Red Star Coach Stankovic Faces Crucial Test Against Israeli Club Be'er Sheva

Serbian coach Dejan Stankovic, currently leading Red Star Belgrade, is once again confronting a challenging situation against an Israeli team. In the first leg of the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round, Hapoel Be'er Sheva secured a valuable 1-0 victory over Red Star. This match revived memories of a painful episode four years ago when Stankovic's Red Star was eliminated by Maccabi Haifa in August 2022 due to a dramatic own goal in stoppage time. Despite having led Red Star to a league title the previous season, Stankovic was dismissed just two days after that elimination.

Since then, Stankovic has coached several teams, including Sampdoria and Ferencváros, before returning to Red Star in the summer of 2024 for a second tenure. Now, he faces the pressure of overturning the deficit against Be'er Sheva to keep Red Star's Champions League hopes alive. Reports from Serbia suggest that another elimination by an Israeli club could jeopardize his position once more, this time even earlier in the competition, before the playoff round.

Following the recent loss, Stankovic appeared visibly upset, with Serbian media describing his reaction as "panic." The pressure is intensified by the perceived disparity in squad value, with Red Star's player Vasili Kostov reportedly worth more than the entire Be'er Sheva roster. Stankovic aims to overcome this hurdle and avoid repeating the Israeli nightmare that has shadowed his career in recent years. A victory in the return leg would significantly improve his standing and Red Star's chances to advance in the Champions League.