Last summer, the 33-year-old Jovetic left Hertha Berlin in the Bundesliga to join Greek giants Olympiacos on a free transfer, which also means that the Montenegrin striker ended his 16-year career in Europe's top five leagues and officially entered retirement mode. Just as the name Jovetic faded into oblivion, Olympiacos lifted the European trophy for the first time in their history after beating Fiorentina from Serie A in this season's UEFA Europa League final. The name of the Montenegrin striker is once again in the eyes of the media and fans.
It turned out that this UEFA Europa League championship trophy was not only the first European championship in the 100-year history of Olympiacos, but also the first European championship trophy in Jovetic's career. The 34-year-old veteran, after 16 years of waiting, finally tasted the taste of European championships.
Looking back on Jovetic's career, everyone will be surprised to find that it is indeed a miracle that the Montenegrin striker was able to enter retirement mode at the age of 34 and stay away from the top five European leagues, and still be able to realize his dream on the European stage.
Especially last season, when the four teams he played for in the past all reached the final of the European competition, I really don't know how the Montenegrin striker felt in his heart. In last season's Champions League final, Jovetic's two former clubs, Manchester City and Inter Milan, met successfully. In the end, the Blue Moon defeated the Nerazzurri and won the first Champions League Big Ears Cup in team history. On the stage of last season's Europa League final, as the "title team" of the event, Jovetic's old club Sevilla team had the last laugh again without suspense. In last season's UEFA Europa League final, Jovetic's former club Fiorentina lost 2-1 to West Ham, and the Purple Lilies were the only team among the Montenegrin striker's former clubs to fail to win a European competition.
With Olympiacos beating Fiorentina in extra-time in this season's UEFA Europa League final, the Purple Lilies have become the saddest team among all Jovetic's old clubs. Fell on the stage of the European final for two consecutive seasons and missed the second European championship trophy in the team's history.
It just so happened that the Fiorentina team was the first stop for Jovetic to land in the top five leagues. In the summer of 2008, Jovetic, who was known as a genius in Montenegro and was on the same level as Messi at that time, joined the Purple Lilies from Partizan Belgrade at a value of 8 million euros and officially started his journey in the top five leagues.