Croatian 76-year-old Poklepovic insists capability to coach

Stanko Poklepovic will celebrate his 77th birthday on April 18, but when he was asked to come as a substitute coach one month ago for his fourth spell at Hajduk Split, he said "yes" without even thinking for a second.

According to the article published on the website of European Football Union, Poklepovic is the oldest coach in the highest level of national football competitions across Europe.

Even though he hasn't been coaching for five years, since his last term at Hajduk in 2010, he felt more than ready to step on the pitch again and show that his age will play into his favor.

"I might be too old for some things but I will never be too old for football," Poklepovic said in an interview with Croatian daily "Vecernji list" soon after he was appointed as a replacement for Igor Tudor who left Hajduk's bench.

His football ideas are fresh and he was following everything that was happening in the club. There was nothing new for him and he didn't need an adjustment period.

"I know what this club needs. We have a lot of potential in young players. Our goal has to be development of our brightest prospects and try to earn appreciation from our fans every time that the team steps on a pitch," he said.

Before Poklepovic came to coach Hajduk, there was another coach that is in his golden years but that didn't prevent him from working in a Croatian premier league club Zadar. Of course, that was legendary Miroslav Blazevic who's coaching skills helped Croatian national team on a way to the bronze medal at 1998 World Cup in France.

However, before his 80th birthday Blazevic left the bench to make room for the 47-year-old Igor Stimac, one of his pupils from "Golden Generation" of Croatian national team and former national coach.

Blazevic and Poklepovic both share the same passion for football that drives them.

Wisdom and vast experience that they gained coaching clubs and national teams all over the world make them strong competitors for the coaches of younger generations.

Poklepovic proved that by leading Hajduk to the semifinals of Croatian Cup and almost beating the biggest rivals Dinamo Zagreb at Poljud Stadium a week ago, when the Croatian champions for the last ten years pulled out a 1-1 draw with a goal in the dying seconds of the match. Endi