Former T&T men’s senior team, Under-20 and U-23 coach Zoran Vranes has replaced Terry Fenwick as head coach of Central FC. The 63-year-old Serbian penned a two-year deal which will see him at the Couva-based club till mid-2016, occupying the position left vacant by Englishman Terry Fenwick.
Fenwick, who led Central FC to last season’s First Citizens Cup and Lucozade Sport Goal Shield titles, and the runner-up position in the Digicel Pro League to qualify for the 2015 Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Club Championship, signed a three-year agreement in Belgium with lower division outfit CS Visé prior to the end of last season.
“I think he (Vranes) is, in no doubt, one of the most experienced, probably one of the better coaches to pass through the island,” said Central FC managing director Brent Sancho.
Vranes is no stranger to T&T football, having served various levels of the national set-up, as well as at club level with Joe Public. Vranes led the T&T men’s senior team to successive Caribbean Cup titles in 1995 and 1996, and won the title again in 2001 as an assistant coach to, now deceased, Scotsman Ian Poterfield.
Vranes, who also had stints with the Antigua and Barbuda and St Vincent and the Grenadines men’s senior teams, had a brief stint as assistant coach to Russell Latapy with the T&T Men’s Senior in 2009, and in the same year led the T&T’s U-20 team to the Fifa Under-20 World Cup in Egypt.
“We had a number of foreign coaches that passed through this island, but when you look at Zoran’s record as a coach, he has a tremendous record, not just as being successful on the pitch but also, what really interests us as a club, the development of the young players. That is something that we are quite high on, moving forward as a football club. So once his résumé hit our desk, it was a no-brainer for us.”
“We have been around for a very short space of time but we have tasted some success… Success good enough for us to build on and we believe that Zoran is the one to take us to the next level.
“He is a coach with a vast wealth of experience, and we expect him to continue his success under Central FC.”
Under Vranes’ watch, Central FC will open its pre-season on Monday.
Upon his arrival, Vraneš has expressed his desire for an improvement from the players and has promised to put in the necessary work as a coach.
He said his focus is for the team “to play better, to play nicer maybe, to achieve similar and maybe better results.”
Vranes said that he and Fenwick, a three-time Pro League winner at San Juan Jabloteh, have been friends for a long time as well as very tough opponents.
“He (Fenwick) has been very successful with Central yes, but I don’t want to say it’s our limit. I believe that we have the ability to (make the next step) and that’s what I’m here for. If I didn’t believe that we can make the next step then (what am) I doing here.
“I could promise that I would work very hard with the guys and develop (the players) further– that’s definite.”
Vraneš admitted, however, that players sometimes take longer to conform to his style, which he said is different than that of Fenwick.
He said that Central finishing second in the league last season, and qualified for the Caribbean Club Championship, with a bit of luck. He said he believes under his charge the club can make a “bigger step”.
“I know other clubs are looking for success also but I know our players here (at Central),” said Vraneš.
“I know Trinidad, I know Trinidadians, and I know their habits; some good, some bad. I know they can achieve if they are more disciplined. Now I'm at new club (Central FC) to develop my record, to help young guys, especially those who want (opportunities) outside of the country. I believe that Trinidadians have potential. I know many of Central players already. Of course we are expecting to have some (new ones in) to be the strongest opponent in this country.”