It was a tough and emotional night for Serbian soccer fans. On Saturday, Serbia’s national team suffered a surprising 0–1 home defeat against Albania in a World Cup qualifier — and just a few hours later, their coach, Dragan Stojković Piksi, announced that he was stepping down.
The match, played in the southern Serbian town of Leskovac, was supposed to be an easy win for Serbia. They were strong favorites, playing in front of home fans, and needed three points to stay close to England and Albania in their qualifying group. But soccer can be unpredictable — and Albania pulled off a stunning upset.
Dragan Stojković Takes Full Responsibility
After the final whistle, Dragan Stojković faced the media with honesty and sadness.
“This defeat should not have happened, and I accept responsibility,” he said during the post-match press conference. “I’m here to face the consequences.”
The 60-year-old coach explained that he had already spoken to the president and secretary general of the Serbian Football Association (FSS). He officially offered his resignation, meaning he decided to leave his job as head coach immediately.
“I will not travel to Andorra and lead the team,” he added, referring to Serbia’s next World Cup qualifier scheduled for Tuesday. The match against Andorra would have been a chance for redemption — but Stojković made it clear that someone else would have to take the team forward.
“This Result Was Really Poor”
Dragan Stojković didn’t hide his disappointment. “This result was really poor, I did not expect this,” he admitted. Losing to Albania at home was a painful blow, especially because Serbia had been working hard to rebuild confidence after their earlier struggles in international tournaments.
He also spoke kindly about his players:
“I have also spoken to the players and told them everything. It’s not a tragedy when a coach leaves. Serbia will always have a great supporter in me.”
Even in a moment of personal sadness, his message was clear — the team comes first. He reminded fans that the Serbian national team would continue, no matter who the coach is.
A Proud Career — As Player and Coach
Dragan Stojković isn’t just any coach. He’s one of Serbia’s most famous football figures ever. Born in 1965, he became a star midfielder for Red Star Belgrade, one of the biggest clubs in the Balkans.
In his playing days, Dragan Stojković earned 84 international caps (appearances) for the former Yugoslavia, between 1983 and 2001. He scored many important goals and was known for his silky dribbling, creativity, and vision on the field.
Nicknamed “Piksi”, Dragan Stojković was also one of the first European stars to move to Japan, where he played for Nagoya Grampus Eight from 1994 to 2001. At that time, the J-League (Japan’s top soccer league) was just getting started, and players like him helped make the sport popular in Asia.
Did you know?
Nagoya Grampus Eight was once managed by Arsène Wenger, the legendary Arsenal coach. Wenger and Dragan Stojković worked together in Japan — a friendship that lasted for years!
From Player to Coach
After retiring as a player, Dragan Stojković quickly turned to management. He even served briefly as chairman of Red Star Belgrade, the same club where he became famous as a player. Later, he went back to Japan to coach Nagoya Grampus, and later moved to China to manage Guangzhou R&F.
In 2021, he finally got his dream job — head coach of the Serbian national team. Under his leadership, Serbia qualified for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, a big achievement for the nation.
At that World Cup, Serbia was placed in a tough group with Brazil, Switzerland, and Cameroon. They showed fighting spirit and scored exciting goals but didn’t make it past the group stage. Still, fans appreciated the attacking style that Dragan Stojković brought to the team.
Serbia’s Current World Cup Journey
Right now, Serbia is playing in the qualification stage for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. In their group (Group K), England currently sits in first place, Albania is second, and Serbia is third.
To qualify, Serbia needs to finish in one of the top spots — but this latest loss against Albania has made things difficult.
The next match, away against Andorra, is a must-win game if Serbia wants to stay in the race. But Dragan Stojković will not be in the dugout for that one.
What Happens Next?
Serbian sports media have already started reporting possible replacements for Dragan Stojković. The leading name mentioned is Veljko Paunović, another well-known Serbian coach and former player.
Paunović once managed Serbia’s U-20 national team, leading them to victory at the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup — a historic achievement for Serbian football. He has also coached clubs like Reading FC in England and Chicago Fire in the U.S. Major League Soccer (MLS).
If appointed, Paunović could bring a fresh start and possibly a younger approach to Serbia’s national team setup.
Match Moved for Security Reasons
Interestingly, the Serbia vs Albania match was originally supposed to be played in Belgrade, the country’s capital. However, the Football Association of Serbia asked UEFA (the governing body of European soccer) to move the game to Leskovac due to security concerns.
Matches between Serbia and Albania have a tense history, often due to political issues in the Balkans. UEFA agreed to the change to help ensure safety and avoid crowd trouble.
Fun Soccer Facts and Combo
Serbia’s star players include Aleksandar Mitrović (who plays for Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia) and Dušan Vlahović (a top striker for Juventus in Italy).
Albania’s win was one of their biggest away victories in recent memory. It also boosts their confidence as they aim for their second-ever World Cup qualification.
The 2026 World Cup will be the first-ever 48-team World Cup, allowing more countries — including smaller ones like Albania — a real chance to qualify.
Dragan Stojković led Serbia in more than 50 matches as head coach.
Serbia has scored an average of 2.1 goals per game under his management, known for attacking football and over 2.5 goals in many matches.
Dragan Stojković’s Legacy
Even though his coaching era has ended, Dragan Stojković will always be remembered as a key figure in Serbian soccer. He was part of the generation that inspired millions of kids to play football, both in Serbia and across the former Yugoslavia.
In his farewell message, he made one thing clear — he’ll remain a lifelong supporter of the national team. “Serbia will always have a great supporter in me,” he said warmly.
It’s a reminder that in soccer, just like in life, sometimes you win, sometimes you lose — but the love for the game never fades.
Combo of Soccer Lessons
Teamwork matters more than individual stars.
Losing one game isn’t the end — it’s a chance to rebuild.
Coaches, players, and fans all share the same dream: to see their flag fly high on the world stage.
As Serbia prepares for their next match in Andorra, the players will try to honor their former coach’s hard work and passion. And fans across Serbia will be watching — hoping that their team can bounce back stronger than ever.
