"Genius or...?"

In addition to training and playing, Ćiro also had to work in the decoration studio there. His salary was minor for Swiss living conditions — 700 Swiss francs, while 500 went to his apartment alone. And he also had to feed a family of four. Later, he said that it was during that period that he realized how important money was "because you understand it best when you don't have it".

However, the difficult times in Vevey were also Ćira's springboard. In just four years, he introduced the club from the fourth league to the first. Thanks to this, he got a job in Zion. In those five years, he won the cup with the club and participated in European competitions twice. After those five years, there were rumors that the Swiss first division Lausanne Sport was considering Ćira as a new coach. Newspapers wrote about him: "Only Atila can make order".

However, the call never came. Ćiro was already a little offended. On the same day that he promised Filipini that he would stay in Zion for another year, he received a call from Lausanne, which he described in detail in his autobiography:

"- I am the vice president of Lausanne Sport, my name is Antonetti, I am delegated to negotiate with you.

Outraged that they are calling me so late, I brazenly reply: - You have no money for me! –

And he asks me: - How much are you looking for? –

I answer: - 200,000 Swiss francs just to come - and he decisively hangs up on me.

At that moment, my wife, who was listening carefully to our conversation, falls into a state in which I have never seen her before: - Idiot! - she says: - You ask for 200,000 Swiss francs, you keep me and these two children for five years in these mountains, instead of paying you 200,000 to go to Lausanne. –

I comfort her and say: - Well, they will call again - and she replies: - They will call you the mother of the devil, so they are not fools, an overbearing Bosnian! –

But they still call tomorrow.

Antonetti again: - Give it to Mr. Blažević, find a reasonable price. And me briefly: – 200,000 CHF just to come! – and hang up the phone.

He always called at 12 o'clock. And the next day at that time he called again: - Mr. Blažević, where should we deposit the money? –

– Bank Societe Swiss Lugano, such and such a number – I had some money there just to keep the account active. The money was deposited the next day, and I'm going to the negotiations the day after tomorrow.

Dramatic! The Greek, Mr. Francopoulos, is angry because he doesn't like to negotiate after his pocket has already been taken. There is also Mr. Trujan, the president.

Francopoulos cheekily tells me: - We know how you work, you have a free hand, but if you are not profitable, a foot in the ass! –

I was very hurt by his words, because it was a very cheeky dialogue in Switzerland. - What does it mean to be profitable? - I ask him.

- An average of 7,000 spectators per match - he replied.

I ask him: - What is your average now? –

- 3500 - he says, and I, because of that "foot in the ass", say: - Lie! You had 2500. –

He turned to secretary Pizzoglio and she confirmed without hesitation: - Yes, Mr. Blažević is right. –

Still looking for rematch because of the "leg in the ass" statement, I come up with an idea that I never had before.

- Well, you are profitable with 7,000 spectators, but from every ticket sold above that figure, 50 cents is mine! –

Everyone is shocked, even me, and Trujan says to secretary Pizzoglio: — Write! —“

Since then, Ćira's matches had an average of 14,000 spectators, but he was not satisfied with that figure. So he came up with an idea. In order to bring as many spectators as possible, he announced already at the beginning of next week that in the next important game Lausanne against Servette, his goalkeeper Erich Burgener will play - center forward.

All the Swiss newspapers in those days wrote about Ćira, and on the front pages there would be a description written in capital letters: "GENIUS OR...?" In Switzerland, in fact, something could not be declared and retracted. Everyone knew that in that game the best goalkeeper would play center forward. And the stadium was full. Ćiro knew that this match was decisive for his future career. He remembered her in detail:

"People came from all over Switzerland to see this acrobatics. In the first half, Burgener scores a goal, and the stadium breaks. It's raining, and the stadium screams "Ćiro, stop the rain!"

Half time 2:1 for Servette. In the spearhead of Servette's attack is the famous Englishman Chivers, who scores four goals for my young goalkeeper with his head. Final result 7:3 for Servette.

At 3 o'clock in the morning, I go to the newspaper printing press, convinced that the question mark will still be in the headline. And for a great miracle, they write: "Genius! We saw an unprecedented spectacle, a full stadium, 10 goals, and he earned so much money...!"

It was already known then that Ćiro was an unprecedented talent and that he was on his way to becoming the coach of all coaches.