Zoran Mamić

Dinamo Zagreb won Supercup, national championship and Cup in the season 2010./2011. Additional to that, Modri won the most points ever in Europa league group stage and came closer than ever to going to the next round. After a succesfull season like this, we had a long talk with clubs Sporting director of professional football - Zoran Mamić.

We can begin with the begin of your relationship with Dinamo Zagreb. You were here as a player and now as a Sporting director.

I came to Dinamo's youth academy when I was 10 years old, and it is an interesting fact that I came to Dinamo as a striker. The first time I played for the selection of Zagreb or something like that  we were missing a defender and I took that place and after that I've spent my whole career at centre back or defensive midfielder. At the end of 1988. I signed mys first professional contract with Dinamo and made ​​my debut for the first team against Velež Mostar. Until 1996. I was at Dinamo and after we, for the first time in club's history , won the double - I went to Germany. There I played for nine years and in 2005. I've returned to my home team. After two seasons, I took the role of the sporting director.

What's the feeling of being "on the other side"? You were a player and know you represent the club. The fact that you know how the players think must make your job a lot easier for you.

It sure does, definitely. I was a professional football player for approximately 17 years and I know and assume how will the players react in certain situations or how they'll behave. On the other hand, each player is an individual person and it's not always easy or even possible  to satisfy all their desires. Naturally, thinking and acting of the whole team as a group  is much easier for me to predict than someone who came from an entirely different profession.

Season 2010/2011. is over, and the team won everything possible:  Supercup, championship and national Cup. How would you rate this season?

This year we've achieved all the goals we have set before the start of the season and of course - we must be satisfied. If we remember our good performances  in the Europa league then there is the bad feeling that we didn't qualify for the next round. Unfortunately, we can not change what happened and we have to look forward. We want a strong Dinamo, â€‹â€‹we are working on reinforcement and next year is a new opportunity for a better European result.

Dinamo is the Croatian champion for six years in a row and during that period Modri have constantly played European competitions and won against giants like Ajax, Sparta Prague and Villarreal. Given the conditions in which the club is living - is it objectively to ask more?

If you are asking about the Champions league that I must be honest and say: no, that is not realistic. Of course, we must all strive for progress but we have to be honest to ourselves and say that the Champions league would be a great success but it not our duty. For the Champions League  a lot of little things should come into place: little luck with the draw, one ball that ends in the post and not the net, the stadium, referee oversight on our behalf and so on ... All of that together makes  5, 10 or 15 percent of total success, but  it's needed for such a result.  Champions league is out there, it's "catchable" and we have our chances to enter into the elite club competition, however, it is, as I said, just a plus. Our reality is every year to be the Croatian champion, winner of the Cup  and to play at least in group stage of Europa league where we should give our best to collect as many points.

Dinamo's titles and complete domination in Croatia is a proof of great work and leadership but on the other hand it's bad for the club not to have someone "breathing" down the neck. It harder to give all you've got when no one is pushing you.

If our competitors in Croatia were stronger I'm sure that would make us only even better but that's not something we can effect on. I sincerely hope that the quality of the league will rise when there will be less clubs. League with 10 clubs? My personal opinion is that this would be the ideal solution. Half of the league would be fighting for Europe and the other half to stay out of relegation. In such circumstances football would be better, stadiums full of spectators and everyone would gain. We are a small country and we don't have enough quality players or the conditions for two such large leagues.

Transfer window is closing and what kind of players is Dinamo searching for? On what positions?

Primarily, we are looking to make our  defensive line stronger because we know that we had a lot of injury problems last season. Captain Igor Bišćan is still injured and we have to find a centre back to fill his place. He had a surgery and we can't be sure how long will the recovery last so we must act. Also, we would like to strengthen the forward line if we find a player for which we considered to have the needed qualities.

Names that are commonly referred as Dinamo's targets are Joe Šimunić and Mate Bilić.

We are not hiding that they are our desires and we want to see them in Zagreb.However, they both have contracts with their clubs and they must resolve that with Hoffenheim and Sporting before we can make any arrangements. Of course, this is now a game of nerves since these clubs want to let go, but the question of their contracts, compensation and similar problems still remains. At this moment, it is very difficult  to say will they come to Dinamo or not because it doesn't depend on Šimunić, Bilić or Dinamo but on a third party to which we have no influence.

Will some players leave Dinamo this season?  Milan Badelj is the player who's name is often mentioned in the media.

Club does not have any official offer for Milan Badelj and that is all what is needed to say on that matter. There were some talks but there is no direct contact with a specific club. Last winter and last summer there were some contacts and it is impossible to say whether that will be reactivated.

In the end, can you just say a few words about the new / old coach of Dinamo Krunoslav Jurčić. What are your expectations?

He is undoubtedly a good coach who has already demonstrated  his coaching  qualities  at Dinamo. I hope he is aware of his mistakes that he did during the first term here, primarily I think on his media appearances. He has a strong desire, emotional approach and will to suceed which are his great qualities. I am sure we can achieve all our goals with him on the bench.