Nikola Kalinic it was crossed out for the fan section Red stars because of the position on Kosovo. Later he apologized and paid some kind of penance. Then those "organized" fans accepted him again as their own. He was also insulted last year for participating in protests against the government.
Now the former Serbian national team player has finished his playing career.
In an agreement with Red Star, Kalinic decided to end his career a year before the end of his contract and immediately take over the duties of assistant coach to Ibon Navarro.
Kalinic spent four years in the Crvena Zvezda team during three terms, during which he won eight trophies - two Serbian championships, two ABA leagues and four Radivoj Korac Cups. Zvezda played the Euroleague play-in with him on two occasions.
In the 2021/22 season. Kalinic was the MVP of the ABA League. The summer before winning that title, he was at full strength and could choose a club, and he chose Zvezda, noted sports journalist Miloš Jovanović.
"Nikola Kalinic ends his career undoubtedly as one of the most important players of Zvezda in the 21st century. His share in the now legendary ABA title in 2015 is immeasurable, and his return in 2021, when he was realistically still at his physical zenith and could choose where he would be in the Euroleague, is a gesture that the fans will always remember", assesses Miloš Jovanović for "Vreme".
Kalinić's departure from Crvena zvezda was talked about in recent weeks, and he was linked with a move to Vojvodina. Although he had three offers, he decided to end his playing career and become Navarro's assistant, says Sport Klub.
"His retirement is somewhat surprising, considering that in recent weeks we heard that he was on the verge of leaving. In the end, however, I still believe that Kalinic 'listened to his body' here, because his style of play becomes more and more risky as the years go by, and he is a man who is used to always giving one hundred percent," says Jovanović.
Whether Kalinic made the decision due to the assessment that his body could no longer withstand the demands of professional basketball, or whether Red Star judged that there was no longer a place for him in the team, remains the question that followed his departure.
PHOTO: TANJUG/JADRANKA ILIĆNikola Kalinic
"I believe that his entry into the coaching staff of Crvena Zvezda is a positive thing, both for him and for the club. This act creates continuity on the line between Zvezda and the players who have given a lot, so there will be a clear bond and reminder for future generations. I hope that Kalinic is the first of many who will take this step," says Jovanovic.
Kalinic's Kosovo problem
Kalinic showed that he also has a political attitude. He was active on Twitter, au interview for Blic In 2019, he said that the Kosovo problem should be resolved and moved on.
"For as long as I can remember, and I was born in 1991, there have been problems and disagreements over Kosovo. I am aware that many will hate me now, but it's time for someone to say it publicly: Let's solve more of that problem, get what we can and move on. The Kosovo battle was 600 and more years ago, and it hasn't been for many decades ours territory, let the older and wiser men correct me if I am wrong. No one lives from the past and the sooner we come to terms with the present and move on, the better off we will be. We are not a heavenly people, nor have we ever been, we had bright moments in the past, but we have to come to terms with the fact that we are now a small and insignificant point on the huge map of the world," Kalinic said at the time.
In that interview, Kalinic supported the protests of that time.
"Finally, the people stood up and began to protest against injustice and stupidity. I even more support the position of remaining apolitical at least for a while because a lesser evil is never a solution instead of a greater one. Whoever can promise to fulfill all these demands or else immediately resign from all positions and be punished for additional wasted time, let him lead the protests. I will always protest against stupidity and arrogance, regardless of whether it is a position, the opposition, the president, a tramp from the street, coach, professor or whoever," the basketball player explained.
After that, Kalinic was criticized on social networks, which caused him to withdraw from them for a while. In his hometown - Subotica, a graffiti was written "Nikola Turčine, get drunk k******".
During the away game with Fenerbahce in Belgrade against Crvena zvezda, he experienced insults and chanting of the same slogan.
Video and absence from the national team
In that period, Kalinic found himself at the center of another bizarre incident, after a private recording of sexual content was released to the public.
In the same summer, he was not on the list of coach Saša Đorđević for the World Cup in China. Kalinic was a starter in Đorđević's team a few years ago, but the selector said then that he knew why he was not invited and that future invitations would depend on his form and behavior.
Whether political views and a private scandal influenced his absence remains unclear. Đorđević did not publicly confirm this, but said that Kalinic "knows why he was not invited".
PHOTO: TANJUG/ NEMANJA JOVANOVIĆNikola Kalinic
Kalinic himself was then, in BBC interview in Serbian, talked about the price he pays for openly expressing his views as a public figure.
"Everyone has the right, but also the obligation, to clearly express their opinion. Especially us, as public figures, because we have a larger audience. I paid a small price for the satisfaction I have," Kalinic said.
Apologies to Delia
Upon his return to Crvena zvezda, Kalinic apologized for the way his earlier statement about Kosovo was understood and interpreted. In an interview for Sport Klub he said that he was sorry for that and added that for him Kosovo and Metohija is an indispensable part of Serbia and that it should remain so forever.
His apology met with a positive response among Red Star fans, who pointed out that Kalinic "didn't want to leave his friends in the lurch."
Then, through the church, he donated a monthly salary to help the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija.
Kalinic supported students
Kalinic continued to express his views publicly the previous year as well. He was one of the participants in the student protest on March 15, which made him the target of insults again.
At the entrance to the building where he lives, the graffiti "Kalinić, blockader, Ustašo" is written. Crvena zvezda then spoke out and requested the reaction of the state authorities, without directly mentioning Kalinic's name, with the request that the case not be politicized.
Kalinic thus leaves Crvena Zvezda as a man whose relationship with the club and its fans has gone from open hostility to acceptance and the status of one of the most important players in the club's recent history. Although he ends his playing career, he remains at Zvezda as part of the coaching staff, so his departure is not a complete farewell to the club.
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