Ħamrun Spartans have decided to part ways with both their coach Branko Nisevic and striker Dodo. The Serbian coach made the revelation during a post-match interview with National TV, after successfully leading his team to their ninth Premier League title with a commanding 19-point lead over Birkirkara. Nisevic also made history by guiding the Spartans to the Play-Off round of the UEFA Conference League, which marked the best performance ever by a Maltese club in a European competition.
Although he led the team to unprecedented success, Nisevic confirmed that he will not be returning to lead the club next season. In a meeting with the club’s president four or five weeks ago, the coach was informed of the decision. Despite not knowing the exact reason behind the move, Nisevic maintains a positive outlook and takes pride in the achievements the team made under his tutelage. He believes that the club has the right to employ whomever they choose, and he departs with no ill feelings.
Reflecting on the past season, Nisevic believes that the team struggled to gel with new players after making significant changes to the squad at the end of the previous season. However, he remains optimistic that with a few additions, the team can reach the group stages of the UEFA Conference League.
Nisevic joined Hamrun Spartans in the second half of the 2021-22 season, replacing Mark Buttigieg and guiding the team to a third-place finish in the Premier League and qualification to the UEFA Conference League. Rumors are circulating that an Italian coach will take over as the next head coach of the Spartans.
Meanwhile, during the team’s emotional celebration, Dodo Soares bid farewell to Hamrun Spartans with tears in his eyes. The 32-year-old forward has been playing for the club since the beginning of the 2018/19 season, but this season was a challenging one for him as he only managed to score three goals in the Premier League, apart from a goal in the qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League and another in the FA Trophy. Despite his departure, he remains a loyal supporter of the club, declaring that he will remain ‘Hamruniz’ forever.
