Stojkovic: We have put Serbia back on map of European football

BELGRADE - The head coach of the Serbia men's national football team Dragan Stojkovic said on Friday his squad had succeeded in putting Serbia back on the map of European football.

Stojkovic said this after receiving his fourth-career Football Association of Serbia (FSS) Golden Ball Award for Best Coach of The Year.

"The award has special significance to me, but it is also an obligation to keep trying to be successful and represent the national team the best way I can. Without a doubt, I will keep up that pace," Stojkovic said, noting that qualifying for EURO 2024 had been "the objective of all objectives and a strategic task."

He said he would remember 2023 as a successful year.

"I would like to thank all FSS top officials for the support and for what is important - having wind in the sails and being able to truly feel that support. I would like to thank my family for the unreserved support, the coaching staff and all the people who have been looking after the health our players, and footballing Serbia, which believed we can go all the way and accomplish our objectives," Stojkovic said, adding that the qualification for the EURO was "a gift to footballing Serbia."