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After personal and sporting setbacks, the 30-year-old meets his former colors with Rorschach-Goldach in the cup.
It is unusual for a player of the caliber of Dejan Janjatovic to play interregionally in the second division. The Serbian-German dual citizen was once credited with a glorious professional career. Instead, he challenges his former club St. Gallen in the first round of the Swiss Cup with Rorschach-Goldach on Sunday.
Janjatovic would hardly describe himself as a failed footballer. Because he is where he is now for physical and personal reasons.
Knee always causes trouble
The 30-year-old has suffered from knee problems throughout his career. “If I didn’t have them, I would still be playing professional football today,” Janjatovic is convinced. In the youth department of Bayern Munich he had to endure the first operations on his left knee as a 17-year-old. Since then he has repeatedly struggled with restrictions.
Nevertheless, after an accidental trip to Getafe, St. Gallen made 115 appearances in the Super League. Looking back, it was the midfield director’s best period. Third place in the 2012/13 promotion season and qualification for the Europa League group stage in the following season he still describes as his highlights with Espen.
Legend:
Picture from happy times
Dejan Janjatovic and his St. Gallen teammates celebrate a goal in the Europa League playoffs against Spartak Moscow.
Keystone/Alexander Zemlianichenko
Painful loss of daughter
After the departure of trainer Jeff Saibene, there were disagreements with the new trainer Joe Zinnbauer. Janjatovic made a new attempt in Vaduz before he was struck by a stroke of fate in 2017. He lost his daughter Una, who was suffering from heart disease, just three months after birth, and shortly afterwards his aunt and grandmother – and was thrown off course.
When you go through these kinds of things in life, your priorities change. You have to be able to close some things.
During this time, he no longer felt any great desire to play football. He was not happy with the Polish first division club Termalica and soon returned to Switzerland. After another break, the path finally led to Rorschach-Goldach last year via Brühl in the Promotion League. Janjatovic has long since found a new job as a fitness trainer at the Falkensteig tennis school in the region. In the long term, he is aiming for a career as a coach in professional football.
“When you go through things like that in life, you set your priorities differently. You have to be able to close some things, in football and privately, »says Janjatovic today. Family happiness returned seven months ago. He and his wife became parents of a second son. “Everything fits, everyone is healthy and happy. That’s the most important thing for me.”
What’s in it for Rorschach-Goldach?
In terms of sport, fun is the priority for the experienced rider with Rorschach-Goldach. After FC Basel last year, the FCSG is the somewhat more attractive cup draw. “We will try to make life difficult for St. Gallen and keep the back zero for as long as possible. Then we’ll see what comes of it, »Janjatovic keeps the ball flat. An atmospheric atmosphere should be ensured, as the “Derby” takes place in the venerable Espenmoos.
The St. Gallen fans should not have forgotten their former number 31. “I often go to see St. Gallen games and have a good exchange with the fans. I think they will give me a nice welcome.”