Zoltan Kovacs: It is a great feeling to return to PAOK as the Vidi director of football

"I have great feeling returning with Vidi to Thessoloniki. It was my first taste of playing football abroad during my career at the age of 24. The stadium and surroundings have not changed too much over the last 20 years. However, I heard just yesterday that PAOK will be building a new stadium and the Greek side deserve this. We are talking about a fantastic club and amazing fans. I remember when I signed for PAOK and I was fortunate as the club scouts had watched an international match that I made my debut in (1997 Hungary-Norway 1-1 World Cup qualifier). It was not me that they came to watch, but I managed to convince them with my performance that evening. There were not really player agents back in that day so the management of the Greek club contacted the owner of Ujpest, and they soon agreed terms and invited me to Thessoloniki. I really enjoyed everything that I experienced. I joined a good club and a good group of people who were all very helpful and my game also went well. Things went like a dream but the club then suffered sudden financial problems and they were unable to pay either me or Ujpest. That meant I had to leave before I had planned to. However, I only have pleasant memories of my time there. I have returned several times over the last 20 years to watch PAOK matches. My family have been here several times on holiday so I had the chance to show my children the place where I first played abroad in my career. Returning now as Director of Football for Vidi is the biggest thing for me, but I hope that this is not the final stop and that in the future we can have bigger success with Vidi. I agree with Marko Nikolic that PAOK are a stronger side than AEK Athens. However, I would not accept a draw as we are capable of beating PAOK here. It will not be an easy task but not impossible. I have trust in the lads!" - commented Zoltan Kovacs.