Head coach Will Still opted for Stipe Radic to replace the suspended Denis Prychynenko last Sunday. It was the 20 year old Croatian’s debut for Beerschot, merely a couple of days after he signed his contract. And he delivered right away with a strong performance in the heart of the Beerschot defense. “My big dream was to play for Hajduk Split but from now on my focus is on Beerschot. This is my new and only challenge now.” Time for a chat with our determined defender.
“Number 55… Stiiiipe Raaaadic”. It sounded through the PA system minutes before the start of the derby last Sunday when Beerschot’s starting XI were announced. It came a bit as a surprise as Radic had been on a rollercoaster. He had only signed in the last hour of the transfer window, then quickly jumped on a plane from Split, went in quarantine, tested Covid-19 negative and met his team mates for the first time on the training pitch on Saturday. “Yes, it was a busy week. One with mixed feelings. On the one side I was happy with my transfer and my performance. On the other hand very disappointed with our defeat in the dying minutes”, Radic says.
Radic’s debut after just one training session came out of the blue. “I was ready for it but quite nervous at the same time, which is a normal feeling when you are about to play your first game for your new club”, he admits. But he left his mark immediately, not at least with his verbal presence. “That’s an important part of me: I want to coach all the time. Good communication is crucial in football and I tried to do that immediately against Antwerp. My team mates and the coach talked to me a lot during that only training session, I was given a list with photos and the names of all the players, while Fré Frans guided me during the match itself. My introduction here at Beerschot was perfect and I would like to thank everyone for that.”
Stipe Radic grew up on the outskirts of Split and immediately fell in love with his home team Hajduk. A big team in Croatia. “My only dream was to become a professional footballer for Hajduk Split and I made that dream come true. Leaving my club last week was a difficult and emotional decision. But on the other hand I am very happy and proud with my move to Beerschot. I am young and ambitious, and smitten to get the chance to work my way up in professional football here at Beerschot. I know this is a historic club on its way back to the top. I love challenges like that.”
Radic is only 20 and this is his first experience abroad on his own. The Croatian youth international sounds determined and not uncomfortable at all. “I will be looking for a nice flat soon, together with Davor Matijas, who is one of the goalkeepers at Antwerp. Also Ante Palaversa from Kortrijk is a good friend of mine as we played in Hajduk Split’s youth academy together. There is a chance my parents will come and live in Antwerp as well in the near future. Just like me they were also very emotional last week when I decided to make this move to Belgium. I am very proud of them as they supported me all the way since I became a professional footballer. We’ll see how it goes.”
After the Antwerp derby last Sunday Beerschot now face KV Mechelen twice in four days. Two more explosive games… “I love local derbies, the rivalry and the tension between traditional clubs. Those were my favourite games in Croatia as well: Hajduk against Dynamo. Great games in every sense. I have been told Beerschot has very passionate and fiery supporters. Brilliant. I can’t wait to play in front of them and hope fans will soon be allowed back in the stadium.”
With Denis Prychynenko returning from suspension Radic will have to wait and see whether Will Still will name him again in his starting 11 on Thursday night. “I know I will have to be patient and fight for my place in the team”, Stipe says. “Competition is fierce and there are quite a few talented players in Beerschot’s squad. My bonus however is I can play in every position in defense. At Hajduk I also learned to adapt to different tactical systems, which might help me out here at Beerschot as well.”
Is there a special reason why you opted for “number 55”? Stipe Radic smiles. “No, not really. At Hajduk I always played with number 5, but as that was not available anymore here I asked the kit man to put two fives on my back instead…”
