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Branko Nisevic (picture) feels the time is right to take on a new challenge in his career after being named as the new coach of Premier League side Hibernians yesterday.
Nisevic’s appointment had been widely anticipated after Hibs announced on Friday that they had parted ways with Michael Woods, just two days after the latter steered the club to a 3-1 victory over Qormi in the final of the U*Bet FA Trophy.
“I’ve been preparing myself to become coach of a senior team from the first day I began my coaching education,” Nisevic said.
“That has always been my aim. In the last four years, I gained experience as assistant coach, with Birkirkara and the national team, and as coach of the Malta U-19 squad.
“Now I’ve been given the opportunity to move on to the next stage of my career and I feel that I’m ready for this challenge. Hibs have a strong and competitive squad.”
After two runner-up finishes and back-to-back FA Trophy wins in the last two seasons, Hibs can only improve by winning the league.
Nisevic is unfazed.
“In football, you are always expected to do better than the year before,” he said.
“Hibs have a promising team and the players have quality. I’m confi-dent that we can do well.
“We will try to play good football and please our fans.”
The 41-year-old coach is keen to improve the strength-in-depth of the Hibs squad.
“We are analysing the squad,” Nisevic said.
“The foreigners are good, we have no plans to change them.
“We will try to sign two to three Maltese players. That is not easy because we all know that the transfer fees for Maltese players are a big hurdle for clubs.”
The Serbian, who will formally start work at Hibs after Malta’s away World Cup qualifier against Ar-menia on June 7, believes the experience he has gained in the past four years will serve him well.
“I had jobs both at club level and as part of the Malta FA technical sector,” Nisevic, who enjoyed a successful spell with the Paolites as a player, said.
“I’ve worked with great people, administrators as well as coaches.”