Serbian football has returned on Friday, with the league resuming for its final four rounds - and it didn’t take long to crown a champion.
For the third straight season, Red Star Belgrade, Crvena Zvezda, have won the title - claiming their 31st ever crown, and becoming the first post-corona era champions in the globe.
Unfortunately, if you ask some, the title-clincher and subsequent celebrations have been in front of an empty stadium - not that anyone from the Red and White side of Belgrade would mind too much.
The 5-0 thrashing of FK Rad Beograd meant that Red Star opened up a 14 point lead over eternal rivals Partizan, who only have four games remaining. In his first half-season as coach, Dejan Stanković (yes, THAT Dejan Stanković) claims success and winning his first trophy as a gaffer. If his managerial career would look anything like his playing career - it’s definitely not his last either. Later this summer, he can also bring home the Serbian cup.
“Deki”, who grew up in Red Star’s youth academy and played three years in the team prior to his move to Italy, took over the team in the winter break after Vladan Milojević’s surprising resignation - despite having an 11 point lead in the top of the league. Stanković’s job to secure the title under these circumstances was not necessarily a difficult one, so in everyone’s minds his real test would be next season - as he will attempt to bring Zvezda to the Champions League group stage for the second year in a row.
Speaking of next season, due to the covid-19 pandemic, the Serbian FA has decided to suspend relegations from the Super Liga this year - a move which will expand the league to 20 teams next season, and is already drawing local criticism.
But for now, as we open our arms to more returning leagues and restore some sense of football normality, lets just enjoy the simplicity of seeing titles being decided on the pitch and teams celebrating trophies.
Thumbnail photo via Red Star Belgrade’s official Twitter account
