The President of the Football Association of Montenegro, Dejan Savićević, received the Order of the Montenegrin Flag, First Class, in honor of May 21st, our nation’s Independence Day.

During a ceremony at the Residence in Cetinje, President Jakov Milatović awarded Savićević the Order, recognizing his significant contributions to Montenegro.

Savićević expressed his deep appreciation, highlighting the significance of this honor to him.

“This award, acknowledging my humble efforts in promoting Montenegro on the international stage, surpasses all accolades I received during my playing career. Montenegro is not merely a territory marked on a map; it embodies the spirit of its people, filled with rich history and culture, and is the home of notable figures in Serbian art, science, and sports, characterized by breathtaking landscapes from the Adriatic Sea to the peaks of Durmitor,” said Savićević.

He further stated that Montenegro represents something greater…

“It is an ideal worth striving for and living for, inspired by the legends who showcased our country’s glory worldwide. Throughout my time on the football field, representing all the teams I played for, including the national team of the former state, it was a privilege to embody Montenegro and serve as its best ambassador. Although I was unable to fulfill my dream of wearing the Montenegrin national team jersey, I strive to achieve this by advocating for the advancement of Montenegrin football as president of the Federation, hoping that together with a talented generation of our national team players, I will stand in awe as our anthem plays in World or European Championship matches. My commitment to the growth of our football and our nation is unwavering,” Savićević remarked.

In discussing the award, Milatović highlighted Savićević’s role in elevating Montenegrin sports.

“To the celebrated athlete, longtime president of the Football Association of Montenegro, and a symbol of Montenegrin and Yugoslav football, for his invaluable contribution to the recognition of Montenegrin sport. Football fans in our country fondly remember him donning the jersey of Podgorica’s Buducnost, while he reached the pinnacle of football accolades with Crvena Zvezda and Milan, becoming the European club champion in 1991 and 1994. Following the restoration of independence, he was appointed the inaugural president of the Football Association of Montenegro, which gained admission to FIFA and UEFA in 2007 under his leadership. In 2017, he was elected to the FIFA Council, the supreme executive body of the global football organization.”

Apart from Savićević, others who received state decorations at today’s ceremony include Prof. Zoran Rašović, Dr. Tatjana Motrenko Simić, Vanja Ćalović Marković, Snežana Dragićević, Goran Radević, Mirsad Serhatlić, and Božidar Ivanović.

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