Jaka Bijol: The story most fans don't know

Jaka Bijol, a prominent Slovenian footballer now playing for Leeds in the English Premier League, has a career trajectory that surprised even his family. While his father, Janez Bijol, was deeply involved in alpine skiing and expected his son to follow suit, Jaka made a decisive pivot to football at a young age.

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Jaka practically skied literally as soon as he could walk.

Janez Bijol recalled that Jaka skied almost as soon as he could walk and even became the national champion in giant slalom in 2012. However, immediately after winning that championship, 12-year-old Jaka declared he would no longer ski and would focus solely on football. His father initially dismissed it as a fleeting childhood enthusiasm.

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Now I won't ski anymore, now I'll just play football.

This pivotal moment marked the beginning of Bijol's journey in professional football. He meticulously planned his career, even writing down his goals on a piece of paper that he still keeps. By 18, he signed his first professional contract, and at 19, he moved to CSKA Moscow after being scouted at a tournament in St. Petersburg.

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He actually decided quite quickly that he would be a professional athlete. He was already dreaming when he transferred to Šiška Gymnasium, he even wrote down a plan. He still has that paper at home, showing where he sees his professional path going.

His progression continued, leading him to the Premier League with Leeds, where he has showcased his talent and garnered interest from other major European clubs. His father, who served as the president of the alpine skiing section of the Slovenian Ski Association, emphasized the importance of support, trust, and clear goals in his son's success.

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with his belly for bread