Mihailo Petrović (footballer)

Michael Petrović ( born October 18, 1957 in Belgrade ) is a former football player and current football coach. The native Yugoslavian has Austrian citizenship since 1989. He currently lives with his family in Japan.

Career as a player

Michael Petrovic started his professional career in his hometown at the football club FK Rad and have moved within the 1977/ 78 for FK Red Star Belgrade. After two years he moved to Olimpija Ljubljana in Slovenia, where he remained for six years. His third club was the Croatian club Dinamo Zagreb tradition. In 1985 he was awarded for the first time a foreign offering, which led him to Austria. He switched to the then center stand SK Sturm Graz. There wore Petrović the No. 10 he had the first years played the role of the game designer, and later he moved to the defense and played the classic Libero.

Petrović was dismissed in his last season for Sturm Graz at the age of 36 years from the squad. He had become too expensive for financially ailing club, also wanted the club "overnight" rely on young players. The dispute over the termination of the contract finally ended in court.

Career as a coach

Michael Petrović hit as many former footballer after his active career coaching career a. Because he wanted to stay because of his family residing in Graz, came to him for the time being only Austria and Slovenia as a workplace in question. His first stop as head coach was the SV Pöllau in Eastern Styria. He took over the club in the 1,400 -strong community in the league ( 5th power ) and led the club in the Styrian League (4th power).

In 1996 he was reconciled with Sturm Graz again and took over the coaching job with the amateurs of the association. Here he had the opportunity to work with young players and build them. His contract ended in 1998. Annual 1993-1998 can be considered Apprenticeship of Michael Petrović.

In 1998, he received an offer from the first Slovenian league. There, he oversaw four years smaller clubs who were involved in the relegation battle. In 2002 he went as assistant coach to his former club Olimpija Ljubljana.

In September 2003, he received an offer to become head coach of Sturm Graz. He should raise the fallen club again and installing young players in the team. Petrović made ​​in Austria for a novelty. He became the most " first free staff " in the coaching zone. Petrović was only an employee contract, which was terminated at any time, further was strongly related to performance in this storm. He managed in the first season with Sturm Graz in the league, in the second season, it was after all, rank 7 This also meant qualification for the Intertoto Cup.

Michael Petrovic oversaw until 2006 only clubs that were early in the season as relegation candidates. His statement became known " a mixing Petrović not descend ."

In May 2006, Michael Petrović submitted his resignation and signed a new contract with FC Kärnten. The Storm fans tried it though with a signature campaign for a rethink to move, but despite 4,000 signatures to Petrović decided to go.

But just three weeks after he had signed with FC Kärnten, he solved this contract already back on, as he had received a lucrative offer from Sanfrecce Hiroshima in Japan. This association was involved middle of the season in the relegation battle and wanted to bring Petrović, to maintain the first class. Petrović was first with Hiroshima in the Japanese J-League, but the second year in Japan was not so successful. For the first time in his coaching career Petrović was relegated with a club. However, he could once again show by winning the Japanese League goblet and was confirmed in his office to implement its chances of promotion. In his third season in Japan, he has handled this.

January 1, 2012, he coached the Urawa Red Diamonds.

Appreciation, criticism, philosophy and problems

Especially during his time at Sturm Graz Petrović pointed to often that he would want more appreciation for his work.

Michael Petrović has football sense the typical " Yugoslav " philosophy. He wants to see, especially a playful strong team that offers pretty good for football. Each action, each gate shall arise out of the game.

Betting scandal

Petrović was launched in 2006 due to police wiretapped conversations in the world media in connection with a major betting scandal. A German court saw it then in the case against Dragan Antic proved that Antic Petrovic gave money so that the game results of Sturm Graz influencing the purposes of betting fraud. Petrović always protested his innocence. Three years later, the Austrian authorities presented their investigations Petrovic.