NIKOLA

He started working as a coach with the younger categories in FC Kneževac in 1997, and three seasons later distinguished himself as the founder of the Žarkovo football academy. In the period from 2000 to 2003, he was the head coach of the cadet and youth team, as well as the first team of FC Žarkovo. After coaching in the Belgrade club, he became the director of the youth school, and he remained in that position until 2010. Also, from 2002 to 2011, he worked as an assistant coach of junior national teams. This was followed by an engagement at FC Čukarički, where he successfully led the pioneer selection as the first coach.

His very successful work in our region took him abroad, where he spent five years in Russia as the deputy director of the youth school in Krasnodar. After half a decade, he returned to Serbia and assumed the role of head coach in working with young players at FC Crvena zvezda. In an interval of eight years, he achieved top results and, together with his associates, produced numerous football talents, who played in the first team of our club, as well as big European clubs. Also, since 2018, he has been in the position of supervisor of the selection of FC Grafičar.

Nikola Jelić gained extensive experience in the previous period as a lecturer on the UEFA license. In September 2023, after almost a decade of dedicated work and excellent results, he became the director of the youth school of FC Crvena zvezda.

Married to his wife Vesna, he is the father of three girls, Lana, Nina and Kalina.