On one hand, there’s a man driven by victories, for whom football embodies emotion, and loyalty to his club prevails above all else… On the other, a city that encapsulates all of this within itself. Together, they make the seemingly impossible, possible.

These days, Rijeka and “Rujevica” evoke the essence of South America, celebrating not only their title but also the Montenegrin mastermind Radomir Đalović. Conveying the emotions and imagery of Rijeka’s story and Đalović is best articulated by Danijela Vukušić, a journalist with roots at Radio Rijeka, who has also worked for Sportske novosti, 24 sata, and Nacional, and now writes for Rijeka’s Novi list. When Đalović’s name comes up, the words just flow…

– I’m incredibly subjective here, likely to overstate with superlatives, yet it’s hard to call it an exaggeration now. Nearly 20 years have passed since he came to Rijeka, and although we’re ten years apart in age, his character made it feel like we connected instantly, and before long it turned to “where are you, brother.” It’s remained that way ever since – Vukušić began her narrative for “Vijesti”.

How does Rijeka view the man who secured its second title in history?

– As someone who expresses his thoughts candidly, who does what he says—sometimes better, sometimes worse, but his legend as a player is undeniable. His iconic sprints after scoring are legendary, not to mention the goals themselves – Vukušić reminisced.

No trophies without Montenegrins.

Đalović’s title is unforgettable, yet in Kvarner, they also recall the Montenegrin’s gestures during tougher times.

– He played for us twice; during his second stint, we were financially struggling for months, yet he was always the first to stand up for the team, never shying away from the microphone or responsibilities—he embodies emotion. I genuinely mean it—it’s human – Vukušić emphasized, recalling the now-famous banner:

– Here in Rijeka, they interpreted all of this perfectly, which is why they raised that banner highlighting his humanity and his Montenegrin roots. A person is who they are, irrespective of origin, and the bond between Rijeka and Montenegro spans a long history. Đale’s love for Rijeka is genuine, and this city reciprocates that love. I still hope to craft a story about this success, featuring the headline: Thank you, brother. That will suffice.

Speaking of the Rijeka-Montenegro connection, Vukušić reminisces about them all—from the unforgettable seventies, where he bore witness to history as a youth, through Rada and Marko Vešović, all the way to Đalović.

– I was born in 1972 and recall my father taking me to Kantrida—each player is etched in my memory, including Dragutin Spasojević, Miodrag Kustudić, and beyond. Indeed, almost every trophy has Montenegrin roots. Club President Damir Mišković invited the entire generation that won the first Cup years ago, and my great friend Milan Krlja Radović (also a Rijeka legend) pointed out a mustachioed gentleman. It was Kule, Kustudić, the “flying fortress.” Before that, I had conducted interviews with Franco Bekenbauer, Dungom, Željko Obradović, yet he was the only one whose autograph I sought—the man I cheered for at age five.

Vešović shares the same emotion as Đalović

The title was marked by Đalović, with the first one in 2017 attributed to Marko Vešović.

– We also commemorate Rade Vešović, and his son Marko has become a club legend. The emotions mirrored those of Đale—how they present themselves is genuine. One must have a bit of a rogue in their character; no Balkans team has thrived without that edge. The connection to Montenegro is evident; the mentalidad is similar, and it creates a welcoming atmosphere—Vukušić noted.

Once more, Vukušić turned back to Đalović and the onset of the season when he first independently guided the team.

– While doubts arose—criticism followed the loss, and they experienced a defeat of five to Olimpija… I noticed he somewhat withdrew, since he was working for 20 hours with his team. Yet, he believed and molded a team reflecting his vision. He won the title, and perhaps a double crown is on the horizon; even if he claimed tomorrow he was heading to Saturn and never returning, his accomplishments will be etched in gold—both his and Marko’s, alongside everyone else from Montenegro.

I can’t betray Rijeka.

Numerous instances illustrate Đalović’s humanity, particularly when he stood alone among the coaching staff. Sergej Jakirović declined a move to Dinamo Zagreb.

– After five or six stressful hours, he was the first to answer my call. I expected everyone to depart and wished him well, but he replied: “I’m not leaving; I can’t do that to Rijeka.” He had already invested so much back then, and even now—with a team not designed for winning, the organization has sold many assets due to ongoing issues since the coronavirus pandemic.

For the man from Bijelo Polje, trust from the president of the club was pivotal.

– Primarily, this is Mišković’s vision as he provided Đalović an opportunity. Yet, Rijeka’s game reflects Đalović’s approach—it may not be the flashiest, yet that could change if better players were on the field—Vukušić clarified.

Dinamo has Petković, Hajduk has Rakitic and Livaja, while the champion is Đalović’s Rijeka…

Rijeka clinched the championship in what could be the most thrilling Croatian league ever—the club from Rujevica faced unexpected losses similar to those encountered by Dinamo and Hajduk. Does this reflect the league’s caliber, or does it indicate a shortfall?

– Dinamo is currently undergoing transformation and lacks its former strength, while Hajduk has lingered in uncertainty for 20 years, unable to merge overwhelming emotions with effective management. The league is indeed more competitive, and we’ll soon discover whether it’s weaker in European contests – Vukušić mused, recalling one statement from Đalović:

– This is perhaps best captured by his now-legendary line: “And what if we win? Who cares what you think?” After all, he competes against Dinamo’s Bruno Petković, Hajduk’s Marko Livaja, and Ivan Rakitić, yet the champion is indeed Đalović’s Rijeka. Clearly, smaller clubs have made notable strides, stealing points from teams vying for the title.

When it’s unexpected and shocking, emotions linger.

Can we draw a comparison between Rijeka’s first and second titles?

– The first time is always unparalleled, an unexpected twist—after a shocking 5:0 loss in Ljubljana (elimination from the Conference League at the outset of Đalović’s tenure), we assumed we’d need to fight not to be relegated. I saw the emotions during both occasions, and while I don’t differentiate much between the two titles, when the circumstances are as unforeseen and alarming, the emotions resonate for a long time; the tears flow on their own—a realization Vukušić concluded.

Today, Đalović and Rijeka aim to crown an unforgettable season by claiming the double crown—they will host Slaven Belupo at 19:00 for the second leg of the Cup final, against the same team with whom they celebrated their title on Sunday.

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