Courtesy: UEFA.com


Ljubicics keep it in the family for Keflavík


Wednesday 18 August 2010

Zoran Daníel Ljubicic told UEFA.com: "I never expected to play alongside my little boy in a European match," after lining up with his son for Keflavík FC in the preliminary round.

Keflavík FC's UEFA Futsal Cup campaign may be over but the preliminary round mini-tournament proved memorable for the Ljubicic family.

Bringing back memories of the moment when Eidur Gudjohnsen replaced father Arnór during Iceland's 1996 friendly in Estonia, Zoran Daníel Ljubicic and his son, Bojan Stefán, lined up together for Keflavík in their Group G fixtures. Bojan, 18, has recently broken into Keflavík's senior football team – who double as their title-winning futsal squad over the Icelandic winter – while 43-year-old Zoran ended his 11-a-side playing career in 2006.

Now the club's youth coach, the elder Ljubicic returned to action when Keflavík took up futsal, showing off his technical skills. Both played their part as Keflavík beat Vimmerby IF 10-6 before losing to Kremlin Bicêtre United and Club Futsal Eindhoven, Bojan totalling three goals. It proved a memorable experience for both Ljubicics.

"It was a great feeling and I never ever expected to play alongside my little boy in a European match in a Keflavík shirt," Zoran told UEFA.com. "I am 43 years old and my son 18 so, as I say, we never expected this to happen."

Zoran coached his son while Bojan was in the Keflavík youth system, and Ljubicic senior said: "I am always trying to teach him but, of course, I dont want to put too much pressure on him." Bojan added: "I takes orders from him, but I also scream back at him when he deserves it!"

After a long career, this competition gave Zoran a chance to make a UEFA competition debut and he is enjoying his venture into a new game. "It was fun and interesting to do something new like futsal," he said. "This tournament was a fresh and great challenge for the club. Of course we could have got better results, that's how football is sometimes. We were playing against futsal specialists and they are, of course, more used to this sport than we are, because we are just football players who have just recently learned futsal."


Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com