‘The Serbian Viking’: Filip Đorđević talks about his career so far

A cold, Monday night training at Víkingur’s ground is a familiar sight and sound. The mist ascending from the players’ body heat, the silent coach casting an eye with his arms folded across his chest; the dull thud of a ball being struck, and the cajoling captain clapping on his team-mates.

Underneath the blurry haze of the floodlights, all focus is on Víkingur’s 22 year old attacker, Filip Đorđević. Filip has made a name for himself in the Faroe Islands, with over 100 appearances in the Effo.dieldin for KÍ Klaksvík and Víkingur, and a reputation as a combative yet skillful goalscorer.

So much so, that Đorđević has applied for a passport so he can gain international clearance to play for his new found home. It seems the Serbian is as alien and permanent a fixture, as the artificial pitches he plays on.

Filip talks to us about how he moved to the Faroe Islands; the difficulties of being compared to his father; and what lies next on the horizon for his career.

Klaksvik. Not a bad place to move to

Moving from Serbia to the Faroes

Filip’s father is B36 Tórshavn women’s manager, Aleksandar Đorđević.  Aleksandar Đorđević is an ex U-20s Yugoslavian , and had an illustrious career with Partizan Belgrade. The uncompromising defender was encouraged to play for KÍ Klaksvík, at the end of his career, by Serbian manager Tomislav Sivić, in 2001. Aleksandar Đorđević has remained in the Faroe Islands since.

Filip was 9 years old, when his father moved, and stayed behind in Serbia with his mother whilst his father prolonged his career. “It was a hard time being just with my mother, but I knew one day I’d have to make the same decision as my dad, and move elsewhere to become a professional footballer”.

Filip’s father, Aleksandar Đorđević. Click on this pic’s source: here for a great article about Aleksandar and son

Like father, like son

Aleksandar would push Filip’s footballing ambitions on, and try to steer his fledgling career in the right direction, from afar. Eventually, when Filip was 15 year’s old, his father encouraged him to leave FC Napredak and sign for his old club KÍ Klaksvík.

The winters are a lot colder in Serbia, so Filip was more than equipped to handle a cold Tuesday night in Klaksvík. Despite his familiarity with the cold and the warmth of his father’s presence, Filip maintains he had to learn how to settle in the Faroe Islands the hard-way.

“In the beginning it was very difficult because I didn’t know anyone, and I couldn’t speak Faroese”. Nor can Google translate for that matter. Try it on any of the club’s sites. The language seems to be a cross between Icelandic and Elven tongue.

Filip enjoys life on the Faroe Islands but admits it can be difficult if you’re young because everywhere’s small compared to back home. There’s also not much to do so he goes back to Serbia at the end of every season.

Klaksvik. Not a bad place to move to

Making a name for himself

Back home in Serbia and his new home in the Faroes, his father’s career looms over Filip’s career like the floodlights which casts a shadow on every step he makes on the pitch. “It’s not easy being the son of a big football player in old Yugoslavia”, concedes Filip.  “Everyone wants me to be as good as him or better”.

Filip had the opportunity to showcase his skills in their own light for Danish Superliga team FC Midtjylland, a few seasons ago. He believes the unsuccessful trial was too soon in his career, so he’s in no rush to aim for higher climbs.

‘The Serbian Viking’ is keen to help his club try and win the Effo.dieldin, and has one eye on overtaking NSI’s  Klæmint Olsen for leading goalscorer.

Víkingur’s campaign was done no harm with a dramatic late 3:1 victory over fellow title contenders, NSI Runavik. Filip will be looking top the table tomorrow and boost his scoring tally with a win over struggling TB tomorrow.

If Filip Đorđević’s career continues as it is, then it seems certain he’ll one day jog out on to the international arena in Faroese colours. For his first cap. For his new country. And his father proudly watching on in the stands.

May be then, ‘The Serbian Viking’ will set sail, and follow his father’s nomadic routes.

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