Vlada Stosic: "This is the saddest day of my life"

Very emotional, the now ex-Director of Football bid his farewell

At midday yesterday Vlada Stosic ceased to be the Director of Football of Real Betis Balompié. The Serbian, who headed up the Technical Secretariat over the past three seasons, broke down when confirming his departure form the Green-and-Whites; trying to express his feelings through his tears his message was filled with words of gratitude and good wishes for the immediate future.

Good bye Real Betis Balompié: “It is a very sad day from me, the saddest day of my life. I assume responsibility as I have always said I would. I have never shirked my responsibility in this situation. An important part of the situation in terms of football is down to me. I think Betis is now in a very difficult situation, but I'm convinced that the team will pull through. It has been shown that there are reasons and enough skilled players. I do not want anything to sound like an excuse. I want to thank my colleagues in the technical secretariat, Angel, Keke, Pedro, Aurelio and Cañas, people, who in my opinion are a group of professionals who are giving their all for Betis. Every weekend these people are travelling up and down Spain in search of players to benefit Betis. It is lamentable that in these difficult times there are people who try do harm by doubting if they are travelling or not.

"In addition to my immediate colleagues I would also like to thank Betis' lawyers, the team delegate, and many other people who have been with me. I thank the Board who have always been by my side and especially Rafael Gordillo, who made me proud as he was the person who elected me three years ago. He gave me the opportunity to head up the Technical Secretariat. When I say Rafael Gordillo, I say Betis”.

"Lately, I've heard some shouting against him. Clearly there are some people who want to do harm to Betis, having a go at an emblem who is above all that. They are defined by their actions. I hope my dismissal will mean that from now on the heckling will become applause supporting the team. The team needs to be supported in difficult times. There is only one way out of this situation, with unity. I hope that in the games to come, the players themselves give everything they have on the field to keep the team in the First Division. I am convinced they will".

Also, I take this opportunity to thank the Betis supporters, the people who have supported me through good and bad times. In terms of analysis of the team and what has been done in these three years, I will talk in the next few days of my version about everything that has happened.

From today, I shall be one more on the stand, as member and shareholder. I shall support the team until my last breath. That is what I think all Betis fans should do. I encourage all the fans to see in the New Year united again, looking forward to winning matches and giving out positive energy. We deserved to have won many of the matches we lost at home, and with support I am sure we will”.