The referee’s whistle to mark the start of Serbia‘s Nations League game against Spain also marked something else. Something much bigger.
It marked a new beginning for the Serbian national team, led by a new captain: Nottingham Forest defender Nikola Milenkovic.
And new eras, as it usually happens, come after a lot of turbulence.
When Serbia exited Euro 2024 at the group stage, the future of the squad seemed quite uncertain.
The captain – former Southampton midfielder Dusan Tadic – openly criticised coach Dragan Stojkovic and later announced he was retiring from international duty.
Everyone thought the captain’s armband would go to Aleksandar Mitrovic, former Newcastle United and Fulham striker. But that is when things got complicated.
The media wrote about the open rebellion against Stojkovic in the locker room, with some players not wanting to play for him any more. Mitrovic was allegedly one of them, but nothing was confirmed officially.
A couple of months down the line and Serbia’s record scorer – as well as Sergej Milinkovic-Savic – were not available to play for their country in these Nations League matches because of injury. Both were later seen in training for their Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal.
Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic also did not join up, citing “private reasons.
It left Serbia with a very different looking set of players, and still without a captain.
Stojkovic chose Milenkovic, who had the most caps (58) of the players who answered their international call-up.
“I am glad I decided to make him the captain, he fully justified the role,” Stojkovic said after the 0-0 draw with Spain.
Milenkovic added that the armband is a “great honour and responsibility”, but also the “crown of his career”.
A transfer to the Premier League and a promotion to captain of your national team.
Not bad for one summer.