The usual names like Gjoko Hadjievski, Boshko Gjurovski, Boban Babunski, Goce Sedloski and Toni Savevski have been mentioned as possible managerial options, but how about Viktor Trenevski? Could he be a dark horse to take over the Macedonian national team?
Viktor Trenevski is a former Macedonian international who currently serves as the manager of Slovenian top division club Zavrč. He turned 41 years old earlier this month, and his club has been the biggest revelation in Slovenia this season. A club that was newly promoted for the 2013-14 campaign is currently tied for second place in the standings, only two points behind top ranked Maribor. Maribor, however, does have two games in hand over Zavrč.
Although Trenevski was born in the Macedonian capital of Skopje, his family decided to relocate to Montenegro before his 7th birthday. He had an interesting playing career that took him to six countries: Montenegro, Serbia, Mexico, Macedonia, Brazil and Slovenia. Most of his career was spent in Slovenia where he made a total of 135 appearances and scored 44 goals. Those appearances and goals came for five Slovenian teams in Mura, Koper, Olimpija, Drava and Nafta.
Viktor Trenevski was once a teammate of Petar Miloshevski, the current FFM sporting director, on the Macedonian national team, as were Boban Babunski and Goce Sedloski, two other potential candidates for the managerial post. Hadjievski, meanwhile, coached Miloshevski, Babunski, Trenevski and Sedloski when he formerly led the national team from 1996-1999. Gjurovski, on the other hand, was teammates with just Babunski from that list. So, they are all connected in some ways and Miloshevski, who will have a big say in the managerial decision along with FFM president Ilcho Gjorgjioski, should have a good understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of each candidate, if FFM does indeed decide to to hire a Macedonian coach.
A Slovenian newspaper did a feature of Trenevski earlier in the summer, which you can read here. Zavrč happens to be the first coaching job for Trenevski. Although it’s been very successful so far, FFM will have to ponder if he has enough experience to lead a national team. Regardless, it’s good to have this dialogue and for FFM to interview as many candidates as possible in order to find the right fit to lead Macedonia into the future.
What do you think? From the list of Hadjievski, Babunski, Gjurovski, Trenevski, Sedloski and Savevski, assuming all are interested in the position, who would be the best choice to take over the national team? If not those six candidates, what other Macedonian coach would you see as a good fit? Let us know in the comments section.