The film about the “coach of all coaches” and the celebrated Croatia coach, who won bronze with Croatia at the World Cup in France in 1998, was directed by Bosnian-Herzegovinian sports commentator Sabahudin Topalbećirević and former Croatia footballers Davor Šuker, Robert Jarni, Aljoša Asanović, Igor Štimac, and Goran Vlaović, but also Bosnian-Herzegovina national team players Edin Džeko and Miralem Pjanić and many others, reports HNS.
In the film, Ćiro spoke about his difficult childhood, recalling the days of growing up in Travnik during the Second World War, sad and tragic episodes in his life, but the better days of his playing and coaching career on football fields in Switzerland, Yugoslavia, Croatia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and China.
Slobodan Kadić
“Thanks to the Croatian Football Federation, which managed to gather us to watch this film in Croatia as well. At first, I didn’t agree with Baha’s idea, I thought there were a lot more important people than me to make films about, but at one point I realized I was getting to the end so I said to Baha: “Let’s make that film before I go”, ha, ha, ha… Thank you to my Vatreni, my sons, together we paved the way to affirm Croatian football and represented the homeland in every way. And one more thing… I always knew who was in charge, the audience was in charge, and journalists were the soul of the audience. Many times I had the opportunity to say to a journalist: “Are you crazy? What are you asking me?”, But instead I told them:“ You are smart! ”, Ha, ha, ha… I love you all and I say: Ćiro is not so easy,” said Miroslav Blažević after the screening. He also received gifts from the president of the Croatian Football Federation, Marijan Kustić, and Croatia coach Zlatko Dalić – a framed jersey with the number 72, symbolizing his number of games leading Croatia, and a replica of the silver medal from the World Cup in Russia dedicated to the ‘coach of all coaches’.
Slobodan Kadić
“We are proud to have had the opportunity to organize the Croatian premiere of this beautiful documentary, I am still impressed by the emotions. When I saw Aljoša’s tears at the end of the film and I had a hard time, my thoughts went back to ’96 and ’98. If someone had told me then that I would be sitting here with Ćiro today as the president of the Croatian Football Federation, I would have told him that there was a greater chance that I would win the jackpot. After this film, there is no need to say anything, I can only thank you, Mr. Blažević, for everything you have done for Croatian football and sports in general. In that regard, I proposed to the Executive Board that at the recent Assembly, on December 22, we declare Mr. Blažević the honorary coach of the Croatian national football team,” said Marijan Kustić.
Slobodan Kadić
“Thank you all for coming, thank you Baha for the film about the life of Miroslav Blažević, the man who did the most for my career and who helped me a lot to become what I am. However, I can win a gold medal in Qatar, God willing, but Ćiro remains the coach of all coaches. Boss, thank you on behalf of Croatian football for everything you gave it, thank you for everything you did for me in my coaching career, After all, you were one of the few who believed in us from day one and that is why our silver from Russia has a lot of your merits,” said Zlatko Dalic.
Slobodan Kadić
“During the screening, I saw the tears of Croatia coach Zlatko Dalić, and tears were present during the Sarajevo premiere. Ćiro struggled for a long time when it comes to shooting this film, despite the fact that the two of us met while I was a boy, back in 1983. It was at Marakana when Dinamo beat Sarajevo 3:2, I was a Sarajevo fan and I threw everything from the stands, and then Ćiro put me on the field and said: “Mali, Sarajevo will win the second time, may you be alive and healthy.” Ćiro is an absolute genius, I thank him from the bottom of my heart for finally agreeing to make this life story and open his soul, and in order to open someone’s soul, you have to trust him,” said Sabahudin Topalbećirević.
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