Slovenia has qualified for the European Championship, making it their first appearance on the continent in 24 years. This achievement is a testament to the hard work and dedication of coach Matjaž Kek, who led the team to victory against Kazakhstan in their final qualifying match.
Kek’s tenure with the national team has been marked by controversy, with some critics questioning his ability to lead Slovenia to major competitions. However, he was able to prove them wrong by securing a visa for the Euros on Monday night.
After the match, Kek was overcome with emotion as he thanked everyone involved in getting Slovenia to this point. “Joy, we are happy and proud,” he said. “I think we deserved this and thank all of Slovenia for the enormous positive energy. It paid off, for this generation that was declared losers and this is a big thing for our football.”
Kek’s contract expires after the Euros, but he remains uncertain about whether he will stay with the national team or move on to another project. For now, however, he is enjoying this momentous occasion and looking forward to what lies ahead. “One should know when enough is enough,” he said. “Now I’m only looking ahead.”