Many of you have probable heard the story of Andrej Pavlović who became famous when FK Bežanija hired him as data analyst a month ago and since then his has been helping his team which he also managed on the popular PC game Football Manager. His career and his real life knowledge impressed the director of the club so much that he decided to make Andrej part of the team. Andrej was kind enough to devote some time to our website and answer our questions.
Andrej, thank you again for agreeing to do this interview. We are lifelong Football Manager fans and when we read that one of our own has made it partially thanks to the game we couldn't have been more happy! Let’s go:
OZ: Tell us a little bit about yourself. Where are you from? Have you played football professionally or semi-professionally? How did you get into data analysis and stats? Did you study that as a course in a university?
AP: I am 22 years old and I have been a football enthusiast my whole life. I am a highly qualified nurse in my main time (7 years of studies). I have been watching football for as long as i known myself. I have played football from u7s to u16s and then I stopped, I couldn’t really continue due to sinuses issue. I don’t know how I ended up in Data Analysis I guess I just like it so much and that is my main inspiration.
OZ: You are just 22 years of age. Which was your first Football Manager game in the series, and do you remember how well did you do in your first ever save?
AP: Wow that was long ago, it was football manager 2008, and I believe it was also a Serbian club, Red Star or Partizan, but when I think about it was probably Chelsea since I am a supporter.
OZ: Why did you decide to start a career on FM with FK Bežanija– were you a fan of the club or was it a random choice?
AP: I am a fan of Bežanija but that is not why I picked them, I always pick teams from 2nd division or lower, and since Bežanija is my local club i choose them, rest is history as they say!
OZ: What are your main duties as a data analysist, how do you serve the club?
AP: I follow the game, focus on some important things during 90 minutes, it all depends what coaches want you to look at, probably something they overlook. I also do marketing for the club, I run their social media and I renewed their website!
OZ: One of the tricks we players use in FM when playing with underdog clubs is to find good players who don’t cost much. Will you be helping the club with scouting new players and maybe finding some bargains?
AP: I hope so in the future, as you may know we are kinda in a financial troubles right now so we can’t really sign anyone but it is a plan for the future.
OZ: What are the current ambitions of the club and do you think with your help Bežanija can get back in the Serbian top division?
AP: Our main goal is to renew the club reputation and bring those young talents we have to the top 2 leagues in Serbia, that is our long term goal, but our short term goal is to go up the ladder this season and try to get more sponsors so we can prosper!
OZ: One a personal note what are your ambitions for the future – do you want to stay in football and make it as your long-term career? Would you like to manage a team one day?
AP:As I said in the first question, I am a nurse, that is what I finished my studies for, i am not just going to give that away to chase something that isn’t there, but I love it here at Bezanija, my life feels complete, in the future I would really love an opportunity to work as a football coach or analyst/scout, get paid for it and live from it.
OZ:Do you still find the time to play Football Manger and if yes, how much time can you spare?
AP: There is always time for FM! I do play shorter sessions now but i try to relax from time to time.
OZ: Every FM fan has that one player that they fell in love with while playing the game and they always cherish his goals and maybe start to follow him in real life. For you is there such a player and who is he?
AP: For me it has to be Donnaruma, and Davide Calabria from AC Milan, since I literally discovered them on fm 15 or 16, they weren’t so known back then (played for AC Milan u19s) I brought them to the team and they won me many trophies, I will always remember them. Also Aleksandar Mesarović from FM19.
OZ: How much time of the week do you devote to the team? Do you watch every training session for example? Do you go to away games?
AP: I don’t watch every training session since I am working full time at a hospital during the week but whenever I have the time I go to Bezanija Stadium and watch a training session. Games on the other hand I don’t miss for the world, I even skipped work to go to games.
OZ: You said in your post that you do other stuff for the club like handling social media. We assume that you are behind the club’s YouTube channel. What are your plans for the channel, and do you plan to stream live games (or upload full matches)?
AP: Yeah that is the plan for the future, for the second half of the season I want to film every game and post it to our YouTube, it’s my main goal for the YouTube channel. Also I want to do some crazy challenges with players during the winter break for YT, we will see.
OZ: What advice would you want to give to people who would like to work as backroom personnel for a club?
AP: Just go for it. You can’t achieve anything if you don’t try. And when you get your chance be patient, especially with young players, you can’t bring them down too much but you also can’t bring them to the stars, it’s a fine margin.
OZ: It seems that your story has made it all the way to the media in England, has anyone from Sports Interactive (the game developer) contacted you and do you think you will be included in next year’s edition. FM 2020 drops this week, maybe a late-night patch can have you added to the game?
AP: Some guys from Serbian FM pages contacted me and gathered my data, they said i would be in the next game, but in the winter patch. I don’t really know when that will be haha! I look forward to it to be honest.
OZ: Please share useful links where people can follow you or the club!
AP: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fcbezanija/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNwqN6OumLRltme2DOdKH-g
Official club webstite: http://www.fcbezanija.com/
My main goal is instagram I post there frequently and i am the only one who runs it! Also all of the posts are in English so it’s good for English audiences.
THANK YOU and good luck! We will be following your career with great interest!
Here are results from every fixture since Andrej joined the club:
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