Nemanja Nikolic returned back to Szekesfehervar on the 6th February. He spoke to our website about the last few years, his recent decision and his targets ahead. 

You are returning back to Fehervar after four and a half years. What was your first thought when you returned back to Sosto as a Vidi player?

I have finally returned home and this is what is in my head. I think this basically sums up my relationship with Vidi and Szekesfehervar.

So many things have happened here and also with you over recent years. How do you remember back to the summer of 2015? 

It was just after we won our second league title, which we worked really hard for with that team. I also won the top goalscorers award on top of that league title, although we unfortunately lost the cup final. I cannot say that it was a perfect season, but it was a very successful year. Then fate had it that following five and a half years in Fehervar, I had to prove myself elsewhere.

You moved to Poland and signed for Legia Warsaw, which later turned out to be a good decision. 

That is correct. I was looking for a team that had similar targets to Vidi, which were to win the league title and to battle for the cup as well as perform in European competition. It also meant a step up in my career with all due respect to Vidi. It was not a secret aim that I wanted my period in Warsaw to be a spring step to that further level and an even bigger challenge. Looking back I can say that things turned out perfectly for me. The summer that I joined them saw Legia in the Europa League Group Stage. We also won the league title and lifted the cup. I also received plenty of plaudits and was top goalscorer, player of the year and the best forward of the year. 

You were familiar with European cup competition after you helped Vidi to the group stage in the Europa League 2012. Did this experience help you? 

Absolutely! What we achieved under Paulo Sousa was almost in the amazing category. Not many believed that we could be successful in the group stage, but we did it and only just failed to make it through to the knockout stages. It was a very good side and the experience remained with me and meant so much. It showed then that with dedicated club management and hard working players and loyal supporters that anything is possible. 

The 2015/2016 season was crowned in the summer of 2016 if we are not mistaken.

I think if your thinking about the European Championships, then you are correct. The Championships in France were the peak of my international career. We had no chance but ended up winning the group and making it through to the knockout stage. That tempo remained with me and Legia made it into the Champions League group stage for the first time in 23 years. That saw yet another dream of mine come through. I scored six goals in the qualifying rounds and also scored in the group stage. I was playing against the best teams and in front of big crowds. There was a great feeling and the supporters loved the team.

You moved to USA after a year and a half. Can you talk about this in more detail?

Putting it simple, the reason I went to Warsaw was achieved in that year and a half. I felt that the time had come for change and the club were very correct towards me. We managed to find a solution that was good for everybody and they allowed me to leave. It was a great gesture and I am forever grateful to them for it. I felt that the chance to go to America was an adventure that I could not say no to, and that I had to try it.

Those who know you will say that your family is the most important. How did they react to your decision? 

Naturally I spoke with my family before making the decision and the final word was jointly made. It cannot be done in any other way. My daughter had started school so the offer came at the best possible time. So we went out. Three years with Chicago and I can say that it was the best decision we made. The kids learned the language and made friends. We also did the same and I performed well on the pitch and met the expectations. It is important that football is firstly a game, but for us footballers it is our work. We get paid for this but it is still about a game. The most important thing in the life of a person is their family, the wife and the kids. Our third child, Nia was born there. This is why I will always think of Chicago when I think of her. It will remain their home also. 

You said that your performances met the expectations. You ended up scoring 51 goals in 95 appearances. 

I am pleased that the people value my work and I have always tried at each of my clubs to give the best. My period in Chicago started really well. I was 29 and had four top goalscoring awards, Hungarian and Polish league titles and had moved to a very traditional club in the MLS. They had also been one of the most successful. However, when I joined them, it was not one of the brightest periods in their history. We finished third in my first season there and qualified for the play-off's. I became top goalscorer in America. In fact it was the first time that it had happened in the clubs history. I made it into the all-stars team at the end of the season and also played against Real Madrid. That was also an unforgettable experience. I also had big matches in the following two seasons and scored goals. However, we could not repeat the success of my first season there.

