Sportclub Verl has reacted quickly to the loss of Sebastian Lange and presented his successor as sporting director.
Sportclub Verl has found a successor for Sebastian Lange, who moved to second division club SC Paderborn as sporting director, in Zlatko Janjic. Forecasting had already named Janjic as a hot candidate days ago.
Janjic, who has been with the club for three years and worked closely with Lange, will take over primary responsibility for the club’s sporting direction, squad planning, and the appointment of the coaching staff.
As an active player, Janjic wore the club’s jersey from 2019 to 2021 and played a key role in the club’s successes in the DFB Cup (reaching the round of 16) and promotion to the 3rd division. Janjic also left his mark on soccer in the Ruhr region.
He played 98 times for MSV Duisburg, scoring 26 goals and setting up 18 more. He played 38 times for Rot-Weiss Essen, scoring nine times and setting up four goals. He ended his active career at RWE in the summer of 2022.
Sebastian Lange has led the club to where it is today in sporting terms. I want to continue on this successful path together with my team – with the aim of getting the most out of it. (…) I am ready for this new challenge and want to do my part to help Sportclub Verl move forward
Zlatko Janjic
Since then, he has supported the sporting management of the Verl club and has been instrumental in the further development of its sporting structures, most recently as sporting director.
He has demonstrated his expertise in the areas of scouting and squad selection in particular. During this time, Janjic completed further training as a sports manager at the IHK (Chamber of Industry and Commerce). Janjic had already obtained a diploma in sports management in 2017. Together with Lange and the scouting team, he put together the squad for the current season. “Zlatko consistently optimizes the sporting direction and develops the performance area with a view to the future. He knows the world of professional soccer from his own experience and will pass this knowledge on to our players,“ explains André Theilmeier, spokesman for the board of directors. Janjic is highly motivated about his new role: ”Sebastian Lange has led the club to where it is today in sporting terms. I want to continue on this successful path together with my team – with the aim of getting the most out of it. We are continuously working to further develop our structures in such a way that sustainable sporting success is possible. The expansion of the scouting department and the targeted promotion of young talent remain key priorities. I am ready for this new challenge and want to do my part to take Sportclub Verl forward.”