There was a time when Eastern European football was a global benchmark. Just like today, its players stood out for their physical strength, commitment, and above all, their fighting spirit.
Robert Prosinecki was one of those players who, thanks to his work ethic and character, left a lasting mark on football in his region.
Robert, why did you accept the role as head coach of Kyrgyzstan? What convinced you, and what changes would you like to make first?
"First of all, I still enjoy working and football is my life. After a spell in Montenegro, I received an offer from Kyrgyzstan. I visited the country, looked at the facilities and their ideas. They want to progress, they want to do something different. Next year, we’re in the Asian Cup. That’s like the Euros. I accepted the offer and now I’m the coach of Kyrgyzstan."
How did you find the squad?
"There are a lot of young players. It’s a very proud national team. The ones who are there are professionals. Maybe three or four from the U21 team have caught our eye. We’ll see if we can do more and improve in every area."
Robert, let’s talk about Red Star Belgrade. If someone mentions Red Star 1991, what comes to mind?
"1991. For all of us who were there, it brings back so many memories. A squad with a lot of quality, a team from the former Yugoslavia, with players from everywhere. I spent four years there and have great memories. I played there, maybe it was my best period in football, and Red Star achieved its greatest result with us - winning the Champions League is something huge, really massive."
Do you believe Red Star can win the Champions League again?
"The team has developed. But not so much financially. The gap compared to English or Spanish teams is enormous. I don’t think Red Star or any team from the region can do something similar. English, Spanish, and German clubs invest heavily and sign the best players. In my time, only three foreigners could play. Now it’s completely different."
What does the signing of Marco Arnautovic mean for the league and especially for Red Star, in your opinion?
"Red Star has gone through different phases: the good times in the 1990s, then some inconsistency. Now they’re back in the Champions League. When you play in the Champions League, money comes in. Arnautovic is definitely someone special, coming to Red Star after Inter, where he played for Austria and helped them qualify for the World Cup.
"He adds a lot to the team. I think he hasn’t shown his best yet, because Arnautovic can give much more - he’s a great player, he can offer a lot more than he’s shown so far, but he means a lot to Red Star and the fans."
After your time at Red Star, you joined Real Madrid with high expectations. What stood out most to you? The intensity, the media pressure, the hierarchy in the dressing room? What do you remember best from that time?
"I arrived after the ‘Quinta del Buitre’ era. Hagi, Hugo Sanchez, and I were there. In my first year at Real Madrid, I had a lot of injury problems. In 1991, everyone wanted to sign Robert Prosinecki and I wanted to go to Real Madrid. It was the best thing that could have happened to me.
"But you know, at that time I also had a lot of injuries. I don’t even know why, but when people start saying you’re made of glass, you don’t play for a year, you’re always injured, and that creates a lot of pressure. There was also the war in my country.
"My family was in Zagreb and, of course, I was worried about everything happening. I’m not making excuses; that’s just how it was. Life goes on, I spent three years at Real Madrid and I’m a bit more merengue than Barca, even today, because it was really my best club."
Do you think your career would have been different if you had signed for Real Madrid today?
"I don’t know. I’m very happy with my career. Maybe I didn’t give everything, but I’m one of the few who played for both top clubs and was lucky to be at Real Madrid and Barcelona, because everyone knows that.
"Very few players can say the same. I don’t know if it would be different today, certainly if I hadn’t had so many injuries, a lot would have changed. Yes, no doubt. We also think that now the medical department is on another level, it would probably be a bit different, but that’s life."
Managing a dressing room like Real Madrid’s must be complicated. I wanted to ask you about a former teammate and current coach, Luis Enrique. What was he like day to day?
"Luis Enrique has always had personality, and I played with him for three years at Real Madrid. He was a player who came from Gijon, with a lot of character, hardworking, and he could play anywhere - full-back, attacking midfielder, or in the centre. Luis was an excellent teammate. Now, with Paris Saint-Germain, he won the Champions League. He had an incredible season - won everything. He’s a person full of energy, a great guy."
He showed interesting qualities. Leadership, honesty, confidence. Did he already have those traits as a player?
"Yes, for me, he did. Look, I don’t want to talk about what he did at Barcelona; they also played impressively, right? And he had amazing results. The tiki-taka, his Barcelona wasn’t just tiki-taka. With Cruyff, they won the Champions League for the first time, the league titles, and that’s where it all started.
"Then Guardiola and Luis Enrique modernised this style of play, but you need the right players to play this kind of football. It’s not easy to play 4-3-3 if you don’t have the players, if you don’t have someone who can hold the ball or attacking midfielders like Lamine. You need players for this football, like those trained at La Masia."
You mentioned Johan Cruyff. What was the biggest lesson you learned from him during your time at FC Barcelona?
"He was the one who brought me in. Cruyff, for me, is definitely the best coach. He’s different from everyone else, right? First, as a player, there’s no need to even talk about it. He was an extraordinary player for the Netherlands national team.
"Then, in Barcelona, Ajax is something special. Johan had his own way. Johan created a style of football that divides opinion - you either like it or you don’t - but for me, the best football is the one where you keep possession."
He was obsessed with details...
"He was a man who paid attention to details. If you play on the wing, you have the 1v1, you have to cross. Go into the box, and there you have more freedom. In training, the ball was always present; we watched a lot of videos. We analysed where we made mistakes and where we could improve. Johan Cruyff had impressive authority."
You saw Guardiola as a player and now as a coach.
"He wasn’t very fast, in terms of speed, but his mind... He was very smart, the first touch... He was very intelligent, just like now as a coach. Johan often called Pep to watch videos."