From Street Pitches to Serie A Spotlight
Born in Bosnia, Ilicic`s early life was shaped by adversity and the raw crucible of street football. “My shots, my left foot, were born on the street,” he recounts, a testament to a talent forged outside the formal academies. His father`s passing when he was just 18 months old meant his mother and brother instilled in him a fighter`s spirit, a resolve that would serve him well. His entry into professional football was almost accidental, a surprise transfer from Maribor to Palermo that saw him net a goal against his future club – a goal he famously didn`t celebrate, a quiet respect for a new chapter unfolding.
At Palermo, under the idiosyncratic tutelage of president Maurizio Zamparini, Ilicic flourished. Zamparini, a man known for his passionate, if fleeting, affections for players and coaches alike, became Ilicic`s unlikely shield. He was captivated by Ilicic`s “different” style of play, seeing in him the same magic he saw in Pastore and Miccoli. This protection allowed Ilicic to navigate the volatile landscape of Italian football, even if the team`s full potential often remained tantalizingly out of reach.
The Fiorentina Interlude: Success and Scrutiny
His four years in Florence, by his own admission, were “complex.” Despite twice finishing as the club`s top scorer and assist-man, Ilicic felt an incessant undercurrent of criticism. “I was poor? Seriously?” he asks, reflecting on a period where his statistical output seemed to be weighed against an unquantifiable expectation. Finishing fourth in Serie A and reaching a Europa League semi-final were deemed insufficient. It`s a classic conundrum for many a gifted footballer: immense individual contributions sometimes fail to satisfy the collective hunger for silverware, especially in a city known for its demanding fan base. The lingering regret of a lost Coppa Italia final, however, was his own.
Atalanta: The Apex, the Magic, and the Unfinished Symphony
Then came Atalanta. A call from Gian Piero Gasperini, a coach whose reputation for intense, almost brutal, training preceded him, marked the beginning of Ilicic`s most celebrated chapter. Gasperini`s methods were legendary: “Between one training session and another, you can`t sleep: your legs pulse, you`re tired, you feel like vomiting.” Yet, these torturous regimens forged a team of unparalleled physical and mental fortitude. They were a squad that could reverse matches, outlasting opponents who withered by the 60-minute mark.
This was “that Atalanta” – a team Ilicic describes as “strong, magical,” rewriting the history books with audacious performances like five goals against Milan and Parma, or two at Anfield. Paratici, then of Juventus, even told him they had a “scudetto attack.” It was a collective of talents – Papu Gómez, Muriel, Pasalic – who could “play with eyes closed.” Yet, the ultimate prize eluded them. Two Coppa Italia finals ended in defeat, one particularly bitter due to a controversial refereeing decision that still rankles. These near misses solidified their status as football`s most romantic underdogs, a team that won hearts, if not trophies.
The Valencia Night and the Descending Darkness
The night of Valencia was Ilicic`s personal zenith, a four-goal Champions League masterclass that catapulted him into footballing immortality. It was a performance that had Gasperini, after Ilicic asked for a substitution following his third goal, simply ignoring him, prompting the fourth. “He pushed me beyond the limits I thought I had,” Ilicic states. At that point, many believed he was playing at a Ballon d`Or level, capable of leading Atalanta to the Champions League final.
But as Atalanta changed the narrative of football, the world itself was beginning to change, “turning off the light.” For Ilicic, the COVID-19 pandemic became a gateway to a deep personal darkness. Isolated for 42 days in Bergamo, witnessing the harrowing sight of coffins transported by military trucks, while reports suggested life in Slovenia continued unimpeded, took a profound toll. This, coupled with the lingering grief from the sudden death of his former teammate Davide Astori, became an unbearable weight.
“I didn`t know if I would return to play, and when you`re locked in the house, you start to think. I suffered. Money, contracts, nothing mattered to me anymore. I wasn`t well.”
Cruel and unfounded rumors about his wife`s infidelity further compounded his anguish. He chose not to refute them publicly, protecting his private struggle from further intrusion, a decision that speaks volumes about the isolating nature of mental health battles in the public eye. His silence wasn`t an admission; it was a desperate plea for privacy.
The Unbreakable Bond with Gasperini and a Dignified Farewell
Gasperini`s emotional recounting of Ilicic`s struggles underscores the unique bond they shared. The coach wasn`t just a tactical genius; he was a lifeline. He pushed Ilicic, yes, but also understood him, allowing him to be himself on the field while providing a steady presence off it. It was Gasperini who, after Ilicic`s hospitalization for an infection in 2018, told him to “get up, we have to play,” even when Ilicic could barely stand. This blend of tough love and profound understanding defined their relationship.
Eventually, physical ailments – persistent tendon issues that made it impossible to maintain the elite rhythm demanded by Serie A – forced his departure from Atalanta. He declined offers from clubs like Sevilla, acknowledging his limits. His return to Slovenia, first to Maribor and now to Koper, is not a retreat but a dignified continuation, a chance to enjoy the game on his own terms.
The love from Bergamo, however, proved enduring. Even years after leaving, seeing Atalanta fans sing for him at a match, a phenomenon even Luka Modric noted, brought him to tears. This genuine affection is the trophy he truly cherishes, a testament to the indelible mark he left on a city and a club that embraced him, flaws and all.
