They can’t stand each other: the classic turns into a fight between archenemies Degen and Malenovic

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Fabio Celestini (48) used last weekend for a short trip to Vienna. The FCB coach watched “The Abduction from the Seraglio” at the State Opera. A classic play in three acts written by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, in which pirates kidnap the bride of the Spaniard Belmonte and he wants to take her back.

It won’t be that unusual on Saturday in the classic, as Celestini will be all about football again. But the match between FC Basel and FC Zurich (8:30 p.m. live on Blick) also promises excitement. It is the third and probably final appearance between the two this season.

Archenemies meet

In addition to the sporting aspect, the competition is very explosive for another reason. David Degen, FCB chairman, against Milos Malenovic, sports director of FCZ. The two are not friends, but rather enemies. Like Belmonte and the Robbers in the three-act play that Celestini watched.

There has been a bitter rivalry between Malenovic and Degen for years. Also because they have had similar career paths. Both were football professionals themselves, founded their own consultancy firm after their playing careers and now work in the management ranks of two of the country’s biggest clubs.

The two have never faced each other on the field. As player advisors, they have fought for years for the greatest talents and the best players in the country. In the past, people played tricks and courted players that everyone would have liked to have.

FCB part with Malenovic’s ex-player

Today, David Degen and Milos Malenovic have officially turned their backs on the consultancy industry. But the rivalry has remained and is now being reignited in the new roles as club representatives.

A look at the respective clubs reveals: FCB has four players under contract with Nicolas Vouilloz, Kevin Rüegg, Yusuf Demir and Axel Kayombo who belong to “SBE Management”. The agency now run by David Degen’s brother Philipp. Junior Zé is the only player from Malenovic’s former company Soccer Mondial in the Basel squad.

Zurich loses storm talent to Basel

At FCZ it is exactly the other way around. Antonio Marchesano, Mirlind Kryeziu, Junior Ligue, Miguel Reichmuth, Nils Reichmuth and Ramon Guzzo are represented by Malenovic’s former agency. There is no SBE player at FCZ and that probably won’t happen in the near future. At the beginning of February, the team from Basel benefited from FCZ top talent Giacomo Koloto (16). The fact that Koloto has left the FCZ and is still under contract with the agency of Degen’s brother causes red heads in the Zurich camp.

But as great as the rivalry between Malenovic and Degen is, their philosophies are similar. Formerly as an advisor and now as a club representative. Both rely on young player material, because that could make millions later. And both dream of leading their clubs back to the top one day and want to beat the other at all costs.

Source : Blick