Veteran goalkeeper Zoran Popović has extended his contract with FK Železničar for another season. Popović joined the club last January as a free agent after leaving Red Star Belgrade. In an interview with the club’s official YouTube channel, he expressed satisfaction with the club’s atmosphere and feeling like part of a true football family. “Železničar is a special club with a genuine family atmosphere where everyone breathes as one,” said the goalkeeper. He revealed that football is his great love, although as a child he also trained in athletics and basketball. His football career has an emotional background — Popović decided to become a goalkeeper after his older brother, who was also a goalkeeper, had to stop playing due to an accident. “Everything I have achieved carries a part of his strength,” Popović said. At 37 years old, he plans to continue playing as long as his body allows, and after finishing his playing career, he wants to try coaching. He especially emphasizes the importance of mental preparation in football, stressing that the mind is the most important. “Motivation, focus, and mental strength make the difference,” he said. Popović is also grateful to coach Ilija Stolica, who changed his life not only as a footballer but as a person, teaching him calmness, honesty, and responsibility. This goalkeeper is an example of how with the right support and mental strength, one can achieve success and remain loyal to football and the club he loves.
