Vladan Lukic: "Darko is an irreplaceable cog who protects the locker room"
Former player Vladan Lukic recalls how Darko Pancev protected the locker room and sometimes acted on principle, even missing a match in protest.
Vladan Lukic praised Darko Pancev as a figure who goes beyond the pitch, describing him as a stabilising presence in the dressing room and an essential part of the teams he served.
"An irreplaceable cog" — Lukic's memory of Pancev
Lukic stressed Pancev's status as one of the region's greats — a player who still commands respect for his role in Red Star Belgrade's greatest moments and for what he meant to teammates and fans alike.
In his interview Lukic offered a concrete example of Pancev's influence: "Darko is great, Darko is a story by himself, an irreplaceable screw in creating a big machine, a big story. He is a blend of a very emotional type, who loves everyone, who looks after everyone in the locker room. Let me give one example. We had an agreement about some bonuses, they were promised to us before the match with OFK Beograd, we had a meeting and the question was whether they would arrive on time. Back then we were getting cash in an envelope. We waited and the bonuses didn't come, although promises had been made that were not fulfilled. So Darko, together with all the players, we met in the locker room for a last meeting before going out on the pitch. Darko at that moment stands up and asks. 'Look, I feel cheated, and that's what the whole locker room thinks.' Then everyone is silent, the management is silent, there is no answer, and Darko goes to the locker, takes his jacket and goes home. And he didn't play in that match."
Lukic's anecdote underlined how Pancev combined on-field quality with a readiness to defend collective dignity — a trait teammates remember as much as his goals and trophies.
For many in the region Pancev remains the defining Macedonian footballer of his generation, best known for his decisive contributions to Red Star Belgrade's success in Bari in 1991. Lukic's remarks renewed public attention to that legacy and to the personal leadership Pancev showed off the pitch.
Earlier reports also noted coaching changes in regional clubs, including the return of Ardian Nuhiu to the Drita bench.
Photo: press material from the event
