Abu Dhabi: Al Jazira’s former Juventus star Mirko Vucinic proved his worth last season by winning the Arabian Gulf League’s (AGL) Best Foreign Player and Top Scorer awards, but the Montenegro star hopes there will be team success to celebrate at the end of the upcoming campaign.
The Pride of Abu Dhabi finished runners-up to Al Ain in the league standings and failed to win any cups, so Vucinic’s celebrations were a little subdued when given his two individual trophies at the AGL awards night on Sunday.
The 31-year-old, who scored 25 league goals in his debut campaign in the UAE, said: “It has been a good season but it would have been better had we won a trophy. I think we have assembled a strong squad for the upcoming season and, hopefully, we can fulfil the objective of winning some trophies.”
The club has made sweeping changes in a bid to win silverware, with coach Eric Gerets making way for Brazilian Abel Braga, who has returned for a second spell in charge.
And, among the playing staff, Vucinic is the only foreign player to return for the new season, with Argentinian Manuel Lanzini, Burkina Faso’s Jonathan Pitroipa and Brazilian Jucilei da Silva all moving on. Replacing them are Brazilian striker Thiago Neves and Korean midfielder Park Jong-woo, with Al Jazira also linked with an ambitious swoop for former Real Madrid and Manchester City forward Robinho as their final foreign player.
Neves, who has joined from Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal, attended Al Jazira’s first training session on the awards night, which Vucinic missed, but the Montenegrin is looking forward to playing alongside his new strike partner.
“It [making changes] is not new in football. These things are very common wherever and whichever club you play for, the players come and players go. Of course, one needs to adapt and I’m sure I can do that as quickly as possible,” said Vucinic.
“Yes, one needs to adapt to such changes and I’m sure I can do that as quickly as possible. The coaches are also like players, they come and go. Neves is a good player and I hope he scores lots of goals for Al Jazira to get us to first place.
“Playing with [Emirati Player of the Year] Ali Mabkhout is very easy as he is a good player. We have a good relationship as well as a good combination on the pitch.”
Vucinic added: “I would like to thank our previous coach Eric Gerets for whatever he did for the club and now I’m looking forward to working with the new coach Abel Braga.”
