Sasa Ilic unveiled as new FC Partizan Belgrade head coach

BELGRADE - Sasa Ilic was on Tuesday officially unveiled as new head coach of Serbian football club Partizan Belgrade.

Ilic has succeeded Srdjan Blagojevic, whose contract was terminated by mutual agreement on Monday.

"I am not going to talk about what this club means to me," Ilic, who became a club legend in his playing days, told a press conference at the Partizan Stadium, noting that he was extremely proud to have been named the Black-and-Whites' head coach.

"I finished my (playing) career in 2019 and I became a coach. I have been working as a coach for seven years, I have worked at clubs that have fought for titles as well as at clubs that have fought to stay up, clubs where young players were the priority. I am ready for what is ahead of me at Partizan, this is the biggest challenge of my career so far," he added.

He noted that he was well aware of the situation at the club.

"I was also here 20 years ago, when titles were won. Even then, it was hard. The situation might be even more difficult now. I am a man who has accepted challenges, I have trained myself abroad for this. I know this club and what the people expect," he said.

"With the fans, we can fix some things," he added.

Ilic has signed a two-year deal with Partizan.