(Koloseum): Toplica Spasojević, Red Star FC President - Brushing Red Star up for world glory

This successful man, the head of our sporting giant, says that he will not consider the club’s privatisation until the Serbian Parliament passes a law on sport, and that he will use all his voluntary energy to lead it down the right path and increase its value.

Red Star President Toplica Spasojević claims that his arrival at the club’s helm was motivated by a wish to return the former European champions to the glory days after so many trials and tribulations. Does a victory over Partizan mean that he is on the right track?

In an interview with Koloseum, Spasojević stressed that it was not in his or his company`s interests to privatise Red Star at this moment in time, and that their main aim was the club`s recovery – in terms of finances and organisation.

“I don’t know what will happen when the Serbian Parliament passes a law on sport, maybe we’ll think about it when the time comes. We do not know the rules yet, and I’ve channelled all my energy into improving the club`s set-up, financial stability and increasing its value,” he said.

The Red Star chief stressed that he did not have any personal or business interests in the club. He said that he wanted to “re-pack” the club`s bad habits and to organise the club on a modern basis. With that aim in mind, he has already replaced former Sports Director Stevan Stojanović with the younger and more eloquent Goran Bunjevčević. New capable people have also joined the board of directors.

“I am a full-time volunteer at Red Star, without any salary. I’ve put at the club`s disposal my organisational experience, my business connections and my wish to prepare it for the times to come,” said Spasojević.

If it comes to privatisation, he thinks that Red Star`s value can skyrocket, given good and well conceived organisation, and the change in principles that he proposed at the club’s electoral assembly.

“At the moment, I am against selling any stake in Red Star because we expect the club’s value to grow constantly. That is why I am completely dedicated to organisational improvements and the club`s financial stability,” Spasojević underlined.

Spasojević is the head of a corporation employing 1,700 people that trades in seven countries in Europe and worldwide. As a former basketball player with a fifteen-year career behind him, and as a sponsor of many sports and clubs for many years, he can put things right.

“I have been a sportsman and I know what we’ve got out of society, rather what we haven’t got. Today we want to give it back to sport. As a former sponsor, I also know how to talk to everyone that decides on our destiny and how to achieve the legal interests of the club I represent,” stressed Spasojević.

For three and a half months, since taking over at Red Star, Spasojević has succeeded in pinpointing the problems of Serbian clubs. As President of the Serbian Coorporate Directors Association and with the instinct of an experienced businessman, Spasojević identifies all the problems in sport with ease.

“Football here is ready for ‘general repairs’. We have to work on raising clubs’ financial power, motivate players, work better with government ministries, and improve the club from a professional and training point of view,” Spasojević says.

Recently, Red Star launched a national strategy for sports development that was well received by the public.

“Our aim is to encompass the whole business via that programme. Society has to approach the development of sport seriously, to get involved in its financing, and educate supporters and people in the club. We in Red Star think it is the only right way to rejuvenate our popular sport,” Spasojević explained.

Red Star’s new policy and management should bear fruit this spring. If the early signs are anthing to go by, Red Star are on the right track after beating Partizan 4-1, as the second half of the season got under way. Red Star have to take their derby form into the next few matches and the Serbian Cup. That is the only way to defend the “double”. They have a similar business formula– overcome their troubles and pave the way for glory.

Aleksandar Cvejić

Text taken from