similar to Red Bull Salzburg's style. Dynamism, intensity, aggression, high pressing, and winning the ball back quickly. Once we win possession, I want verticality, quick transitions, and ball control. I want to get into the opponent's penalty box as fast as possible. The longer I stay there, the less chance there is of my own goal being threatened. I like possession because I was a midfielder, but if we aren't dangerous, then possession doesn't interest me. I want aggressive football, and together with the sports director, we look for players who fit this high-pressing system—players who are fast, strong, and intelligent.

Swiss football is on the rise. How do you assess its potential?

It’s massive! The Swiss are good, but the competition here is fierce. These are the children of immigrants from all over the world—Balkan, African, Spanish, Portuguese, South American. Switzerland is excellent in the youth national selections, and the senior team is just as strong. The physicality of the players here is different from the Balkans. Balkan players would struggle to adapt here, not because of a lack of skill, but because of basic physicality. Another important factor in Switzerland is how well it prepares players who eventually move abroad. Players here aren't poor, so when they achieve success and money, they handle the transition to a higher level much better. When you see how many young Swiss players go to England, that probably explains everything.

What status does football hold in Swiss society?

It’s a massive business with a lot of money circulating. Big clubs have annual budgets of 40 to 50 million euros. Interestingly, football is not the number one sport in the country—ice hockey is. Even though huge amounts of money are invested in football, there is even more money in hockey, which is crazy. Naturally, football still draws the highest number of spectators.

You sound like someone who isn't thinking about returning to Slovenian football.

I arrived in Slovenia yesterday for the first time since February, and I’m leaving again tomorrow. I’m happy when I’m home, but unfortunately, that rarely happens. It’s beautiful here and it always warms my heart, but my professional career is currently tied to Switzerland. My goal is to prove myself there, to earn an opportunity in the top flight, and move forward from there. I must admit there were contacts to take over teams in Slovenia twice—I won't hide that it was Celje and Maribor. There were no concrete offers, just talks. I don't reject the idea of working in Slovenia, but I would only be interested in a good, ambitious project.

How closely do you follow Slovenian football?

I followed Celje; they built a good story. Olimpija and Maribor disappointed me. A few years ago things looked better, but right now, it's a disaster. We don't have enough Slovenian coaches. I am a foreigner in Switzerland myself, but Slovenian coaches definitely need more support at home. I got my coaching licenses in Slovenia, I met many guys, and I believe we have the expertise—it just needs an opportunity and space to breathe. Then there are the players—do we have enough of them, and are they good enough? There are a lot of foreigners.

The most prominent Slovenian coach in recent years has been Luka Elsner. Destiny brought you both together in Lausanne, where he became the manager of top-flight side Lausanne-Sport. Have you spoken to him?

Our clubs are only 500 meters apart. We spoke, and Luka actually called me before he accepted the offer. We also went out for dinner. I can reveal that I was also somewhat in the running for Lausanne-Sport—the public even saw me as the frontrunner—but I knew nothing would come of it in the end. There is a rivalry between the clubs, and between certain people who came there. I believe this can be a great career move for Luka. I’m happy for him because his career serves as an example for all Slovenian coaches. He is professional, persistent, and brave.

Ironically, both you and Luka are products of Domžale, a club that has since collapsed.

It’s tragic! That club built so much and gave so much to Slovenian football. I am from Domžale, and it saddens me. The people who ran the club were local, and a lot of money flowed through it. So many players were sold, where did all that money go? Too much work was done for personal interests rather than the club's benefit. When personal interests take over, it's the end. I don't know the whole story, I’ve heard many things, but it is undoubtedly a catastrophe for Slovenian football.