Although they took different paths through nine different leagues and four countries to get where they are now, Saturday’s match between Sacramento Republic FC and S2 won’t be the first time the coaches will have faced each other.
In fact, S2 Head Coach Ezra Hendrickson and Sacramento Republic Head Coach Predrag “Preki” Radosavljević know each other quite well, having played against each other in the 2000 MLS Western Conference Championship. Preki was also an assistant coach with Chivas USA during the brief stint Hendrickson had with the team.
“I played against Preki for many years when he was at Kansas City and I was with the Galaxy,” said Hendrickson. “In that 2000 semifinal, he was in the peak of his career and was an extremely good player.”
The two coaches played in the league together for eight years, from 1997 until 2005. Hendrickson, a seasoned defender, and Preki, a tactical goal-scorer, saw the better parts of each other’s abilities over the course of their time together.
“Ezra was a top opponent when he was with Galaxy at a time where they were a very good side,” said Preki. “The 2000 semi-final was a really hard game. We won that game on our way to winning the championship, but I remember neither team wanted to give an inch.”
Preki is also a two-time MLS MVP and a National Soccer Hall of Fame member. Hendrickson remembers his time squaring off against the famed forward, but looks to Saturday’s match as a chance to make a statement as an organization.
“He scored some great goals and had some really good games against teams I played on, so I respect him for that,” said Hendrickson. “But at the end of the day, Saturday is a game where neither one of us will be on the pitch. Preki instills hard work in his players so we expect a team that is going to come and fight until the last whistle.”
Preki took a crack at coaching two different MLS teams — Chivas USA and Toronto FC — before taking the helm at Sacramento Republic FC last season, leading the club to the USL championship in its first season in the league.
In S2’s debut season, Preki and his team will take on S2 three times, with the first match this Saturday at Starfire Stadium.
“Being at home, we don’t think any team can come in here and push us off the pitch,” said Hendrickson. “We are going to battle until the end because we are also a hard-working team.”
Tickets are still available to the inaugural match, and can be purchased here.
