Stamenic gets love back after traumatic yearImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Marko Stamenic has established himself as a key man in Swansea’s midfieldByGareth VincentBBC Sport WalesPublished52 minutes agoMarko Stamenic says “the people around Swansea City” have helped him rediscover his love for football during his first year at the Championship club.
Thursday marked 12 months since Stamenic mentioned farewell to Nottingham Forest to take on the challenge of proving himself in the Championship at Swansea.
The 24-year-old has achieved that feat despite the trauma brought by the sudden death of his father Nikola, who he calls the “main figure” in his development as a player, last October.
As he prepares for Saturday’s first home league game of the new season, against Sheffield United, Stamenic reflects on “a year of a lot of ups and downs”.
“Probably more off the field for me on a personal note as everybody knows,” he says.
“But I think having the people around me in this club, it really helped me cross that hurdle, to find my love again for the game and really get back to how I know I am as a player and person.”
Stamenic has missed the “daily conversations” with his father about football.
Then there was this summer’s World Cup. Stamenic had been inspired when, as an eight-year-old, he sat alongside his dad to watch New Zealand’s games at the 2010 tournament in South Africa.
Sixteen years later, the midfielder made it to football’s grandest stage.
All the family were there to see Stamenic feature in New Zealand’s three matches in the USA while his dad was “watching from above”.
