It’s rare for a modern-day footballer to walk to training. Often they’re driven in or drive themselves, skipping fans to quickly get into the ground. Unless their name is Milos Degenek.
Australian centreback Degenek walks to training at European glamour club Crvena Zvezda, Red Star Belgrade, stopping along the way to talk to fans, signing autographs and taking photos.
He’ll visit his favourite restaurant and coffee place and still have people coming up to him. He is gracious for the support he has received and the fame that comes with being a footballer. He’s incredibly down to earth and respectful of the regular Joe in the street. That’s why he’s loved so much in the Serbian capital.
Red Star completed a historic double, beating bitter cross-town rival FK Partizan in the Serbian Cup final on penalties 4-3 in a match that saw the usual violence on and off the field in the fiercest derby in Europe.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Winning the cup and winning the league over Partizan capped off an amazing week for Degenek.
It was a history-making season, with an absurd 35 wins, three draws and no losses, including 114 goals scored and only 20 conceded during the entire campaign.
Degenek ranks near the top for games played by an Australian player anywhere in the world this season, with 46 in total
Stoke City’s Harry Souttar is the only Australian player to have racked up more minutes of club football this season, 3867 compared to Degenek’s 3704.
Winning two European trophies makes this the most successful season in over a decade by any Australian player. This is Degenek’s fifth career trophy, but it’s Red Star’s first domestic double in more than a decade.
While Degenek experienced success at home, the promising Red Star team has had their issues in European competitions.
They were unexpectedly knocked out of the Champions League on penalties at the third qualifying stage before having to win a play-off round to get to the Europa League.
They redeemed themselves with a fairytale run to the Round of 32 before being knocked out on aggregate by AC Milan.
Coached by Inter Milan and Serbia legend Dejan Stankovic, this Crvena Zvezda team blends experience with youth.
Degenek’s fellow stalwarts in defence, Milan Gajic, Radovan Pankov, Nemanja Milunovic and Milan Rodic, besides providing solidity, all contributed multiple goals this season. But the real find in the backline could be 20-year-old Strahinja Erakovic, who has a slew of clubs sniffing around him.
The midfield was propped by up by 20 goal maestro Mirko Ivanic and 18 goals from the returning Aleksandar Katai. While young midfielders Njegos Petrovic, Veljko Nikolic, Zeljko Gavric and 18-year-old Manchester City-bound Andrija Radulovic have had scouts keeping a close eye on their progress.
Perhaps the only disappointing thing in such a historic season was that the Red Stars forwards didn’t score as many goals as you would expect. Comoros international El Fardou Ben was the best of the attackers, with 18 goals, followed by Radovan Pankov on 15. Bologna loanee Diego Falcinelli isn’t far behind on 13 goals. Young Montenegrin forward Nikola Krstovic is a name on many recruitment lists at the moment.
The problem for Crvena Zvezda is the lack of money. Every season they are forced to sell their best players to make ends meet. Even mainstays like Degenek have previously been sold to the highest bidder. This season alone they jettisoned over 20 players through sales or loans and barely replaced half of them with new singings.
That might pose a problem for a lot of clubs, but Crvena Zvezda has always relied on one of the best youth systems in Europe to bring through several kids into the first team each year.
This off-season will see more players leave once again. Degenek has already had two multimillion-dollar transfer fees agreed by the club from the Middle East, though he declined both.