The autumn of 2019 saw the end of your period in America. You have now signed for Vidi in February. What happened over the recent months? 

When it became clear that I would not be extending my contract with them at the end of the season, I left Chicago Fire. I spoke with my agent to get in touch with Vidi. I have said several times that I only want to play for Vidi in Hungary. That is why I only wanted to negotiate with this club. It can be said that we waited a while with this contract, and perhaps we could have agreed earlier, but the main thing is that I am here and can hardly wait to play in the red and blue shirt. I also asked for a meeting with owner Istvan Garancsi as it was important to hear that he was counting on me. He would like to see me play for the team. I am happy that we agreed on terms and will have a joint future. 

You turned 32 in December. You have had plenty of success during your playing career so far. What motivates you now as you begin your second period with Vidi? 

Fortunately I have never had problems with motivation (laughter). You could say that I am still as motivated as I was as a 22 year old lad when I first stepped into the Vidi dressing room 10 years ago. I have a massive feeling inside me to do well and help Vidi lift trophies. I am over 30 so I appreciate things more and feel that there are still big successes ahead in my career. I want to finish off my work in the best possible way as when I left five and a half years ago. 

Club legend Jozsef Szabo leads the all-time goalscoring list with 111 league goals. You are currently in second place with 87. Are you preparing to break records? 

As they usually say, records are there to be broken so my answer is yes. I believe that Jozsef Szabo would not be upset if a person who has often showed just how important this club and shirt is as well as the city overtakes him. I will give my all to reach his record and then break it.

You are very popular among Vidi supporters. This was the case in the past and as we can see over recent days, it can still be felt. How is this relationship from your point of view?

My relationship with the supporters has always been tight. Perhaps they will feel this the most that I have given my heart for the team on the pitch. I have a special relationship with the Vidi supporters. When a player regularly scores goals and wins games, they are easy to like but for me, it was the opposite in Fehervar. I became top goalscorer in my first half year, but found myself on the bench in the next and did not play so much. The supporters still gave me their backing despite this. They did not leave me and stuck by me. It gave me plenty of strength. Then when I left in the summer of 2015, they made it clear that this would always be my home. It was an honest love affair that never went away from my side. I hope the same applies to them.

Mate Patkai has been wearing the famous number 17 shirt since 2015. You will be playing in the 71 shirt. How did you choose this?

The answer means we have to jump back in time and back to 2010. That was when I first joined Vidi and I was given the number 17 shirt. This number grew towards me in time and I liked it so much that I did not want to play in it during my time with Legia. The number 17 was connected to Vidi. I did not want to continue with that number in Chicago and chose to wear the number 23. Now the number 17 is already being used, just like 23 and also 27. That is why I thought about switching over the numbers 17 to get 71. I will get the 17 back from Mate in the summer (laughter).

Joan Carrillo has been manager since November. There are also several players still at the club since 2015. They have remained key players for the club. What do you see ahead as you start working together with them again? 

I have this feeling as if I have never been away. I am pleased that I can work together with Joan. He helped me so much during our last time together. This was especially the case mentally. He never allowed me to get comfortable and always found ways of making me better. He wanted to bring the best out of me. I am sure that his mentality has not changed since. There are plenty of familiar faces in the dressing room. I can hardly wait to play with them again. With regards to the young players, it is important that they believe that we are the best. Work, discipline and belief are the tools to success. They should believe me. 

The team is in second place and six points behind FTC. You are once again a Vidi player, how do you see the spring ahead? 

It is not currently in our hands but we only have that target ahead of us to win every game. If we can end the season doing that and know that we gave it all but it was still was not enough, then you have to congratulate the first place team. However, I do not want to even think about this. I want to win the league title and Hungarian Cup with Vidi. Then I want us to play in the Champions League. This is why I will be working everyday. We have a great stadium and a secure background with fantastic supporters. Everything is in place to do well. We need to work hard and that is only down to us. We need to achieve our dreams. Those that do not have dreams also do not have targets. I have both and I want to achieve them. 

Take a look at Niko's first moments back!