It was the morning after Montenegro had beaten Switzerland 1-0 in a qualifier for Euro 2012. The following week, they were heading to London to play England.
A few days before the game, a group of journalists were sharing stories over coffee at a hotel cafe one morning when the national coach Zlatko Kranjcar, rumpled in his red tracksuit, shambled out and joined us. He ordered a stronger drink.
Kranjcar has been accused of overindulging – most notably in his final weeks in the Montenegro job – and it is fair to say that he looks older than his 57 years, which may be a result of his lifestyle.
In context, though, his manner simply suggested how relaxed he was. Kranjcar is one of those old-fashioned football men who will talk to anybody about the game at any time.
He was not worried about letting a story slip to the press and he had no fear that he would be misrepresented. He just saw three journalists and decided he wanted a chat about football. His basic philosophy is simple: encourage the players to care while removing as far as possible the fear of failure.
“Mistakes happen,” he said.
“You have to accept them, provided, of course, each player fights to his utmost. Then, with full freedom, we avoid the fear that can tie your feet. If you are physically strong, aggressive and disciplined, you can go a long way.”
He was engaging and amiable, endlessly inquisitive and happy to share his own opinions and insights.
That does not mean anything about his quality as a manager, but it says a lot about his values.
He is a link to the past, to a gentler, seemingly more-decorous world of football. It is not as though Kranjcar does not know how ruthless or hard the modern game can be, and not as though he cannot be tough himself.
He was sacked by Montenegro when qualification for Euro 2012 was a real possibility, seemingly having fallen out with the president of the Montenegrin Football Federation, Dejan Savicevic.
His contract was not renewed by Croatia after a poor showing at the 2006 World Cup, when he was accused of Neanderthal tactics and of having picked Niko Kranjcar in the playmaking role only because he was his son.
Ultimately, though, the game is what he knows, and he surrounds himself with others who know the game and want to talk about it.
Kranjcar was 10 when he joined his hometown club team Dinamo Zagreb.
He developed into a reliable and intelligent forward who scored 98 goals in 261 league games before leaving for Austria with Rapid Vienna, where he scored 106 times in 201 league games.
His coaching career, though, has been far less stable. Since his first job, with Klagenfurt in 1991, he has managed 17 clubs – two of them twice – as well as Croatia and Montenegro, winning three league titles. He coached Sharjah’s Al Shaab in 2007.
He seemed at last to have found a home in Isfahan. He had been out a job for only six weeks when he was approached by the Iranian champions Sepahan in October 2011.
He helped them retain their title in 2012 and the following season, they won the Hafzi Cup while finishing third in the league, three points behind the champions Esteghal.
Despite interest from a number of clubs, he opted to extend his contract in May last year.
This season has been more of a struggle, with Sepahan drawing too many games, but they still lie fifth in the Iranian league, four points behind the leaders, Foolad, with three games remaining.
Kranjcar’s comments this week that he would like to become Iran coach seem to have been sensationalised.
However, the fact he would express his willingness to take another national job, given how many national teams change coaches after major tournaments, did suggest that one of football’s great wanderers is considering moving on again.
sports@thenational.ae
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How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
RESULT
Arsenal 1 Chelsea 2
Arsenal: Aubameyang (13')
Chelsea: Jorginho (83'), Abraham (87')
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
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Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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UAE squad to face Ireland
Ahmed Raza (captain), Chirag Suri (vice-captain), Rohan Mustafa, Mohammed Usman, Mohammed Boota, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Waheed Ahmad, Zawar Farid, CP Rizwaan, Aryan Lakra, Karthik Meiyappan, Alishan Sharafu, Basil Hameed, Kashif Daud, Adithya Shetty, Vriitya Aravind
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The%20specs
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What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
AndhaDhun
Director: Sriram Raghavan
Producer: Matchbox Pictures, Viacom18
Cast: Ayushmann Khurrana, Tabu, Radhika Apte, Anil Dhawan
Rating: 3.5/5
Mica
Director: Ismael Ferroukhi
Stars: Zakaria Inan, Sabrina Ouazani
3 stars
SPECS
Engine: 4-litre V8 twin-turbo
Power: 630hp
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: 8-speed Tiptronic automatic
Price: From Dh599,000
On sale: Now
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Reputation
Taylor Swift
(Big Machine Records)
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
The flights: South African Airways flies from Dubai International Airport with a stop in Johannesburg, with prices starting from around Dh4,000 return. Emirates can get you there with a stop in Lusaka from around Dh4,600 return.
The details: Visas are available for 247 Zambian kwacha or US$20 (Dh73) per person on arrival at Livingstone Airport. Single entry into Victoria Falls for international visitors costs 371 kwacha or $30 (Dh110). Microlight flights are available through Batoka Sky, with 15-minute flights costing 2,265 kwacha (Dh680).
Accommodation: The Royal Livingstone Victoria Falls Hotel by Anantara is an ideal place to stay, within walking distance of the falls and right on the Zambezi River. Rooms here start from 6,635 kwacha (Dh2,398) per night, including breakfast, taxes and Wi-Fi. Water arrivals cost from 587 kwacha (Dh212) per person.
The%20specs
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The biog
Hometown: Cairo
Age: 37
Favourite TV series: The Handmaid’s Tale, Black Mirror
Favourite anime series: Death Note, One Piece and Hellsing
Favourite book: Designing Brand Identity, Fifth Edition