Exclusive: Zlatko Dedič interview

Now 22, Dedič left Slovenia at the age of 15, signing his first professional contract with Serie A side Parma. Despite occasional flashes of great potential, Dedič couldn't secure a place in the first-team and was later subsequently sent on loan to Empoli and Cremonese. The youngster, who hails from the Slovenian port city of Koper, saw out his contract with the so-called "luxury province" last season and accepted an offer to join the ambitious Serie B side Frosinone, who had recently qualified to Serie B for the first time in their history. Extra-Football was lucky enough to catch up with him and discuss his career so far and his hopes for the future.

Zlatko, for fans in Slovenia it came as a surprise that you'd signed a contract with a lesser-known team such as Frosinone. How did you settle in there and how do you see club's near-term ambitions?

I have to admit that everything was brilliant for me so far! The city perhaps isn't as beautiful as Parma, but I feel great there. Frosinone is about 70km away from Rome which makes it even easier for me, since there are always four daily flights from Rome to Trieste. I live in the outskirts of the town in a nice residential neighbourhood. Frosinone lives for football, I have never seen fans as loyal and as loud as these ones.

Frosinone qualified to the Serie B for the first time in the club's history last season, so would it be fair to say that the board wasn't disappointed after finishing the season in 14th spot?

Our main goal was to stay in the Serie B and as soon as we collected 50 points, we already had vacations on our minds. The board was pleased with the season, although ambitions for the next season aim even higher. The club wants to establish itself as a stable Serie B team which could at some stage form a team capable of promotion to the top flight. Otherwise, the club is very serious and professional. We (the players) got our July paycheck right after the conclusion of last season, which I haven't experienced so far in Italy.

Rumours have it that Frosinone's president is known as a very rich guy.

I wouldn’t dare saying he's as loaded as Massimo Moratti for instance, but I can assure you that he is "filthy" rich. He earns money by producing transmission gears, so he has no problem investing money in football. Hiring an experienced coach like Alberto Cavasin is a good proof of his intentions with the club. The president [Maurizio Stirpe] also wants to build a new stadium, which thrills the fans, but footballers aren't that enthusiastic about this idea. Our stadium Matusa has room for only 10.000 spectators, but despite its size it is seen as a very tough ground for all visiting teams. The stands are only two metres away from the pitch, which makes an incredible atmosphere and whenever we score a goal, you can almost feel the whole ground trembling! Even Juventus had plenty of difficulties here, so if you ask me, I wouldn’t change this stadium for anything.

Source: www.nogomania.com

How come the board decided to hire a new coach, even though Ivo Iaconi secured a stay in Serie B last season?

Honestly said, they thought he wasn't a proper coach for our goals! Ivo Iaconi was the coach of the club for two years and his cycle reached the end. He brought the club from Serie C1 to Serie B, but the board was convinced that the club needed a new direction in order to accomplish their goals. Cavasin has experience from Serie A, where he was a former manager of Lecce. I think Iaconi isn't unhappy with the outcome either - after all, he will coach Ascoli next season.

How would you evaluate your performances with the club in the second part of the season?

I have to admit that I wasn't very fit when I signed for Frosinone, so I had to be a bit cautious in January. In the beginning I had some problems with injuries and considering that the club had a minor crisis at that time, I must confess that I didn't settle in as I hoped I would. Over time things got better, I recovered my old shape, and even scored 2 goals so if I draw a line under the season, I think it wasn't that bad.

Before moving to Frosinone you had some very good games at Parma, you scored some important goals in Coppa Italia and Uefa Cup.

Yes, especially the game against Napoli, when I scored two goals, earned a penalty and was "guilty" for a red card given to one of the Napoli players. In that round even Gazzetta dello Sport chose me as the best player of the week and after that match several clubs were interested in my services.