Spartak Trnava’s workaholic coach discusses fleeing Serbia as a child, being compared to Pep Guardiola and learning his craft in West Sussex’s amateur leagues
After his Spartak Trnava side beat Slovan Bratislava 1-0 in a game that may very well have decided the destination of Slovakia’s league championship three weeks ago, Spartak’s 35-year-old British coach climbed on top of his dugout and celebrated wildly with the fans.
With five games left until the end of the season and a healthy lead at the top of the table, Spartak Trnava are close to their first league title since 1973, back when Slovakia was part of Czechoslovakia. The curiously named Nestor El Maestro – and we will come to that name later – has led them to the division’s summit in his first season as a head coach and such is his animated touchline demeanour, the club’s fans have likened him to Pep Guardiola.
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