Whether he stays or goes, Milos Degenek’s season has been amazing, and his stats alone should see him as a permanent fixture in defence for the Socceroos.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
never said he shouldn't play for the Socceroos, and as to my selections, nah, I'll leave that to Arnie who no doubt has watched and monitored a great number of players
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
and you'd start which 2 players at centerback for australia, that have been selected for these qualifiers? tonyik is too rash at tackling currently for international football, goods had 1 decent season in how many years playing football? (he's even older then degenek). Mcgowan does have the experience, but hes had an average season and shouldn’t even be in this squad and sainsburys barely played 50 games of club football in 3 years due to how injury prone he is. Souttar has played plenty of minutes and scored goals this season, albeit in an average league but he deserves to start based on his form this season; much like degenek
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
nope, quite ordinary
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
There is no way a player with promise would be let go from Bund 2 to go to J-league and then to Serbia. Red Star would love to sell him to the Middle East or India if they could as long as the money is right , look at Geria Socceroos to J-league thats the effect Socceroos have. The entry to Asia has been a disaster for the Socceroos because the lax standards and easy money they have made in Asia whereas the old Socceroos most of them were on dirt cheap money for a lot of their career, some made some decent money towards the end , and a lot haven't earned a lot. Look at Slater Arnold both broke after Northern Spirit. We are seeing easy tax free dollars and giving up due to China and the Middle East as a result of being in Asia. Sainsbury Eredeivese loan to Inter Milan. Souttar ,Bailey Wright has played in the Championship. Jurman South Korea. Good he made the odd cup appearance for Newcastle MCGowan Scotland Its not the level Bailey Wright most games at a higher level is the worst of that lot.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
To sell a player it requires all parties to agree to it (the buying club, the selling club & the player). The player didnt want to move to a lower standard middle eastern league regardless of the decent wage he was offered - simple as that Degenek has already had a better career then all the players you've mentioned. He's played in more technical leagues (germany/japan/serbia), won more credible trophies, played more games in the champions league and stayed relatively injury free compared to a lot of players you list. Speaking of you list, none of those players would make the red star team. Australia has always had great depth at centreback, they havent just handed out nearly 30 caps to degenek because he plays consistently in quality leagues. Hes in the peak years of his life as a footballer and rightly deserves to be first choice australian centreback
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Degenek is one of the worst Socceroos defenders I have seen. If they cant sell him with all the Socceroos appearances he has been gifted with good luck. Sainsbury was great when he was younger but then those injuries have stuffed him up. Curtis Good not really a good defender but better than Degenek and better with the ball. Tongyik he needs another year at least experience. Spiranovic where has he dissapeared to? Souttar I can see why he can be good in England,good for the Socceroos on the other hand I dont think so. Aaron Calver , was really good at Sydney in his final year , but Western United play him as a wing back, I dont really understand whats going on in the A-league. McGowan would not have selected him but he is better than DeGenek. Jurman dont see why he wouldn;t be picked. Bailey Wright almost as bad as DeGenek. I dont really see any young players coming through either. I wouldn't mind seeing Rostyn Griffiths , he is great in the air good passer. What about Paartalu he could have been great as central defender but foolishly kept in the midfield.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
it is good to have a few more casual fans eyes on the team with an australian playing weekly
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
most teams will crumble at anfield, (especially one with less than a quarter of there operating budget) I seem to remember him being a rock in the home leg; which was won quite comfortably 2-0
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
im not a coach, but i would always pick a team on who's actually playing and thier stats. souttar and degenek were the 2 best performing centrebacks this past season, sainsbury wasn't even close. Being that most of the teams in asia are quite small in height, souttar is a certainty to play as he offers a threat from set pieces, arnie should pick degenek as his partner but will more than likely pick one of his favourites; sainsbury
Nicko
Guest
As a Red Star and Socceroo fan I am rapt for Milos. To be fair the Serbian league is not on par with the EPL's of this world however Milos has played some fantastic football in the Champions League and has shown he can play at a higher level. For those of you unfamiliar with Red Star Belgrade; - Federal Republic of Yugoslavia 1st Division Champions 19 times and 12 time Cup Winners (up to 1991) - Serbia and Montenegro 1st Division Champions 5 times and 9 time Cup Winners (1992 to 2005) - Serbian 1st Division Champions 7 times and 4 time Cup Winners (2006 to 2020/21) - European Cup Champions in 1990/91 (Champions League now) - Intercontinetal Cup Winners 1991 defeating Colo Colo (Chile) - Runners Up Uefa Cup 1978/79 and Uefa Super Cup 1991
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
very ordinary in the champions league v LFC
Grem
Roar Rookie
Spell check! Sainsbury!
Grem
Roar Rookie
Who would you pick beside him Andy, Sandburg or Soutter? Hoping he stays in a European league. He does seem to want to develop his skills more than his bank account - which is a benefit for Aussie football.