Ognjen Ožegović, enough said

Ime najčešće pominjano u okviru priča o potencijalnom preporodu srpskog fudbala. Mladi napadač, dospeo je u žižu javnosti ove godine, a njegov talenat je u pravom svetlu počeo da isijava tek u novosadskoj Vojvodini, čiji navijači imaju prilike da uživaju u njegovim golovima na gotovo svakoj utakmici.

Ognjen Ožegović
Foto: MN PRESS

A name most commonly mentioned in talks over a possible renaissance of the Serbian football.


Karijeru je počeo u onom poznatijem crveno-belom dresu, Zvezdinom. Pod vođstvom Roberta Prosinečkog, promovisan je u prvi tim još 2012. godine, sa samo osamnaest godina. Ipak, nije dugo opstao na beogradskoj “Marakani”. Već u nastavku sezone 2012/13 je pozajmljen zrenjaninskom Banatu, da bi po povratku u Zvezdu odigrao svoju prvu zvaničnu utakmicu kao prvotimac, pod Rikardom Sa Pintom.

Ipak, biva ponovo prebačen. Nova pozajmica ga vodi u Voždovac, zatim zvanično postaje igrač Rada. Te iste, 2014. godine potpisuje za Jagodinu, u kojoj ostaje samo jednu sezonu. Iz srca Šumadije ide u čačanski Borac, da bi se konačno usidrio u Novom Sadu.

Veliki broj klubova za nekog tako mladog. Kažu da se toliko puta seljakao, da ponekad nisu znali ko je. Od tolikih kretnji, nije stizao da se navikne na okolinu, a ni oni na njega.

Menjali su se dresovi, tereni, a dečak kome je bio san da zaigra u nekom od najvećih klubova je rastao i navikavao se na stvarnost. Onu u kojoj nije toliko bitno upoznati se sa ljudima oko sebe, jer se ionako sutra ide dalje. Ipak, uprkos čestim prebacivanjima tamo-amo, talenat nije ostavljao za sobom. To dokazuje i titula sa Evropskog šampionata za igrače mlađe od 19 godina.

Postoji verovanje da su promene dobre za mladog čoveka, lakše im se prilagodi, kada ima manje godina. Ipak, mladim ljudima je neophodna i stabilnost, a Ognjen Ožegović je pravi primer te činjenice. U Vojvodini se izborio za startnu poziciju, osetio klupski uspeh i nastavio da radi na sebi, pod trenerskim okom Zlatomira Zagorčića.

Napreduje odgovarajućom brzinom, dajući ljubiteljima fudbala više nego dovoljno dokaza svojih sposobnosti. Oduvek je voleo akrobatiku, zanimljive poteze, što stručnjacima. što onim običnim smrtnicima, možda i nesvesnim težine onoga što gledaju, ali svakako sposobnim da se dive lepom potezu. Driblinzi, minijature, čak i makazice nisu misterija za ovog momka iz Gradiške. Više to nije brazilska ili čileanska atrakcija, već srpska. Ožegovićeva.

Na terenu deluje tvrdoglavo i srčano. A u proslavama prelepih golova snažno, ali i fokusirano, Kao da svima koji su ga prevideli, želi da poruči da su pogrešili. Gledajte me sad!  

Nastavlja da se dokazuje svakom narednom utakmicom, svakim dodavanjem, svakim golom. Pokazujući da je više od cirkuske tačke ili kolekcije promenjenih dresova. Da nije samo potencijal, koji bi jednog dana… Možda mogao. Da je njegovo vreme upravo sada.

Tu činjenicu potvrđuje i vest da dvadesetjednogodišnji napadač ulazi u Mladu reprezentaciju Srbije. Naime, novi selektor mladih, Tomislav Sivić, potvrdio je da će se Ožegović naći na spisku za predstojeći ciklus takmičenja, zajedno sa Zlatnom generacijom, koja je nedavno podigla Svetski trofej.

Hitro, stabilno i prkosno, Ognjen Ožegović dokazuje da je svako potcenjivanje njegovih sposobnosti ništa drugo, do ogromna greška.


The young and talented forward is playing under the spotlight, after showing off his true capabilities, only after reaching Vojvodina, whose fans have the chance to enjoy some incredible goals, in nearly every match that he plays.

He started his career in a more well known red and white jersey. The one belonging to Red Star. Under the leadership of Robert Prosinečki, he was promoted into the first team, but quickly loaned to Banat from Zrenjanin in the 2012/13 season. After returning to the Belgrade “Marakana”, he got to play his first official match for Zvezda. This time, under Ricardo Sá Pinto. His second seniors stay didn’t last long. He got loaned to Voždovac, sold off to Rad, and then signed to Jagodina. All of which, during the same year, 2014. In 2015. he played for Borac, Čačak, to have finally dropped down the anchor at Novi Sad.

A vast number of teams for such a young player, whose professional career had started before the age of 18. It has been said that he’d been moving around so much, that there were times when staff members didn’t know who he was. From so much movement, he didn’t have the chance to get used to his surroundings, and unfortunately, the other way around.

The jerseys and stadiums were changing, and the little boy whose dream was to play for some of the biggest teams, was getting used to this new reality. The one where there was no point trying to get to know the ones around you, because the next day you could be going someplace else. But despite the often shifts in teams, he didn’t leave his talent behind. A fact proven by him being a part of the U-19 European champions team. 

There is a belief that change is good for a young person, because it is easier to adjust, but young people need stability and support in order to thrive. And Ognjen Ožegović represents a true example of that fact. He has found his stability in Vojvodina, where he managed to earn the position in the starting 11, felt new success and continued working, under the care of coach Zlatomir Zagorčić. Advancing in a satisfying pace, giving football fans more than enough proof of his capabilities.

He was always a fan of acrobatics and interesting moves. Ones that look impressive to both experts and mere mortals who, even though can’t fully comprehend the capacity necessary to perform them, are more than capable to admire something beautiful. Passes, stop turns, jumps and crosses… And even the overhead bicycle kick. It is not Brazilian, or Chilean anymore. Not just Rooney’s. It is Serbian again. And it is Ožegović’s.

On court, he seems stubborn and courageous.

While celebrating his goals, he is always strong, but focused. As if he were to say, to everyone that didn’t or couldn’t see the greatness in him: Look at me now!

He continues to prove himself in every match, with every pass, every goal. Showing that he is more than a one-time circus act, or a collection of jerseys. That he is not just a potential who could succeed… Some day. That his time is now. And his youth and space for progress give us a a lot to look forward to.

A fact confirmed by the new coach of the U21 team, Tomislav Sivić, who is making him part of the National Team roster, together with the Golden generation, that recently won the U20 Mundialito.

Swift, stable and defiant, Ognjen Ožegović is proving that every underestimation of his capacities is nothing else, but a big mistake.

12 Comments

  1. Fantastican prilog!
    Great post!!!


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