Ever since premier league football began in independent Montenegro, no team has in such a dominant manner won the title. And it is a question if anyone will soon, as currently in all of Europe there is no team with such an advantage in the championship – Sutjeska is Montenegro champion, six rounds before the end, formally and mathematically, with 22 points above the second-seeded Budućnost!
The countdown is over for what was expected basically since mid-season. Sutjeska celebrated its title with a win over Iskra in Danilovgrad (1:0), their 22nd triumph in the past 30 rounds. The team led by Nikola Rakojević did not want to wait for the outcome of the Mladost-Budućnost duel, they ended it all on their own, with a win, the way they did all season, dominantly and overwhelmingly.
Luka Merdović scored the champion title goal, but it wasn’t the decisive one, it was the strength of the team during the entire season, granite defence, led by goalkeeper Giljen (who kept the net clear for over a thousand minutes last autumn) and stopper Bakrač, the midfield with Lončar, Janković, Stefanović, Vučić brothers who often took part on offense as full-backs, the mighty offense, with goals scored by Ivanović, Marković, Merdović, Denković, Božović…
Decisive was also the knowledge and experience of coach Nikola Rakojević, who secured a trophy for the third season in a row and joined Dejan Vukičević on the list of coaches with the most trophies in independent Montenegro. Both have two title and one Cup trophy.
Rakojević did all that in three years – he began with a title with the Mladost team in 2016, Cup trophy with Sutjeska in 2017 and now the title, with a club from his own town. Sutjeska has also joined the previously better Budućnost, on top of the list of teams with the most titles – both hold three Montenegro titles. Mogren and Rudar have two each, Zeta and Mladost one.
The team from Nikšić was on the throne in 2014 previously, when they won their second consecutive champion ring, led by Dragan Radojičić. They also won the record jackpot of nearly 800 thousand euro, their reward from UEFA for the Champion League qualifications placement. There will be four guaranteed matches for Sutjeska in Europe, as in case they are eliminated in the second round of qualifications, they will get a chance in Europa League qualifications.
The season has not ended, with six rounds to go, Sutjeska the title winner, now going for records. Some are already in the bag, some to come – point spread, number of wins, number of points won…
Translated from Vijesti Online, for the original click here.
