Marcos Milinkovic
Video interview translation by José Juan Pérez Colorado
I’m Venezuelan, and I was a volleyball player now turned into referee. (José Juan Pérez C.)
Hiroshima (Japan)
1. When and where were you born ?
I was born in Buenos Aires, Argentine, December the 22nd of 1971
2. Where does your surname come from ?
Milinkovich is my father’s surname who was born in Croatia, as my mother. She lived in Zagreb and he lived in Split. Well, When the war began in Croatia, they came to Argentine so they met and got married in Argentine. Then, here I am.
3. Have you any brothers ?
Two sisters, one is older and the other is younger than me.
4. Do they play volleyball ?
No no, the younger one played a couple of years but then she quitted.
5. Would you tell me more about your career ?
Sure, I first began to play volley in Argentine back in 86 or 87, for a club called "Deportivo Ballester", close to my house.
I played for two years there and then I went to "Obras Sanitarias de Buenos Aires" where I also played for two years.
Back in 92-93 and 93-94 I came for the first time to play in Europe, Italy, to play in the 2nd Division for "Uliveto di Livorno".
In 1995 I stayed in Argentine because of the PanAm Games to be held in Mar del Plata.
From 1996 to 2000 I played in Brazil, for clubs like "Focamares", "Chapecó", two years in "Olympikus".
Then in 2000 I returned to Italy, to play with "Sisley Treviso" for year.
Then I was for three years in Asystel Milano; returned to Brazil for one year with "Unisul" Back to Europe for two more years, in Greece: "Olympiakos". Brazil, again one year in "Cimed" and this year in Turkey for the "Veredia"...
6. What do you think about the countries you have visited ?
I’ve really enjoyed every country that I have visited. I meet a lot of people, and I’ve got some friends that I am still in touch with. I learned a lot by living alone, to be independent, making many things without the help of my family. And, obviously I learned too much about the sport, and about myself.
7. Are you married ?
Yes, I am. I married a Serbian girl: Yelena, We’ve got a kid who was born in Brazil: Luca, and now we are expecting another baby; my wife is already three, almost four moths pregnant now.
8. How long will you continue playing ?
I don’t know. I haven’t thought about it yet, I still enjoy playing volley, I have a lot of fun. I wake up and go to practice being enthusiastic; so as long as I have the joy of 'living' and playing volley I won’t think of retirement.
9. Once retired, where will you live ?
I don’t know yet, now we have the idea of staying here in Europe. My family and I, we loved Greece. We even have some plans to make some things in Greece, but anyway, the main idea is to stay here in Europe.
10. How much volleyball changes in the last years?
It has changed a lot, first of all, the game system that is played now. We started playing with the 'side out' system, with games lasting 4 or 5 hours; then it changed to be 2 or 2:15 hours tops. I think this is the most significant change of all. Obviously the players changed technically and tactically, the game is played way faster than before; I think now that power is more important than technique and not the other way around as before. I´d say today is 70% power for players, but well for us - the more experienced players - it surely helped a lot, we have gained a few years more of career, so let’s hope it's a long term thing, because it really made volley more exciting and fun.
11. Is there a 'more important' coach in your career ?
It´s hard to say 'this one' gave me the big break. I think every coach taught me something, even those coaches I’ve met this last couple of years when I am becoming 35 years old, I still learn some few things from them. I learned so much with Renan, Castellani and with Montali, during my years in Milano. I think you can learn from every coach, you never know 'everything'. You know, good or bad you can always get something positive from a coach.
12. Which is the most important victory of your career ?
The most important one, I think is the PanAm Games in Mar del Plata (1995), we won the gold medal in an unbelievable final game - for us and the people there - 3:2 against USA. And sure, winning against Brazil in Sidney to reach the semis in the 2000 Olympics.
13. and the worst defeat ?
Against France (quarter final round) in the World Championships held in Argentine. I think that would be the most painful defeat of all. We were playing some great volley, we classified by beating some great teams like Italy, Bulgaria... and then we crashed against France who was playing at a high level in that Championship, they won the bronze medal there. And also, the game against Russia in Sydney’s semis ´cause I think we had good chances to win the sets and ultimately the game, but we lost it 1:3 I hurt a lot, but I still think the game against France was worse than this.
14. Are you interested in coaching ?
See, 3 or 4 years ago I wouldn´t have even thought of that. I would like to have a link with volley,
maybe as a General Manager or something like that. But in this last years I have changed my mind, now
I like the idea of being with the boys, maybe because of the role I´m palying with Jhon in this new
National team, where we work with a lot of young players... that has changed my mind and I would love
to coach once retired.
15. How is the general situation in Argentina ?
Now, I think we are living a more relaxed times. There’s a bunch of things that remain uncertain, we are to vote for a new President in a couple of months... This President, kind of put things in balance from what it was 5 or 6 years ago; so people is expecting what’s going to happen in the near future. In volley, I think we had improved and grew a lot until two years ago, were we’ve had 4 or 5 really good teams very similar in level; but the last year and this one, I think level has gone down; there is one team (club) who changed may things in Argentina’s volley, they made a huge investment, perhaps 4 or 5 times bigger than the second club of the country, so today there’s a enormous difference between the rest of the teams and 'Bolivar', Marcelo Tinelli´s team; I believe this situation is not helping the system of the league, ´cause it gets boring, with only one team prevailing over the rest; so they can only play to reach the final...
16. Which are the favourite teams to get the three Olympic berths ?
See, I thinks there are 4 favourite teams: Russia, Bulgaria, Brazil and USA, but sure there are some teams that can be a surprise like: Spain, Puerto Rico that surprised USA in their second match; but I think the most favourite teams are the first four I named: Brazil, Bulgaria, Russia and USA. Out of those four teams, I think they’re going to take the three berths.
17. How do you spend your spare time off the volleyball ?
Well, I like to listen to music, to watch some movies, to chat with my friends trough the internet, to read the paper. I think the most of the time we spend during competitions in the hotels we use it like that: with music, drinking some 'mate' with the friends, hanging around, watching movies...
18. Please could you say goodbye to everybody in... Spanish
Well, let me send a big hug for all the fans of volleyball out there, and Argentina’s fans specially...