Hammer throwing, track cycling and archery were not far from gaining a talented athlete in Strahinja Pavlovic. Our Serb new signing said on his introduction though: "When I was younger, I tried every sport. Football is my first love though!" You might not think when watching our solid defender go about his work that he would be such a romantic soul.
There is certainly nothing sentimental at all with the way the central defender smashes anything that needs clearing away. He is a man who does not like hesitating. Pavlo needed just 28 minutes to make his mark at Cercle Brugge in 2021, when from a corner the 1.94-metre tall player smashed the ball in.
His idol Nemanja Vidic would, no doubt have been proud of that. Strahinja's compatriot was himself a defender who packed a goal threat - as well as being a five-time English champion and UEFA Champions League winner with Manchester United. It is not for nothing that the 21-year-old, who has already played in the top flights in Serbia, France, Belgium and Switzerland, is full of praise, saying: "Vidic is the best defender of all time" In his debut in the ADMIRAL Bundesliga, Pavlo yesterday took a first step in following his hero's path, in a 2-0 win against Hartberg. Hopefully his story at our club is another one of love at first sight.
