Domagoj Vida

In interview with young defender Domagoj Vida we talked about many things: football career, Osijek, Germany, and the present career in Dinamo.

When did you began your footbaal career?

I started to play football when I was 7. for NK Jedinstvo in Donji Miholjac. I liked to play with senior team and I worked a lot with my dad in order to go in NK Osijek. My friend and I have travelled to the training 50 km every day. I moved in Osijek when I was in a high school.

You have played for the senior Osijek team when you were only 17.

I made debut against Cibalia in Vinkovci and at that time coach was Miroslav Žitnjak. After him, on the bench of Osijek came Ilija Lončarević who started to forced me to play more. I palyed back midfielder and right full back. I would also like to mention coaches Prigla and Popović. I have learned something new from every coach that trained me. I began to play centre back in the senior team when coach was Tomislav Steinbrücker. That is position where I'm good at and thanks to that I went to Germany.

After good games for Osijek, you went to Bayer Leverkusen. What was the feeling to go far away from Osijek and your family?

People from Bayer have watched my games in Osijek for about year and a half. After that they decided to bring me in their team. I had to make a decision in just one day and I decided to go to Germany. It was not easy to change the environment, club and habits and I didn't know German language. Luckily, the coach Zvonko Komes helped me a lot when I came there and I'm thankful for that.

In Bayer Leverkusen you didn't play as much as you wanted. What do you think what was the reason? Could be the problem maybe the fact that you were foreigner in Bayer team?

The first season is always the hardest season, before Bayer I didn't set a lot on the bench and this was a problem for me. On the trainings coach was telling me that everything is great and then at he game he left me on the bench. In European matches we made good results, they praised me and then in German championship - I was again on the bench. I felt very bad and then at the end of the season director told me that probably that the next season will not be any different for me. Then I decided to go somewhere where I will have opportunity to play and Dinamo brought me. 

What happened when you came in Dinamo? Is it true that you that you did not like that idea at the beginning?

Of course it's not true, I've never said something like that. Dinamo is the best Croatian club, they play European matches and I think that every Croatian player wants to play for Dinamo. I was on a vacation in Turkey and then I got the call from Dinamo. I instantly said yes and after I've solved everything with Bayer I signed for Dinamo. 

You lived  in Germany 1 year and now you are in Zagreb only one week. Can you compare organization of the club, way of work and quality? 

It's not a big difference. Transfer from Osijek to Bayer was really big shock, but arrival from Bayer to Dinamo was not that big change. Dinamo is well organized club, everything is great and I'm enjoying to be here. A lot of things are better in Germany, but that is maybe difference between Germany and Croatia, not between Bayer and Dinamo. There is a good organization in Germany so the club can easily function. 

What do you think about Dinamo squad today? 

Dinamo has a very good team. There are a lot of players who are my age, even younger, and there are also older players who have a lot of experience. Team is really strong and we need to concentratre on the success. I know most players, especially Kelava, Vrsaljko, Ademi, Badelj, Palić, Barbarić because we played against each other, and in Croatian national team we played together. 

Champions league is the main goal but every big step in Europe would be great success. 

There are no guarantees that we will take place in Champions League but I think we have a lot of chance. We need to give everything in each game and the result will not fail. The ground is the only criterion and we need to show quality there. We already act as a team and that is really important.