Alen Ozbolt: “I came here because I believe Apollon can win trophies”

Alen Ozbolt is one of Apollon’s new additions ahead of the 2026-27 season. The experienced Slovenian striker speaks to apollon.com.cy about the reasons behind his decision to join the club, the conversations he had with former teammates Ivan Ljubic and Vukasin Jovanovic, the ambitions he shares with the team and the message he wishes to send to the Apollon supporters.

Welcome to Apollon. How do you feel about joining the club?

First of all, I would like to thank everyone at Apollon for the opportunity and for the trust they showed in me. I also spoke with friends who had only positive things to say about the club.

We had been in contact with Apollon for almost two months and from the very beginning I had a strong desire to come here. I spoke with my friends Vukasin Jovanovic and Ivan Ljubic, who told me great things about the club and about Cyprus. Since I spent several years in Greece, I already knew the culture and mentality would be familiar to me.

From the moment Apollon approached me, I felt very close to the idea of joining the club.

What were the first things you asked Ivan and Vukasin?

Mostly about the club. I wanted to know about the team, the atmosphere, the conditions and the ambitions. These are normal questions for every footballer.

They were very positive and that made my decision even easier.

What was your first thought when Apollon showed interest in signing you?

It was an easy decision. My first meeting was with the coach and after he presented his ideas and his vision, it wasn’t difficult for me at all.

What impressed you most about his ideas?

He wants the team to play attractive football, to dominate possession and to have a clear identity on the pitch.

As a striker, I like to move a lot. I’m not a typical target man, so this style of football suits me very well. It is important for me to be part of a team that wants to play in this way.

Did you have other offers?

Yes, I had several offers from clubs in Greece, Cyprus and outside Europe.

However, it wasn’t difficult for me to choose Apollon.

What are your goals with the club?

I know Apollon won the championship three years ago and that the team was very competitive again this season, especially during the second half of the campaign and in the Cup.

I believe this club is big enough and strong enough to become champions again. Personally, I have won two league titles and four domestic cups during my career and I would love to celebrate another trophy with Apollon.

In your opinion, what does a team need in order to become champions?

Continuity is very important. I believe teams should avoid changing ten players every season.

You need to build a strong atmosphere inside the dressing room and create unity between the players, the coaching staff and the fans. Everyone has to move in the same direction.

And, of course, success always comes through hard work.

Did you follow Apollon before joining?

I couldn’t watch the Cypriot league regularly because the matches weren’t broadcast in Greece, but I followed the team’s results closely.

Ivan Ljubic is one of my closest friends and we’ve known each other for ten years, so naturally I kept an eye on Apollon. I followed the statistics, the scorers and watched highlights.

I also saw how impressive the stadium is and I believe it’s up to us to make the fans enjoy coming to support the team.

What are your first impressions of the training centre and the dressing room?

The facilities are excellent and that’s very important.

I’m not 22 years old anymore, so details matter. Having a gym, breakfast, lunch and everything needed for recovery helps players a lot.

My first impressions are very positive and I believe that with good results, everything around the team will become even better.

Your message to the fans?

I can’t wait to meet them.

I promise that I will give my best every single day in order to make them happy and hopefully bring them something special at the end of the season.

The player has chosen to wear the number 9shirt.

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Apollon Limassol FC