Degenek eyes upsets as Red Star face Champions League big guns

Australia defender Milos Degenek says it will be “amazing” to carve out results in UEFA Champions League to bring “some joy” to Red Star Belgrade’s fanatical fans.

Degenek, 24, was instrumental in Red Star’s qualification for the group stages of the competition they won back in 1991, with two assists as they went through on away goals against Red Bull Salzburg.

The reward is a Group C draw which reads like a script from Mission Impossible, with the big guns of Paris St-Germain, Liverpool and Napoli all trained on them.

But nothing is going to douse Degenek’s delight as he savours a series of challenges which will take his career to new heights.

A refugee from the Kosovo war, Degenek was born in Croatia into a family of dyed-in-the-wool Red Star followers of Serbian heritage.

After arriving in Australia aged seven, he came full circle by joining the legendary club of his boyhood at the conclusion of the FIFA World Cup.

At best he was hoping for a UEFA Europa League spot, but will milk every minute of reaching the holy grail.

“We went through all those qualifying rounds to get here, and it’s a dream come true for all of us,” said Degenek, whose family are predominantly based in Belgrade.

“We’re facing the French champions, last year’s finalists (in Liverpool) and the runners-up from Italy.

“They’re all huge clubs ... it’s a massive test for us. But it’s a bonus to be there.

“If we can grab some results it will be amazing. We’re going to enjoy it and try and bring some joy to the supporters and the club.

“Anything can happen. It will all come down to the day and maybe also a bit of luck.

“We’ll be prepared and see where the road takes us.”

Back in the group stage for the first time in the 27-season Champions League era, Red Star have been boosted by winning an appeal to overturn a stadium closure after a series of infractions by their raucous and often unruly supporters.

On a personal level, the achievement of making the group stage has added poignancy for Degenek, who will join Graham Arnold’s first training camp with the Socceroos in Turkey next week.

“Pretty much everyone in my family and everyone I know is a massive Red Star fan,” he said.

“When you grow up in this part of the world, you know how much it means to be back in the competition after so long.

“And for me to play a big part in that (with the two assists) makes it extra special.”

Degenek has been besieged with media requests since the momentous events in Salzburg but aims to keep a low profile before Monday’s (AEST) away clash at Vojvodina, with the monster clash at home to Napoli 15 days after that.

On his next assignment with the Socceroos, Degenek - almost an ever present at his new club - welcomed the Arnold era.

“It’s exciting ... I look forward meeting up with the squad and the staff and hopefully we can all kick on and do great things for Australia (at January’s AFC Asian Cup).

“I’ve played a lot of games already because of the Champions League qualifiers and I’m feeling fit but it’s never easy when you go into camp with the national team.”