As a defender, he shone in the Red Star side of the mid-1980s, before coming to Scotland and becoming well known in the teams of Dundee United and Motherwell before shorter spells with Raith Rovers and Hamilton Accies, but Miodrag Krivokapic’s 11 years as a player in Scotland have been eclipsed time-wise by his 17 years as a youth development coach at Celtic. His role at the Celtic Academy may not normally see him as part of the travelling party for Celtic’s UEFA away trips, but this one is different, as the Hoops take on his former Red Star side in Belgrade on matchday one of the Europa League group phase. Mio told Celtic TV in the Serbian capital: “I can’t see this game between Red Star and Celtic as an ordinary normal game. “It’s a very mixed emotion for me. Yes I played for the club for five years, and I was coach for six years as well. “I had some good times and it was a good league, ex-Yugoslavia playing against Partizan Belgrade in the derby and Real Madrid in Europe. “It’s a great memory and I’m so pleased to be here to see all my friends, and I am pleased now that I am coming with Celtic.”Despite playing the bulk of his career in Scotland and his two sons playing for Scottish sides, Mio’s accent still rings true to his homeland and he is well-placed to tell of the similarities between both nations, and of the fans of both Celtic and Red Star in creating Euro atmospheres at games. He said: “I am 17 years over there and you’ve made me very, very welcome. ‘Football and sport unites and we are all a big sports family, two great clubs with great supporters as well.’ “And I hope the game tonight will be a good game and it’s going to be a nice night as well for a good game of football. “I was very lucky to play for Red Star against Real Madrid, against Benfica, Atletico Madrid, and they have a history that they never let the supporters down in big European games. “It’s always a good score and always tight games and I’m looking forward to seeing the atmosphere, I’m sure a few thousand Celtic supporters will be made welcome and they will take part in that atmosphere as well.” During those 17 years, Mio ran the rule over many players, and a few of them are in the travelling party for tonight’s game including heroes of recent successes, James Forrest, Callum McGregor, Kieran Tierney and Anthony Ralston while the likes of Colby Donovan and Dane Murray have also been making inroads recently. Mio said: “It’s not just me that’s proud, it’s all in the club and we’re very, very proud to see that they are progressing and developing as persons as well. We are all very proud of them. “We are all proud that they are doing well and it’s great for the club to now have these six or seven players in the first-team squad. “It’s great for the club and when I spoke to Red Star directors last night and they said, ‘You must be very proud to have a big core of the boys who are coming through the youth.’ “And we are, we are very proud of them.” Subscribe to Celtic TVFixturesCrvena Zvezda Vs. Celtic – Wed, Sep 24th 2025, 20:00
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